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face="Times New Roman"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Moscow</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName>Civic</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName>Association</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName>Opposes</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName>Proposed</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName>Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><BR><BR>The Moscow Civic
Association (MCA) opposes the development of
a<BR><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in
<st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>. The MCA Board of
Directors made this decision at their February 8 meeting, and the MCA membership
supported that decision, according to MCA president Brad King.<BR><BR>In
addition to supporting the local No Super Wal-Mart group, </FONT></FONT><A
href="http://www.nosuperwalmart.com"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>http://www.nosuperwalmart.com</FONT></A><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>, the MCA opposes the development of a
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in
<st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> based on the principles of
Smart Growth and the following specific reasons:<BR><BR>1. A Wal-Mart
Supercenter will not contribute to the kind of long-term economic<BR>development
that provides a net benefit to this community and region. <BR><BR>2.
Wal-Mart is a leader in predatory business practices locally and globally.
We believe development of a Supercenter will hurt local businesses and
<st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>'s thriving downtown
area.<BR><BR>3. <st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>
currently has a Wal-Mart and a Winco which offer low-price items to
residents. A <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> is beyond the scale of
what makes sense for a town of 25,000. <BR><BR>4. Wal-Mart is well known
for offering mostly low wages, limited health benefits, and imposing illegal
labor practices on their workers.<BR><BR>5. The proposed 80 acre east side
site is the least appropriate place for big box development. This
development will exacerbate sprawl and congestion while causing further damage
to the downtown core by diverting traffic elsewhere. An east side location
will make the east/west traffic situation worse.<BR><BR>6.
<st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> is, and should remain, a
thriving rural community with the ability to continue directing its development
towards locally-owned, technology-based, and homespun cottage industries and
services. </FONT></P>
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size=3> </FONT></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>The Moscow Civic Association is a non-profit citizen's organization
that<BR>strives to improve the quality of life for
<st1:City><st1:place>Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> residents. The mission
of<BR>Moscow Civic Association is to inform community members about
important<BR>local issues and encourage civic participation. More
information is<BR>available on the MCA website, </FONT><A
href="http://www.moscowcivic.org"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>www.moscowcivic.org</FONT></A><BR
style="mso-special-character: line-break"><BR
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