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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Excellent, Bruce! If I didn’t
know better, I’d think you were a rational economist in disguise!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I believe in the free market too, but on a
level playing field. If my addition is correct, there are proposals for 1.7
million square feet of new retail in <st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City> and <st1:City
w:st="on">Pullman</st1:City> including the Moscow Wal-Mart complex, the
corridor and Wal-Mart in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pullman</st1:place></st1:City>.
Is this a little much? It’s easy to say “whatever the market
will bear.” But in this case, the destruction of smaller businesses
before the market “rights itself” is not good business and
effectively kills communities. Others will say that the smaller, local
businesses must learn to compete with Wal-Mart. That is extremely
difficult when a <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Supercenter</st1:PlaceType> carries 60,000 items, many made in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region> in
sweatshops that are illegal here. A typical Costco carries 4,000 items.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Bruce mentions buying razors at
Wal-Mart. Compare the Gillette Mach 3 razors purchased at Wal-Mart with
those purchased at non-Wal-Mart stores. Notice the color is different
even though the name is the same? Notice the Wal-Mart Mach 3 doesn’t
last nearly as long as those purchased from Costco, Rite-Aid, Hodgins, Marketime?
Ever wonder why Snapper lawn mowers are never sold at Wal-Mart? Because
Snapper refused to lower its quality (and price) to Wal-Mart standards.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>B. J. Swanson<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>-----------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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12.61gd;text-align:center'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><b><font
size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:
bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com
[mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On
Behalf Of </span></b>Bruce and Jean Livingston<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, March 04, 2006
6:24 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Donovan Arnold; Vision 2020<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020]
Goodnight Goody, Goodnight Ridge</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I imagine
someone telling Dave he can't expand Paradise Ridge CDs, and I don't like
it. But the obvious analogy to Wal-Mart that you are trying to make is
not a clean one, in my opinion, Donovan, though I do agree with some of what you
write. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>First, I
wouldn't be the least bit concerned about people telling me where they thought
I should shop. I kept buying grapes, even though the Farm Workers were
trying to organize a boycott. I listen to the reasons for not shopping at
Wal-Mart, and I agree with some of them, but I still shop at Wal-Mart on rare
occasions. I try to patronize other places, and I always try Tri-State or
Spence's, first, because I think it is important to patronize local businesses
to help assure that more money stays in the community. But I admit it, my
razor blades come from Wal-Mart when I don't have a Costco run in the offing.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>People may
still shop at Wal-Mart, as they could at any other store that is operating
here. I don't begrudge others the opportunity to shop at Wal-Mart, and I
agree with the free market advocates and the need for business opportunities in
our community, and so I agree with the right to expand when it comports with
good planning and the law. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>But if Dave
were in the mood to expand Paradise Ridge, by buying up one of his neighbors on
<st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Third Street</st1:address></st1:Street>
in the heart of downtown, where retail sales are the dominant and preferred
activity according to our zoning code and comprehensive plan, anybody arguing
against that expansion would have worthless arguments, and the expansion would
be approved. That is where your analogy falls apart, unless you were
contemplating plunking the CD store in an area where it was not allowed -- in
which case I would likely not support that location despite my affection
for the business.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>I think that
what many fail to recognize is that there are too kinds of Wal-Mart opponents
out there in our community right now: those who abhor Wal-Mart and
would deny its entry anywhere, and those who question the planning that went
into this particular expansion effort. I am on record as being in the
latter category. If I can find the reasons that I submitted to the
P&Z public hearing, I will forward them to the list. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Briefly, I
believe that the proposed extensive commercial motor business designation of
the Thompson property is poor planning. Such developments should have
occurred between downtown and the state line, as the comprehensive plan
dictated, had not the lack of vision by prior councils allowed most of that property
along <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">A street</st1:address></st1:Street>
to become apartments, contrary to the comprehensive plan. Such a plan
would still allow us to shop and draw us through downtown, making it more
likely that our lovely downtown is a convenient stop along the way. There
is still opportunity for expanded commercial development in the area from
behind the mall to the state line, as was proposed at the same council
meeting last June when the Thompson project first
surfaced. Equally and maybe more important given greater
availability, there is a much more obvious existing site than the Thompson
property for such extensive commercial developments at the north and south ends
of town along Highway 95, a far better traffic corridor. The Thompson
property ought, in my opinion, to be primarily residential (as it was
designated in the comp plan until a bad planning decision by the prior council
last June) and not destroy the ambience of the existing owners to the east and
across the street on Ridge. Finally, we ought to be saving the west end of
the Thompson property for future expansion of higher paying businesses than a
shopping center; we ought to allow Alturas that room to expand, while fostering
a pro-business attitude and encouraging businesses that pay at least
living wages to locate here.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Now at the
risk of being a little windy here, and if you are not already snoozing, there
is a third category of Wal-Mart opponent, in my opinion and of which I am also
a member, and it relates to limited opportunities for shopping in Moscow, the
almighty mantra of "market choice." I mentioned this on the
list a while back and it engendered little discussion. I expected to hear
a rebuttal from Jeff Harkins who is the most fervent free marketer on the list
and my compatriot on the LEDC, and he said he was working on it, but
I seem to have missed it. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The
"more market choice" category that I just mentioned might at
first blush appear to support letting anyone expand and enter, and see what
happens, the classic laissez faire free market approach. But what I am
contemplating is something different. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>It seems to
me that we are a very small community with a relatively limited amount of
disposable income to spend in (and therefore support) the local stores of all
types. Wal-Mart offers one kind of shopping venue, and a Super Wal-Mart
would admittedly offer more (if perhaps of the same lower
quality) and the most significant addition might be food. There
is already a Wal-Mart here. There are four grocery stores, the Co-op on
the high end, Winco on the low end (offering similar pricing to Wal-Mart from
what I understand) and Rosauer's and Safeway in between. There will soon
be a Super Wal-Mart a mere ten miles away in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Pullman</st1:place></st1:City>. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>The market
choice that I am talking about is more choices for us. Why a Wal-Mart
which we already have? Why not something else, so our consumer choices
are enhanced more than by the expansion of the existing low-end product line at
Wal-Mart? Why not have our city and economic development and business
supporters work on attracting an alternative to Wal-Mart, so that our limited
choices are not so likely to become primarily Wal-Mart? Why not work
harder to attract something more interesting and beneficial to consumer
choice? Why let Wal-Mart pre-empt the market and fill it up in the
predatory fashion that it appears to be following with two supercenters within
10 miles? Why are we only talking about the choices that the
entrepreneurs choose to offer and not the choices that we consumers would like
to see? We could work toward educating other entrepreneurs and attracting
them instead, and if we put in place rules that applied to all and some chose
to play where Wal-Mart didn't, why wouldn't we be better off by having more
varied choices?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Perhaps most
significant to my "more consumer choices" angle, why let a 200,000
square foot store come in and soak up the available dollars in this very small
community and make it less likely for other more varied folks to enter our
market? Why isn't 100,000 square feet enough in this little
community? A size cap would allow us more choices. I have a
good friend on the Chamber Board (who would probably prefer to remain
nameless) and he likes to talk about how students often have the most
disposable dollars to spend, despite their low income, and that we ought to be
able to market <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>
and interest someone other than Wal-Mart to enter our community. If we
are to have big boxes in our community, why not be pro-active and get us more
real choice for <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>'s
consumers, rather than more of the Wal-Mart we already have? </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Several
of my MCA Board buddies who oppose Wal-Mart and big boxes in general
characterize this as the "pig in silk pajamas" argument, because I do
believe that large stores ought to be allowed, but play nice and look nice,
whereas these others oppose them on general principles. I don't
want large stores to just make the "great big sucking
noise" Ross Perot once described, though he was talking about jobs going
to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region> and I am talking
about more of our dollars going to Bentonville <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Arkansas</st1:place></st1:State>. If we are to have
out-of-town chains, I would much prefer to have a Costco that pays living
wages than a Wal-Mart that does not, even if lots of those dollars spent go to <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Seattle</st1:place></st1:City>. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Lest someone
misconstrue this, I don't believe we can choose one retailer over the other on
the whim of the Council. We need rules that are applied fairly to
all retailers and then we need to apply the rules fairly, but I do believe we
can encourage better and more varied consumer choices through thoughtful
legislating and pro-active and creative economic development efforts.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><font
size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Putting a
halt to an ill-conceived project buys us the time to do things better the next
time, to have a good plan in place, and to be ready for things instead of
just reacting to the next request on a developer's wish list.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;mso-para-margin-left:12.61gd'><st1:PersonName
w:st="on"><font size=3 face=Arial><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>Bruce Livingston</span></font></st1:PersonName><o:p></o:p></p>
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