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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>Donovan,<br>
<br>
I disagree with most of what you say, mostly because you begin many of your
concerns with premises that I disagree with, so I will concentrate on just a
few of your points.<br>
<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Recent</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Council actions regarded the
rezoning of a large chink of land into a single type of commercial zone. The
Planning and Zoning Commission had reviewed this request earlier. The decision
by City Council was the same as the decision by P&Z. I think that all of us
expected the developers to return with a more interesting way of using the
entire property (that was the suggestion of P&Z and Council). As others
have said, I don’t think that any particular development required the
entire property. <br>
<br>
The vote was not about Wal-Mart (which could not be mentioned at the meetings).
I would have loved to have gotten to the stage where we could have discussed
the design of a specific store – we have never gotten to that point. Informal
conversations I have had with my brother, Pete Dickinson – Pullman City
Planner, and others have enlightened me to the variety of designs that Wal-Mart
(and I assume other stores of this type) use.<br>
<br>
I don’t think we can be accused of being anti-Wal-Mart, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> has a Wal-Mart. There are discussions
about sizes of retail stores. I think discussions are good; there are many
points of view to consider.<br>
<br>
I don’t think that <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>
is anti-business. I don’t believe that it is responsible government to
say Yes to every development without question – whether it be residential
or commercial. I thought that the results of both the P&Z and the Council were
positive messages to the developers. Their public statements led me to this
conclusion. <br>
<br>
We cannot preserve <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City>’s
character by freezing the community. But I do think that the community can and
should continue to ask questions about every development, lot division, street improvement,
budget line item, i.e. everything – because this is your community and we
all want to pass it on to our children’s children in a form that they
would be proud to live in.<br>
<br>
John Dickinson<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:place> City
Council<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><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'> Donovan Arnold
[mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Tuesday, June 27, 2006 8:27
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> aaronament@moscow.com;
lpall@moscow.com; bstout@ci.moscow.id.us; blambert@ci.moscow.id.us;
jweber@ci.moscow.id.us; <st1:PersonName w:st="on">johnd@moscow.com</st1:PersonName>;
nchaney@ci.moscow.id.us; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> The Immorality of
Blocking a Supercenter</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><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='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'>Dear Mayor
Chaney and members of the City Council,<br>
<br>
I am writing you regarding the recent decision of the City to block a <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceName u1:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.
I believe such a decision is damaging to most of the residents of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>
and the surrounding community, but particularly its most vulnerable for several
reasons.<u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'>First,
Wal-Mart has a starting wage of $8-$9 an hour. This is a significantly higher
wage then what other grocery stores, retail outlets, and even the City have
established as a starting wage. Even the Co-Op pays 18% less than Wal-Mart. I
challenge the Mayor and members of the City Council, or any resident to find a
grocery or general retail store that pays a higher starting wage in our local
community. With the City rejecting the businesses that pay higher wages, the
City is expressing that it believes $5.15 is an acceptable wage for the people
of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>. A <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceName u1:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
would provide more jobs that pay higher wage while also requiring other
employees to pay their workers a similar livable wage if they desire to keep
quality workers.<u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
Second, a <st1:PlaceName u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:PlaceType>
provides goods and services not otherwise offered in the <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>
area. Millions of dollars are lost every year to <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Pullman</st1:City></st1:City>, <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lewiston</st1:City></st1:City>,
<st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Spokane</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>, and the
Internet because the City is blocking retail outlets from selling those
products. A Supercenter would offer more goods and services to the people of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:City> while keeping tax dollars and jobs here
in <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> where they
belong. <u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
Third, A Wal-Mart Supercenter would offer goods and services at a lower cost to
members of the community because it can move high volume and has the
infrastructure to do so efficiently. With an average salary of only $24,000 a
year for <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> residents, and
an annual household income of about $30,000 for Latah households, costs need to
be lower, not higher. <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>
residents have to pay more for goods and services already because of a lack of
competition, the cost of shipping a low volume of goods a long distance, and a
lack of capital in investments in roads and infrastructure to do it
effectively. To punish <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>
residents with an added transportation tax by making them drive to another town
to get the items they need at an affordable price is another unnecessary burden
inflicted on the people by the City. <u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
Fourth, <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> loses even more
jobs. When <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City> blocks one
business that puts resources into trying to locate here, it blocks two more
that decide not to attempt as a result. The City has developed a far reaching
reputation that it does not want businesses here. That hurts the residents of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>.
<u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
Fifth, we lose anyway. The City of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Moscow</st1:City></st1:City>
will simply lose to <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Pullman</st1:City></st1:City>,
Latah, or <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceName u1:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Whitman</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. We
will still have all the negative impacts of having a <st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceName u1:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Wal-Mart</st1:PlaceName></st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType u1:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Supercenter</st1:PlaceType></st1:place></st1:PlaceType></st1:place>
but without the tax dollars, jobs, and surrounding businesses that prosper from
close proximity to the new store. <u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
Finally, I think there are diversity and equality issues that are being
ignored. The people that have the most difficulty getting and keeping a job at
a decent wage are minorities, the elderly, and the disabled. Wal-Mart has
successfully employed these individuals in higher numbers than anyone else.
Many small businesses do not high the elderly and disabled in any greater
numbers than they have to because they fear medical and retirement costs.
Minorities have always been discriminated against. I think it sends a clear
message to other businesses in the community when the most successful retail
outlet in the world does so by hiring in higher numbers people other businesses
won’t hire because of age, ethnicity, or disability. The city has a moral
obligation to not bar businesses that employ and give opportunities to those
other businesses only hire out of fear of the law, rather than acknowledging
that they have real value and skills that make a business successful. For the
City to block the greatest opportunities for the elderly, poor, disabled, and
minorities is discrimination. The only people allowed by our City leaders to
make a decent living wage in our community appears to be the wealthy members
that have the capital to create and expand their own businesses and are allowed
to employ everyone else for a slave wage of $5.15 an hour. <u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p><br>
I ask that the Mayor and members of the City Council reconsider and allow a
Supercenter into our community. Blocking commerce hurts both the seller and
buyer, and the buyers are the residents of <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>.
Blocking higher starting wages in our community hurts the poorest. Shutting
down, slowing down, removing, and blocking employers that hire the disabled,
elderly, and minorities, hurts the elderly, disabled, and minorities. I hope
you will consider these facts as the county and University lose population and
the number of people in <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City></st1:place></st1:City>
continue to live a lower quality of life in comparison to rest of the state and
nation. <u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'><u2:p> </u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'>Best
Regards,<u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:150%'><font size=2 face="Courier New"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New"'>Donovan J <st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arnold</st1:place></st1:City><u2:p></u2:p></st1:place></st1:City></span></font><br>
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><font size=2 face="Courier New ;"><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Courier New \;"'><st1:City u1:st="on"><st1:place u1:st="on">Moscow</span></font></st1:place></st1:City><font
size=2 face="Courier New"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:150%;
font-family:"Courier New"'></st1:place></st1:City> Resident<u2:p></u2:p></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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12.0pt'><br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
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</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
Next-gen email? Have it all with the <a
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=40791/*http:/advision.webevents.yahoo.com/handraisers">all-new
Yahoo! Mail Beta.</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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