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I could have sworn I bought food at a massive chain store the other day
in the other mall. Anyway, I don't think the Winco retail chain is
being overly hurt by UI and WSU student population declines. Maybe
this branch, but I'd like to see some figures first. I'm also
wondering if large supermarket chains, such as Winco, aren't just
raising prices all over in an attempt to cover losses in other places.
Anyway, there are alternatives to Winco. There must be, because I
rarely shop there (except to buy the occasional Pocky sticks) and I
need food to survive just like everybody else. I'd be interested to
find out if local stores, such as the Co-op, are having to raise their
prices more than the big-name stores. Presumably, this same rise in
prices due to gas prices will affect everything that is shipped by
truck - not just food. Walmart is basically built on the idea of
massive transportation of goods quickly. I'd imagine that the rise in
gas prices will affect it more than most stores.<br>
<br>
As for the honey bee problem, I'm hoping that it will work itself out
the natural way. The 40% of bees that are left will breed resistance
to whatever it is that is killing them off, and the survivors will
flourish because there is now so little competition for them
individually.<br>
<br>
Also, the Palouse Mall does not have a monopoly. There is nothing that
they are doing that would stop another developer from building their
own mall. If you want to protest the high prices they charge for
rental space, don't shop there. You'll find there are a number of
alternatives out there.<br>
<br>
Paul<br>
<br>
Donovan Arnold wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid56704.61804.qm@web38101.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<div>Food prices are only going to go up even more for several
reasons;</div>
<div> </div>
<div>1) The massive extinction of honey bees has created a void in
pollination of 1/3 of the US food supply. 60% of honey bees have died,
with no cure or solution in the near future.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>2) Increases in fuel prices increase the shipping costs of food.
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>3) Many crops were wiped out this year due in the freakish
winter storms. For example, oranges had a massive freeze.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>4) The UI and WSU student populations have decreased, the main
income for Winco. With a reduced volume in sales, Winco has to raise
prices to cover losses in volume sales.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>5) No competition. With no other discount grocery stores in the
area, like say a Super Wal-Mart, Winco can raise its prices with no
consequences, everybody has to eat.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>6) The owners of the Palouse Empire Mall are raising their
rents. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>I think it is obvious, Moscow needs competition in the area to
curve rising prices. It also needs to do some sting operations on gas
price fixing which obviously is going on. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Maybe, many of you guys should call Pat Vaughn and ask him to
reassess the property value of the Palouse Empire Mall, which is
monopoly. Perhaps if the mall can make such huge increases in their
leases, the value of the only active retail mall on the Palouse is much
higher than what the County Assessor has it listed as. </div>
<div> </div>
<div>If I had the time, and a personal interest at stake, like so
many of you do, I would contest the taxable value of the Palouse Empire
Mall. It is clear that it has a really high value since it is able to
charge so much for its lease spaces and has no real competition. Moscow
is probably losing $100,000s in tax revenue that could go to things
like finding a new space for the public bus to park on the west side of
town, and to give property tax breaks to locally owned businesses that
are having a hard time due to the fact no mall will let them conduct
business on their property. Just a thought to those litigious and want
what's best and for our community.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Best,</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Donovan<br>
<br>
<b><i>Ellen Roskovich <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com"><gussie443@hotmail.com></a></i></b> wrote:</div>
<blockquote class="replbq"
style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); padding-left: 5px; margin-left: 5px;">
<div>
<div class="RTE"><strong>As the cost of gas continues to climb at
the pumps, the price of food starts to rise at the grocery stores. Has
anyone else noticed this recently?</strong></div>
<div class="RTE"><strong></strong> </div>
<div class="RTE"><strong>Ellen Roskovich</strong></div>
</div>
<br clear="all">
<hr> <a href="http://g.msn.com/8HMAENUS/2734??PS=47575"
target="_top">MSN is giving away a trip to Vegas to see Elton John.
Enter to win today.</a>
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<p> </p>
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Check out
<a
href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=48245/*http://autos.yahoo.com/new_cars.html;_ylc=X3oDMTE1YW1jcXJ2BF9TAzk3MTA3MDc2BHNlYwNtYWlsdGFncwRzbGsDbmV3LWNhcnM-">new
cars at Yahoo! Autos.</a>
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