<DIV>Tom,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>You ignorantly proclaimed: </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">"Wal-Mart does not maintain inventory, Its suppliers do.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Question, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Arnold</st1:City></st1:place>: Just where is this giant Wal-Mart warehouse located to which you delivered goods?"</SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV> <DIV
class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A href="http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx">http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx</A></DIV></SPAN></FONT> <DIV class=MsoNormal> </DIV> <DIV>I already told you, there are lots of giant Wal-Mart distribution centers all over the country. I told you Hermiston, OR was one location. There is another in Grandview WA, Salt Lake City, UT, they are all over the place. I have been to them or driven by them, they are huge. The one in Hermiston is 1,175,000 sq ft. It cost $30 million to build. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx">http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The vast majority of their products pass
through one of these centers before going to a Wal-Mart store.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0424/story3.html">http://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/2002/0424/story3.html</A></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/01/13/daily8.html">http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/1997/01/13/daily8.html</A></DIV> <DIV><A href="http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx">http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The article that you site: <A href="http://www.inventorymanagementreview.org/2006/04/walmart_increas.html">http://www.inventorymanagementreview.org/2006/04/walmart_increas.html</A> , is a junk opinion piece written by somebody with an agenda, no facts, and I say "somebody" because the author doesn't want to give their name. Wonder why?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV><A
href="http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx">http://www.walmartfacts.com/wal-mart-distribution-centers.aspx</A></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I don't know how someone that claims to research Wal-Mart and knows its "evil doings" would miss the existence of hundreds of giant 1,000,000 sq ft mega million dollar distribution centers scattered across the country. To me it is like studying World Geography and missing the existence of Asia, then asking where this supposed continent is located. Geesh!!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Donovan<BR><BR><B><I>Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid"> <META content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)" name=Generator> <STYLE> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:*
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{behavior:url(#default#VML);} .SHAPE {behavior:url(#default#VML);} st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Tahoma; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} @font-face {font-family:Verdana; panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:blue; text-decoration:underline;} p {mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black;} pre {margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Courier New"; color:black;} span.EmailStyle19 {mso-style-type:personal; font-family:Arial; color:navy;}
span.EmailStyle21 {mso-style-type:personal-reply; font-family:Arial; color:navy;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </STYLE> <DIV class=Section1> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">From <A href="http://www.inventorymanagementreview.org/2006/04/walmart_increas.html">http://www.inventorymanagementreview.org/2006/04/walmart_increas.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“Most notably, Wal-Mart's JIT efforts are leaving their suppliers with more inventory. If you think about this, it makes a lot of sense. Wal-Mart does not want to hold inventory.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Wal-Mart does not maintain inventory, Its suppliers do.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Question, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Arnold</st1:City></st1:place>: Just where is this giant Wal-Mart warehouse located to which you delivered goods?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Enough said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Moscow, Idaho</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college students are not very active in local elections (thank
goodness!)."<BR><BR>- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)</SPAN></FONT> <o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Donovan Arnold [mailto:donovanjarnold2005@yahoo.com] <BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Saturday, April 21, 2007 4:09 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> Tom Hansen; 'Paul Rumelhart'; vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Vision2020] Palouse Monopoly Empire Mall; Gas/Food
prices</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana color=#333333 size=1><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 8pt; COLOR: #333333; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tom,</SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Actually,
having delivered goods to a giant Wal-Mart warehouse, I believe I am a little better aware of their distribution system than you are.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wal-Mart contracts outside transportation companies, like Swift, JB Hunt, Gordon, etc, to pick up and deliver goods to their major distribution centers in places like <?xml:namespace prefix = u1 /><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Hermiston</u1:City></st1:City>, <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">OR</u1:State></st1:State> or <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Salt Lake City</u1:City></st1:City>, <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">UT.</u1:State></u1:place></st1:State></st1:place> Once they get to the distribution centers Wal-Mart owned trucks, governed at the speed limit of 65 MPH, with drivers making about 10-20% more than the average truck driver, pick up the merchandise and deliver it to the individual stores.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wal Mart has much more control over its transportation and distribution system than most other companies. They can warehouse and change routes and deliveries. They in fact do not rush their merchandise, they know well in advance what they need and when they need it. A Wal Mart truck is never in a hurry. In fact, they are probably the second slowest truck on the
road, behind Swift. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The markets that are most injured by rising gas prices are shippers like Fed Ex that burn lots of fuel driving quickly. Also reefer vans, that haul perishable items like groceries will be hurt. Food items have a limited time frame and cannot change delivery times or routes to make up for the increase in gas prices. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The JIT you are
referring to is in reference to local trucks because they don't waste space at stores for storage and maximize selling space, so that Mark Solomon can have grease pens or <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Saundra Lund</st1:PersonName> can find that specialty item she complains about not finding. If Wal-Mart stored stuff behind the counter, could you imagine how big the stores would have to be?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Best,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Donovan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Tom Hansen <thansen@moscow.com></SPAN></I></B> wrote:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none"> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wal-Mart uses the “Just In Time” (JIT) inventory system. This system eliminates warehousing of inventory. JIT requires extensive coordination between Wal-Mart and its suppliers. Suppliers
must be able to ship required amounts of merchandise to specific locations at the time the products are required.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Wal-Mart’s “inventory” is either on the shelves in the store or on the road in transit. As such, any increase in gasoline prices drastically effects costs to Wal-Mart.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Guess who ultimately pays the
difference in increased gas prices? It ain’t Wal-Mart.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><u1:City u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"> <DIV class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Arnold</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></u1:place></u1:City> goes on to state:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY:
Arial">“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.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Since WinCo is, as <u1:City u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arnold</u1:place></u1:City></st1:place></st1:City> suggests, a “discount” grocery store, wouldn’t it lose its “discount” status if it were to raise its prices to (or above) those of Rosauers or Safeway?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY:
Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Or is <u1:City u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Arnold</u1:place></u1:City></st1:place></st1:City> suggesting that Winco undercuts their competition (Rosauers and Safeway) that they (WinCo) can charge whatever price they want? HUH?!?!?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Tom Hansen<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV><u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:City u2:st="on"> <DIV class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face=Arial color=navy
size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Moscow</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></u1:City>, <u1:State u2:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Idaho</u1:State></st1:State></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></u1:place></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">"We're a town of about 23,000 with 10,000 college students. The college students are not very active in local elections (thank goodness!)."<BR><BR>- Dale Courtney (March 28, 2007)</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext"> <HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: windowtext; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com] <B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">On Behalf Of </SPAN></B>Paul Rumelhart<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Saturday, April 21, 2007 2:21 PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> vision2020@moscow.com<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> Re: [Vision2020] Palouse Monopoly Empire Mall;
Gas/Food prices</SPAN></FONT><FONT color=black><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Food prices are only going to go up even more for several reasons;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">1) The massive extinction of honey bees has created a void in pollination of 1/3 of the <u1:country-region u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</u1:place></u1:country-region></st1:place></st1:country-region> food supply. 60% of honey bees have died, with no cure or solution
in the near future.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">2) Increases in fuel prices increase the shipping costs of food. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">3) Many crops were wiped out this year due in the freakish winter storms. For example, oranges had a massive freeze.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">6) The owners of the Palouse Empire Mall are raising their rents. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">I think it is obvious, <u1:City u2:st="on"><u1:place u2:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Moscow</u1:place></u1:City></st1:place></st1:City> 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. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times
New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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 <u1:place u2:st="on"><u1:PlaceType u2:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</u1:PlaceType></st1:PlaceType> <u1:PlaceName u2:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Assessor</u1:PlaceName></u1:place></st1:PlaceName></st1:place> has it listed as. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE:
12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Best,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Donovan<BR><BR><B><I><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic">Ellen Roskovich <A href="mailto:gussie443@hotmail.com"><gussie443@hotmail.com></A></SPAN></I></B> wrote:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; MARGIN-TOP: 5pt; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; MARGIN-LEFT: 3.75pt; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 1.5pt solid; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: medium
none"> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">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?</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><STRONG><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ellen Roskovich</SPAN></FONT></B></STRONG><o:p></o:p></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><BR clear=all><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=2> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><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> =======================================================<BR>List services made available by First Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR><A href="http://www.fsr.net/">http://www.fsr.net</A> <BR><A href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</A><BR>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=1> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?<BR>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> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <HR align=center width="90%" SIZE=4> </SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">=======================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> List services made available by First Step Internet, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
href="http://www.fsr.net/">http://www.fsr.net</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A href="mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com">mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE><PRE><FONT face="Courier New" color=black size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt">=======================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></PRE> <DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext">=======================================================<BR>List services made available by First
Step Internet, <BR>serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <BR>http://www.fsr.net <BR>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<BR>=======================================================<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext"> <HR align=center width="100%" SIZE=1> </SPAN></FONT></DIV> <DIV class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: windowtext">Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?<BR>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> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE><BR><p> 
<hr size=1>Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?<br> Check out
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