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<DIV><FONT size=2>There have been some letters to the editor of the <EM>Daily
News</EM>, an editorial in same, comments in the online versions of same, etc
bewailing that Moscow last its chance for a Super WalMart, and using the closing
of the Moscow WalMart as an opportunity to again libel Moscow and certain public
officials as "anti-business."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Although we may never know all the details because WalMart is
a private, closed corporation, the following is speculation backed by known
facts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>When WalMart first proposed a Super WalMart for Pullman, there
was a lot of opposition for a number of different reasons. The proposal
generated a court case, the length of which at that time was unknown with the
possibility that it could go on for years. WalMart executives not only
expressed frustration at this situation, but insinuated that Pullman city
officials, who ostensibly were supporting WalMart, were not being as vocal or
active in their support as WalMart desired.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>At this point WalMart made a proposal to locate a superstore
in Moscow. It's my guess that this was done for two reasons: [1] A
backup plan just in case the final, final court ruling went against WalMart
in Pullman, and [2] a stick to encourage Pullman officials to become more active
in their support for the WalMart proposal (which the officials then seemed to
do). From WalMart's point of view, proposing a Moscow store was
a rational, strategic business move.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I do not believe that WalMart ever intended to build two super
stores 10 miles apart in an area with demographics just marginally capable of
supporting the initial proposal for the Pullman location. Three
reasons:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>1. WalMart is closing the Moscow store
now;</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>2. WalMart closed the Lewiston store when
the Clarkston down-sized Super WalMart opened in a similar situation despite the
total demographics of that area being more propitiate than the Moscow-Pullman
area (considering all the outlying business Lewiston/Clarkston receives from
outlying areas.)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>3. The Super WalMart now being constructed
in Pullman has been downsized in area, products available, expected sales
revenue, and intention to be much more "upscale."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I think that the decision to close the Moscow WalMart was made
long ago, perhaps even right at the start of the Pullman proposal, and in
reality had little or nothing to do with Moscow's perceived-by-some business
climate.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>I think it is both dishonest and hypocritical for certain
pro-business people to equate opposition to certain big box stores with
being "anti-business." There are many who support robust local
businesses, and who shop locally even though there are now many items available
for much less cost on the internet, for example. There are many that would
support new, but smaller, more focused businesses.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>And we have councilperson Walter Steed hypocritically
bewailing the loss of business, jobs, and taxes revenue because the Moscow
WalMart is closing. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>This is the same Walther Steed who not only pushed for the
Hawkins Mall just across the Washington border, which if it had came into being
would probably have had a greater adverse impact on the Moscow/Latah economies
than the now to be constructed Pullman Super WalMart, but who negotiated a
sweetheart water/sewer deal for Hawkins acting ostensibly as a Moscow
Councilperson, and who during this entire negotiation and its aftermath never
revealed his close, pre-existing ties to the Hawkins family or his close
relationship to others that stood to profit from this now indefinitely cocooned
project. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Steed's attitude at that time as revealed by his
actions was clearly the hell with the Moscow/Latah economies --
business, taxes, etc, and let's get it on for my friends and
associates.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>For the twenty years we have lived here, Walter Steed easily
wins the award for being the slimiest, most hypocritical local
politician. But some of those officials, certain Moscow Business people,
and political ideologues are not far behind.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2>Wayne A. Fox<BR>1009 Karen Lane<BR>PO Box 9421<BR>Moscow,
ID 83843</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2><A href="mailto:waf@moscow.com">waf@moscow.com</A><BR>208
882-7975</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=bear@moscow.com href="mailto:bear@moscow.com">Wayne Price</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=vision2020@moscow.com
href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com">Vision 2020</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, April 12, 2010 2:19
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Vision2020] A Measured
Response........</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>Well, now that the Walmarche' is taking their business and taxes out of
state, it's time for a measured response....... STOP BUYING THERE!</DIV>
<DIV>Our elected officials already groveled and tugged their collective
forelocks and that didn't work. They DO understand money.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>There are at least two financial quarters before the store here closes,
and companies like Walmart only are worried about the bottom line, so hit them
where it hurts.</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT class=Apple-style-span
face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV>From Moscow Daily News:</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: arial, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 12px"
class=Apple-style-span>
<H2>It’s official: Moscow Walmart to close</H2>
<P
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.4; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"
class=date>April 12, 2010, 12:39 pm</P>
<P
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 1.4; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px"
class=date><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=Apple-style-span>Walmart
Spokesman Josh Phair said the company has decided to close its Moscow location
this fall in conjunction with the opening of the Pullman super center, which
is currently </SPAN></P>under construction.<BR><BR>The 225-250 employees
at Moscow Walmart will be transferred to the new Pullman site, but Phair said
he was unsure whether employees will have to go through the interview process
again.<BR><BR>“We wanted to ensure to our associates that whatever happens to
our Moscow site that they knew that their jobs are secure,” Phair said. “So
the plan is to relocate the store including all the associates.<BR><BR>Phair
said Walmart executives will decide in the coming months whether the Moscow
site will be closed indefinitely or open again at a later date. Phair was
unaware of any re-openings Walmart has had in the past.<BR><BR>Walmart leaders
also are considering the option of selling the Moscow building once it is
closed.<BR>“That’s certainly one of the scenarios,” Phair said. “Like I said,
nothing’s been really decided as you know, but that’s one of the options on
the table.”<BR><BR>The Moscow store is slated for closure on the day the
Pullman super center opens. With the Moscow staff already lined up for the
Pullman location’s positions, Walmart will hire about 100 new employees,
rather than the 300 — 350 they previously intended on hiring.</SPAN></DIV>
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