Concerns over Moscow's Wal-Mart

Let me try to answer some of your concerns.

Why does Moscow need another Wal-Mart? What exactly is the Wal-Mart supercenter going to add to our consumer options that are not available at the existing Wal-Mart or at other Moscow stores?

It will not "be another" Wal-Mart, it is a new Wal-Mart. The Super Wal-Mart is a bigger store with more things to make it one stop shopping including possible a tire store and a grocery store.

What will happen to the "old" Wal-Mart building if a new one is built? Is it going to be empty and an eyesore as it was in Idaho Falls?

Is it an eyesore now? If it is not now, how will it become one? I would think the building could be used by Target. Or Costco. Or maybe made into a mini-mall.

Third, I'd admit the figure given for insurance was quite reasonable for the individual employee - but how does that change if there are dependents to insure?

Is this a concern before you will allow a business to be built or come into existence?

As far as Wal-Mart employees patronizing other businesses in the area for food super Wal-Marts have a food court/fast food area.

Are you saying the only thing downtown areas have to offer are food options? Are we to believe this whole fight is to save McDonald's from Wal-Mart? Costco also has a food court with really cheap food. Oh wait, was that even a question?

On a personal note, I am disappointed that I've recently moved to an area that was appealing to me specifically because of its strong and diverse business community and cultural/educational opportunities (minus many "big boxes"), and I find that attractive element is to change.

Is that a question as well? You had questions, but that is more of a comment, I think. But Troy Idaho does not have big box stores because they have no real population base, nor is it a destination for shopping. Moscow is a destination. Us Pullmanites are trying to make Pullman a destination for those who live in Whitman County, but we are fighting with other Pullmanites who would prefer we send thousands of tax dollars to Moscow.

I am not anti-growth, just more selective. I would rather encourage new and different businesses - a box Target or Costco - than replicate a business that is already in existence.

Good for you. Now get your own money and open one of those places. While Wal-Mart is using their own money, I suspect they would prefer to open up a Wal-Mart.

Despite the fact a Wal-Mart Supercenter would indeed provide additional jobs, one must at the same time consider the potential jobs and businesses it would impact negatively.

Is there a problem with unemployment in Latah County? According to PARD there is. And according to PARD a Pullman Wal-Mart would hurt Latah county and us, in Whitman county, should care. We should not open the Pullman Wal-Mart. So while there is a need for employment that is not being met with the current businesses, new and/or expanded businesses need to open.

Regardless of what businesses are around, consumers have the same amount of money to spend today as they did yesterday and building any new businesses would redistribute money spent, not increase it.

Jenette Dunworth, Troy

I don't agree with it. I have more disposable income. I can spend even more than I have spent. With more businesses to spend my money at, I could add to the money that is around to spend. I am sure others are in the same boat.

Also, there is a fair amount of money that goes to Lewiston, Spokane, and out-of-the-area businesses on the Web where money is spent. Having more local places will allow that money to remain here. Surely, you don't want me to spend in Spokane when I could redistribute the money locally. But I bet that would not bother you.

I am sure what you meant is money within the community would go to Wal-Mart rather than the stores that are currently getting it.

Let's look at that. Staples, Wal-Mart, and Office Depot sell many of the same items. Yet all three are still in business. In fact, with both Office Depot and Staples coming after Wal-Mart, why wasn't there a big outcry that those stores would take away from Wal-Mart, which was already there? What about Ken's Stationery? They were hurt by Staples and Office Depot. Yet there were no calls for economic impact studies and no hearings. They just came in.

Hastings came in and hurt the record stores in the mall. There was an outcry from the business owners of those stores in the mall. But I don't remember the letters to the editor.

What does a salesman or a cashier make at Hastings? What do they make at Staples? What kind of insurance benefits do they have for the employee and the employee's family? People would probably need to look up that information because there is not a big effort to get them shut down and stop them from opening up.