Walmart’s planned expansion
The article about the Walmart expansion, published on 2/1/17 states that they will be proceeding with their plans to expand their Clearlake Store.
Their promises of jobs and income for the community need further scrutiny. As occurred with their opening in 1994, their expansion will result in the closure of local small businesses who are unable to compete with the cut-throat practices of the Walmart Corporation. Lake County’s small businesses have been hit hard as a result of the fires of 2015 and 2016. They need our support in order to survive the predatory practices of Walmart.
And the jobs? Walmart’s corporate business plan includes paying minimum wage to workers and keep them on part-time schedules so that benefits don’t have to be paid. How is this of benefit to our community, when we will have to subsidize these jobs with food stamps, Medi-Cal and local social services?
The EIR process is ready for public review. The Planning Commission will most likely rule on it “this winter or early spring.” This gives us all the opportunity to review and comment on it to the Planning Commission. I hope that my neighbors will do so.
Walmart talks about sustainable actions, yet the only ones mentioned in their article were available twenty years ago. Where are the Solar Panels? Walmart could be a leader in new technologies, yet they choose to focus on their corporate profits, not the good of the community, neither local nor global.
Greta Zeit, Middletown
Mike Pence
Donald Trump tweeted, “The opinion of this so-called judge, which essentially takes law-enforcement away from our country, is ridiculous and will be overturned!”
In defense of this insult Mike Pence said,”I think the American people are very accustomed to this president speaking his mind and speaking very straight with them.” We are accustomed to this but does that make it right for the President to insult a duly appointed Federal judge? I hope even Mac doesn’t think this is OK, unless this is not what Trump actually meant and Mac will translate for us whom are affronted by this.
Pence said to Rush Limbaugh, “Boy, if there was a honeymoon, it was pretty short, Rush.” Given that Trump’s popularity at this point is 36 percent why is Pence surprised? Obama’s, at this point in his presidency, was 59 percent.
Pence called up Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to assure him that the US stood 100% behind his country. So I guess that when Trump insulted him he was not speaking for the US? Translation Mac?
But I wonder why Pence spoke up for Trump’s infrastructure spending which is a non-starter for the Republicans. Is this another of the series of lies Pence has spoken in defense of what Trump says?
Kevin Bracken, Kelseyville
Course of study
We appreciate your coverage of the college opportunities available in Lake County. It is good to have options for our residents to be able to complete a four-year degree without leaving Lake County if they choose.
I wish to make one correction regarding Marymount California University in Lucerne. Only a few of our students are earning master’s degrees in Community Psychology. The majority of our students are working on their Bachelor’s degrees in the areas of Psychology, Business and Liberal Arts. We are happy to be receiving new applications now, and encourage people interested to contact us for more information.
Kathy Windrem, Marymount California University, Lakeside Campus
