The following is a letter to the editor April 25 The Explorer
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Wal-Mart choice was no surprise
The recent Vestar announcement that Wal-Mart would be the anchor store for their “upscale” Oro Valley Marketplace might have been surprising news for some residents of Oro Valley, but we’ll bet it wasn’t surprising to Chet Oldakowski. Remember him? Last year, Chet and his citizen’s group SOVOG (Stop Oro Valley Outrageous Giveaways) tried to tell Oro Valley voters that this is what would happen if voters approved the $23 million dollar Vestar sales tax incentive. SOVOG was right!
Meanwhile, Vestar was busy mailing out expensive colorful flyers and DVDs promising “an extraordinary shopping experience” with “unique, standout shops” and “No New Taxes!” if the incentive was approved by voters. No sooner did the referendum pass when Oro Valley residents were hit with a 2-percent utility tax and now the Town Council is discussing instituting a property tax as well! But didn’t Vestar’s flyers promise no new taxes? SOVOG was right again!
As reported in the EXPLORER last week (Oro Valley may stop using incentives to lure new retail businesses) several town council members are now questioning the wisdom of the Vestar incentive. Apparently, even the Town Council has now figured out that, dare we say it -— SOVOG was right!
In the March 2006 election, 42 percent of the voters were in opposition to the Vestar giveaway. But we can guarantee that that percentage has grown since the announcement of the Wal-Mart, the utility tax, and the impending property tax. It was a classic bait-and-switch sales pitch. “Upscale” turned into Wal-Mart. “No new taxes” turned into new taxes. Councilman Terry Parish, whose name and endorsements appeared on many of the Vestar flyers, asserted that this incentive would be a “home run for Oro Valley.” We’ve noticed that he has suddenly become very quiet. Could it be that he has finally figured out that his “home run” turned out to be a “foul ball?” Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! But, alas, it was never SOVOG who deceived you.
Robert and Diane Peters,
Oro Valley
1 comment:
A year later and I can still see faces of some who would not believe that a Wal Mart would be allowed in Oro Valley. It is the last thing most expected, well exceptthose who llistened to their neighbors and fellow citizens rather a developer.
When will we learn?
Yes SOVOG was right. Unfortunately Oro Valley lost, and lost big time.
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