Wake Up Oro Valley

Yesterday was a big day for the Oro Valley Marketplace:

• Four letters appeared in the Northwest Explorer decrying WalMart as the Anchor at the Oro Valley Marketplace.
• Vestar hosted a Champaign victory celebration, known as groundbreaking, at the site at Tangerine and Oracle.
• Supporters of Oro Valley First, an initiative to remove WalMart from the Marketplace, replacing it with two “upscale” stores, picketed the event.

And, Channel 4, KVOA, carried a piece on the 10 PM news. They interviewed our Mayor, who told us, like our Papa, how good all of this is going to be for Oro Valley. In other words, Paul, we should take our medicine and be good about it! They interviewed Salette Latas, from Oro Valley First, who tried to explain the issue: WalMart and its devastating impact on local businesses.

Let's be clear. This issue at hand is not about the Marketplace. It's a done deal. We know that 52% of Oro Valley voters were hoodwinked, by a massive Vestar advertising campaign, into believing that they would have an upscale shopping experience.

The issue is about one proposed tenant: WalMart.

Fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us!

WalMart is a downscale shopping experience. It does not fit what the voters were promised. It is unsuitable for a variety of reasons we have listed in previous postings like crime and hours of operation and light pollution. The issue is simple: No WalMart.

Town Council is not going to do anything about this. They are not going to make Vestar live up to its promises.

So, we must. Wake up, Oro Valley: Take Charge.