An Open letter to David Malin, Vestar

The following letter to David Malin from an OV neighbor needs no introduction, other than for me to ask that every LOVE reader take a few minutes to read it. We can only hope that Malin and Vestar heed the words of Rosemarie Sauer----for our, and their benefit.

Art
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Echoes of Buckeye in Oro Valley Marketplace

Mr. Malin-

Are you aware that there is so much unrest concerning your development in the Oro Valley Marketplace? First, let me tell you that I am PRO-development as I come from a lineage of successful California developers . That being said, my father's philosophy seems to have been vastly different from your current philosophy. The philosophy I have been raised with and support is one in which development enriches, compliments and betters the community wherein it lies. My hesitation is with your misunderstanding of what I know the climate here to be and what I feel is forecasted in some trends I've been noticing as a resident. The vast majority of my neighbors on my newly built street here in AZ are Southern Californians - mainly Orange and San Diego Counties. Many of us live here and fly out to maintain business there. We moved here to enjoy the unspoiled beauty and upscale cleanliness of our development up North.

I know that Wal-mart is smart for you guys, but I challenge you that you are taking a bird in the hand, and that if you spoke to residents you would find a great desire to shop and dine in UNIQUE places - not necessarily 5 star or "upscale" - but unique. I know that the Nordstrom/upscale concepts are thrown around freely here, but truly if you LISTEN, what we want is what drew us and potentially many other highly financially capable shoppers to the area: Unique and inherent desert beauty. No where in the country is there a more amazing view so close and unspoiled as the Catalinas. When developers get this, they will be amply rewarded as was your competitor, the La Encantada developers, Westcor.

So, you likely want to refer me to this article by Amy Wolf Sorter in the Wednesday March 21 edition of GlobeSt.com which lauds the development as 'Green.' Funny though - no where in that is Wal-Mart mentioned! So then I refer you to the article in the West Valley View by Robin Clayton - Buckeye Says No to Vestar. OH! But I don't HAVE to refer you to anything of the sort because you were involved in that project as well!! Mr. Malin - do you want the same egg on your face here, in Tucson, as you got in Buckeye?? Need I remind you what you said yourself during that debacle: ""Our credibility is now in question." At what point sir, do you separate 'our', meaning Vestar's, credibility from your own? At what point do you consider what a tenant like Wal-Mart does to the property value's of residents like us - and our children? When do you lie awake at night thinking of the crime that you have brought into our neighborhoods by selling out to Wal-mart, as I am certain you are aware that crime rates are higher in areas near a Wal-Mart than in areas near any other retailer. A national study of 551 Wal*Marts found the average rate of reported police incidents for each Wal-Mart store was up to 10 times higher than the average rate for the nearest Target store-and six times higher for serious and violent crime!! But you know that don't you? So when sir, do YOU question your own credibility with how you conduct business and how you change the face of our hometowns, our children's lives, our planet?? Thinking back then to the article to which I originally referred in GlobeSt.com, I wonder how much of those promises to 'go green,' will be reneged by another of your tricky little amendments? People trust what they read, therefore are probably very pleased with what they garnered from Ms. Wolf Sorter's article. However, since what you do behind backs and closed doors hardly makes news (why, money talks and you have enough of that to control who has what to say, isn't that right), I am sure that when those 7.5 acres of heavily landscaped land in this new development in our Town of Excellence is glaringly absent, it will be too late to make the noise that many of my neighbors and I are making now! What will you have to say about your credibility then, sir?

While, like I said, I come from a family in development, I don't pretend to be an expert on commercial development - but I do know Oro Valley. Oro Valley is truly as unique as its residents. I want what is best for my community and I think if you truly want to be profitable and maintain some semblance of PR, you will rethink this WAL-MART idea. Isn't it enough that there is one a few miles south at Oracle and Magee? I say this as a friend to the industry and to Vestar while also remaining true to my residence here: I am sure that you are aware of the development that is proposed in Pinal County, if you want a fighting chance to compete without red tape like you haven't seen before, you will be wise to prove yourself in Oro Valley. Its a whole different ball game down here. Tucson is not Phoenix, Scottsdale and not southern California; perhaps, like Buckeye, our biggest concerns here are in regards to the precedents that are set in these new ventures. And like Buckeye, we do not appreciate your underestimating our ability to defend ourselves and our surroundings. For your own good and for the success of your ventures, I suggest you start studying the natives.

Respectfully,

Rosemarie Sauer

Oro Valley Leaders Failed To Protect The Community

The following is a "sad but true" commentary on the failure of Oro Valley leaders to protect and serve the people who elected them. It is a letter from Bill Berlat that appeared in the May 23 issue of The Explorer.

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"Although I am presently in Pinetop, I do have a home in Oro Valley, a once delightful community. My heart goes out to those unfortunate enough to have no avenue of escape from the decadence spawned by a Mayor and Council who have succumbed to greed and growth. Splendido is a perfect example of what should not be allowed in desert setting — a horrible Chicago-like tenement. And if that was not enough, the council approved four stories for it! The devil with the folks who live across the street, their home values and their views. Then there’s the crematorium — a blight in any neighborhood. And now, a Wal-Mart.

What’s needed, and I fear it is too late, are ethics, aesthetic and morality classes for prospective mayors and council members. This would teach them that their first obligation is not taxation, growth or getting on their knees when a developer waves his evil wand. It is the protection of the community, ensuring that a community as beautiful and tranquil as Oro Valley was, stays that way and does not become another noisy, traffic-ridden, desert-despoiling nightmare. That is exactly what a Mayor and Council in a community like ours is supposed to protect us from — degradation. Their charge should not be more money for a bigger government and another herd of motorcycle police. Their first responsibility should have been to preserve and protect the aesthetics and beauty of a small community like ours. And they have utterly failed in that. Mayor Paul Loomis and the Council Members we have had should hang their heads in shame for what they have allowed and encouraged."

What's Going On Here???

There were two articles in the May 23 issue of The Explorer. One article states; "Oro Valley Hires New Constituent Services Coordinator." It goes on to say," She (Suzanne Novelli) will manage the Oro Valley's reporting and response system on behalf of constituents, the mayor and council, and town staff."

Kind of sounds like a person who will get info out to the community, don't you think?

Well----let's look at the second article. This one has a headline that reads "Oro Valley Leaning Toward Nov. '08 Naranja Vote." The article states that the aim would be to get a bond to fund the park's construction, which would be retired through a town-wide property tax.

But---- here's the kicker. Read this statement. "Oro Valley will hire an outside consultant to run a campaign informing the citizens about the planned park and its costs."

Is it me that's confused? Didn't Oro Valley just hire a new person to inform the citizens as to what's going on? And now, evidently, this new employee is not qualified to inform us, so a consultant will be hired to "inform the citizens."

And why will the Polticos consider using our money to run public relations campaigns to get things they want. This is a misuse of public funds.

What's going on here???

Oro Valley First Needs Your Help

Oro Valley 1st is half way to its goal of 4,000 individual pledges to shop Oro Valley First. Quite an accomplishment in such a short time period. Their ultimate goal: To remove Wal-Mart from the Oro Valley Marketplace; and to replace it with a more appropriate retailer. If you haven’t already signed the pledge, click here to do so.

“Our pledge drive is similar to a successful campaign in Chandler, Arizona, in which Vestar removed Wal-Mart as its anchor and replaced it with other stores. We are asking Vestar to do the same here in beautiful Oro Valley. A 24/7 Wal-Mart Supercenter across from Catalina State Park and in the shadows of the Catalina Mountains is not right for our Town of Excellence,” observes Salette Latas in an email we received.

Salette ideinfied a number of ways each of us can help in this effort. Click here and visit “Time For Action” to learn more.