Phil Gibbs Responds---Thousands Do Not Welcome Wal-Mart To Oro Valley

Our neighbor Phil Gibbs responded to a letter in the Az Star on May 22 (posted here). Wal-Mart Welcome In Oro Valley? You "Gotta" Be Kidding!

Following is Phil's response to that letter.

Wal-Mart is not unique destination

Re: the May 22 letter "Some in Oro Valley welcome Wal-Mart."

The letter writer says, "There are many of us who are happy to see it (Wal-Mart) come." There are many more of us who oppose Wal-Mart (more than 3,500 citizens signed a pledge not to shop at the Oro Valley Marketplace if Wal-Mart is the anchor) because of the $23.2 million sales-tax rebate the town gave to the developer, Vestar.

In order to sell the community on the rebate, the developer, several council members and some town staff promised the voters an upscale and unique destination shopping center. Then they announced that Wal-Mart would be the anchor store.

Many more of us in Oro Valley oppose Wal-Mart because of its predatory pricing policies and the mistreatment of its associates.

We are very angry at being lied to by the developer and the town. Perhaps the new Town Council will listen to the majority of its citizens.

Phil Gibbs

Retired, Oro Valley

Az Star Reports On Steam Pump Ranch Approval

On May 21, we reported that the Oro Valley Council unanimously approved the Master Plan for Steam Pump Ranch.

In our posting, we wrote; "One question that was not asked is this: What happens if the Pima County bond issue is defeated?"

In his comment on our posting, The Zee Man asked; "Why the taxpayers should pay for this?"

In a May 29 Az Star article on the Steam Pump Ranch, Bill Adler, member of the OV P &Z Commission, and on the task force, had this to say.

"People need to recognize that and understand that in the future they're going to be asked to assess themselves in one form or another for the cost of not only rehabilitating the property, but maintaining it and operating it as a tourist park."

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, the citizens would do well to understand what's involved in the financing of this facility.

Read the Az Star article here.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85737/241066

Oro Valley Marketplace Will Bring In Millions Of Dollars---To Vestar

The Az Star in their May 29 NW section interviews a couple of our neighbors that will be negatively impacted by the eyesore of the Oro Valley Marketplace.

For the rest of us, it will be an eyesore any time you ride by Oracle road, and more so, heading west on Tangerine from Oracle rd. You cant help but see the roof of Wal-Mart, with what appears to look like a giant pinball machine----scores of skylights. Wow! That really is "unique" & "upscale."

And----Please, don't forget----every time any retailer collects sales tax, almost 1/2 of this money will NOT go to Oro Valley, but directly into the pockets of Vestar!

Try to shop where it benefits Oro Valley----and that's NOT this eyesore marketplace!

Read the Az star article here.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/85737/241025