Another pro-Supercenter letter (7/2/04)

I have read a couple letters in your paper about the pros and cons of a (Wal-Mart) supercenter coming to Portland.

Well, everyone has an opinion. So here is mine. Let’s see if it gets printed, too.

How many of the people who oppose the Wal-Mart Supercenter are low-income families?

People are worried about the businesses losing money.

Well, I know several families in this community who go somewhere else to do their business because they can’t afford to do their shopping here. That’s because you have no competition so they can charge whatever they want.

Some people have no choice in the income they make due to unemployment or because they are disabled or even just too old to work anymore.

As far as employment goes, I believe if we get a Supercenter maybe some of those that are unemployed could get a job. Wal-Mart would have to hire more people.

People feel it is better to spend a little more on gas to go to other stores in towns such as Muncie, Bluffton and Greenville. What they save on their groceries far outweighs the cost of the gas.

As far as the tire and lube center, people go to other Wal-Marts and get that done anyway. So why don’t we help Portland’s economy and keep those people’s money here?

I know several people from surrounding towns such as Dunkirk, Pennville, Redkey and Geneva who have said they would come here if we had a Supercenter.

To me it’s pretty sad that a family who lives on a fixed income doesn’t have the option to shop in their town.

I hear all the time that Portland is a city of growth. Where are we growing? Because I don’t really see it.

As far as restaurants go, if people like the food it doesn’t matter which part of town it’s in; they will still go there.

So as for the people who have the money and are afraid of the competition I guess it would be a con for Wal-Mart to open a Supercenter.

But for the people who have to live on a fixed income it would be a “great big pro” to put in a Supercenter.

Also as I have read in your paper several times Wal-Mart put a lot back into our community by matching a lot of fund raisers like the car washes every summer to help the kids in the community. Seems to me Wal-Mart does quite a bit for Portland.

So you people can decide if the wealthy are more important than the low-income families.

Well, that’s my opinion which every person is entitled to.

So thank you for letting me say what was on my mind. It probably doesn’t really matter. But at least I got to voice it.

Thank you,

Tina Gilbert

Portland

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