http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911 It's hard to believe that more than 50% of the people of the Tehachapi area support the addition of a WalMart SuperCenter to the area. It will complete the sellout of the city to big box stores, which started with The Home Depot. Unlike that store though, WalMart will compete with nearly every business in town, and I can't imagine many of them being able to stay in business. Do we really want WalMart to come in, drive everyone out, and turn good ole Tehachapi into a soul-less place, lacking the small town charm that is already endangered? I certainly don't, but it seems inevitable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned or whatever, but I have a thing&nbsp;against WalMart. It is the largest company in the world by revenue and it got that way by taking avantage of situations like that of Tehachapi. It is the epitome of successful capitalism and free market policy, exactly what the country was built on, but somehow I feel as though WalMart is too good at it's own game, proving that you really can have too much of a good thing. While it's nice to have a place where you can conveniently get a whole day's shopping done at one place for cheap, it's unsettling to walk into one of their stores and realize that a lot, if not most of their clothing is made in the poorest of countries where the workers live on $1.00 a week. It's also unsettling to realize that while it generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue and turns at least a ten billion dollar profit, it's employees are paid considerably less than those working similar jobs at other stores and WalMart's health insurance doesn't even cover half of its US work force. Although unions themselves can represent a good idea gone too far,&nbsp;WalMart actively discourages unionization of it's workers so that they might be kept in a low-wage, low-benefit trap.&nbsp;Disturbingly enough this is exactly the philosophy that WalMart was built on, Sam Walton was quoted as saying: &quot;I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We're going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, and low-benefit model of employment.&quot; When I walk into a WalMart I feel as though I'm walking into a fake world where everything is generic, bland, and without soul or substance. WalMart to me is brightly burning star that has turned into a black hole, to use a galactical metaphor. It traps the least fortunate of the work force, those that don't have a college education and/or aren't trained in a specific skill, those that need money the most and holds them in a bottomless pit. The workers need money so they get a job at WalMart which then pays them a bare minimum and in turn (with the extra profit made from low wages) employs preditory pricing, thereby virtually ensuring that their own employees' first choice for shopping will be WalMart. A link to a funny comic, I'd copy and post the image on the blog, but&nbsp;God forbid I violate one of the copywrite laws: http://www.hartfordcrg.org/PDF/Wal-Mart%20Greeter%20Gone%20Wild.jpg &nbsp; It's hard to believe that more than 50% of the people of the Tehachapi area support the addition of a WalMart SuperCenter to the area. It will complete the sellout of the city to big box stores, which started with The Home Depot. Unlike that store though, WalMart will compete with nearly every business in town, and I can't imagine many of them being able to stay in business. Do we really want WalMart to come in, drive everyone out, and turn good ole Tehachapi into a soul-less place, lacking the small town charm that is already endangered? I certainly don't, but it seems inevitable. Maybe I'm old-fashioned or whatever, but I have a thing&nbsp;against WalMart. It is the largest company in the world by revenue and it got that way by taking avantage of situations like that of Tehachapi. It is the epitome of successful capitalism and free market policy, exactly what the country was built on, but somehow I feel as though WalMart is too good at it's own game, proving that you really can have too much of a good thing. While it's nice to have a place where you can conveniently get a whole day's shopping done at one place for cheap, it's unsettling to walk into one of their stores and realize that a lot, if not most of their clothing is made in the poorest of countries where the workers live on $1.00 a week. It's also unsettling to realize that while it generates hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue and turns at least a ten billion dollar profit, it's employees are paid considerably less than those working similar jobs at other stores and WalMart's health insurance doesn't even cover half of its US work force. Although unions themselves can represent a good idea gone too far,&nbsp;WalMart actively discourages unionization of it's workers so that they might be kept in a low-wage, low-benefit trap.&nbsp;Disturbingly enough this is exactly the philosophy that WalMart was built on, Sam Walton was quoted as saying: &quot;I pay low wages. I can take advantage of that. We're going to be successful, but the basis is a very low-wage, and low-benefit model of employment.&quot; When I walk into a WalMart I feel as though I'm walking into a fake world where everything is generic, bland, and without soul or substance. WalMart to me is brightly burning star that has turned into a black hole, to use a galactical metaphor. It traps the least fortunate of the work force, those that don't have a college education and/or aren't trained in a specific skill, those that need money the most and holds them in a bottomless pit. The workers need money so they get a job at WalMart which then pays them a bare minimum and in turn (with the extra profit made from low wages) employs preditory pricing, thereby virtually ensuring that their own employees' first choice for shopping will be WalMart. A link to a funny comic, I'd copy and post the image on the blog, but&nbsp;God forbid I violate one of the copywrite laws: http://www.hartfordcrg.org/PDF/Wal-Mart%20Greeter%20Gone%20Wild.jpg &nbsp; en-us <p>First I will have to tell you that Tehachapi was forever changed a little before your posted birth date. That was when the first of many waves of growth in the area started. Before that everyone knew everyone. As a kid you could never get away with picking your nose without your parents learning of your bad habits. But then you had no choice but to go down the hill to shop for just about everything. That was the last time the town was truly a samll quite town.</p> <p>Now you speak of the low wages that Wal-Mart paids it working staff and $1.00 a week sweatshop workers in some thrid world country. Well first I have to ask you how much does the local mom and pop pay their one or two employees? How much does K-Mart paid their staff? In most cases it is the exact same amount that Wal-mark by law must pay their employees. True, Wal-Mart doesn't pay medical benefit either, but neither does K-mart or the mom or pops. As for the sweatshop workers goes, true. But hte next time you go shopping you better start checking for the made in America tags otherwise you more than likely are buy a sweatshop product. Now that doesn't account for the fact that in some countries the exchange rate need to be considered also. Now the quote you stated that Sam Walton is credit with, I don't know if he did or didn't say it, but after reading about him I doubt it. I would really check out your source for that quote.</p> <p>Your last paragraph could actually be use to argue the merits of McDonalds, Subway, etc.. In many cases the work force of any of this minimum wage jobs a also second incomes for extra household earnings, a college student way to pay for school, or something that work experience. True many are people that are unskilled and have a hard time making ends meet, but from having had my wife work at both K-Mart and Wal-Marts over the years, the two are really no different.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115718 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115718 <p>First I will have to tell you that Tehachapi was forever changed a little before your posted birth date. That was when the first of many waves of growth in the area started. Before that everyone knew everyone. As a kid you could never get away with picking your nose without your parents learning of your bad habits. But then you had no choice but to go down the hill to shop for just about everything. That was the last time the town was truly a samll quite town.</p> <p>Now you speak of the low wages that Wal-Mart paids it working staff and $1.00 a week sweatshop workers in some thrid world country. Well first I have to ask you how much does the local mom and pop pay their one or two employees? How much does K-Mart paid their staff? In most cases it is the exact same amount that Wal-mark by law must pay their employees. True, Wal-Mart doesn't pay medical benefit either, but neither does K-mart or the mom or pops. As for the sweatshop workers goes, true. But hte next time you go shopping you better start checking for the made in America tags otherwise you more than likely are buy a sweatshop product. Now that doesn't account for the fact that in some countries the exchange rate need to be considered also. Now the quote you stated that Sam Walton is credit with, I don't know if he did or didn't say it, but after reading about him I doubt it. I would really check out your source for that quote.</p> <p>Your last paragraph could actually be use to argue the merits of McDonalds, Subway, etc.. In many cases the work force of any of this minimum wage jobs a also second incomes for extra household earnings, a college student way to pay for school, or something that work experience. True many are people that are unskilled and have a hard time making ends meet, but from having had my wife work at both K-Mart and Wal-Marts over the years, the two are really no different.</p> rm6 - While I can truly empathize with your feelings of frustration that the U.S. free market economy and the growing obsession with consumerism is sucking the soul from many small towns and communities, I have to say that I will shop at Wal-Mart if it means getting the best price and saving time and money in the process. <br /> <br /> Your reference to the statistics left out that nearly 70 percent said basically, 'that it they built it, they will shop' at a Tehachapi Wal-Mart - and those figures were from a 2004 study, prior to the most recent influx of new residents who may be a little more inclined to favor convenience over a costly drive to the nearest shopping mecca. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> <br /> As for low wages, I have done some informal polling in the area about local wages, and &quot;competetive&quot; is not even in the realm&nbsp; of possibilities for those who employ more than a dozen, unless they are union.&nbsp; I looked up on the Wal-Mart website and they claim &quot;our average, full-time wage is $10.51 per hour and we offer affordable health plans that cost as little as <br /> $11 per month in some areas.&quot;&nbsp; I don't know if this is factual, but it sounds pretty competetitive when you consider the dearth of even minimum wage jobs available in Tehachapi for unskilled workers - namely those who do want to pay for the college education or supplement their retirement.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I am also not a fan of unions, as I believe they bully employees into supporting their political agendas and they tend to make it pretty difficult to get proper union representation should you have a labor dispute. Can you say &quot;whistleblower?&quot; Because faster than you can say it, I can guarantee some supervisor will find some justification for the formal reprimand that will soon be added to your personnel file along with the remaining write-ups necessary to legally show you the door and ensure you can't collect unemployment benefits to boot. K-Mart is non-union also. Do you think that just because one of Charlie's Angels has a clothing line there those garments aren't made by some suffering soul in some third world country?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> I for one, look forward to being able to shop locally, have my town benefit from the sales tax revenues that will surely flow.&nbsp; And as I leave with my purchased goods, I will certain feel good about saying &quot;thank you&quot; to the young person who truly needs that Wal-Mart job so he or she can afford to go to college and get out of that economic trap you mentioned.&nbsp; &nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115723 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115723 rm6 - While I can truly empathize with your feelings of frustration that the U.S. free market economy and the growing obsession with consumerism is sucking the soul from many small towns and communities, I have to say that I will shop at Wal-Mart if it means getting the best price and saving time and money in the process. <br /> <br /> Your reference to the statistics left out that nearly 70 percent said basically, 'that it they built it, they will shop' at a Tehachapi Wal-Mart - and those figures were from a 2004 study, prior to the most recent influx of new residents who may be a little more inclined to favor convenience over a costly drive to the nearest shopping mecca. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> <br /> As for low wages, I have done some informal polling in the area about local wages, and &quot;competetive&quot; is not even in the realm&nbsp; of possibilities for those who employ more than a dozen, unless they are union.&nbsp; I looked up on the Wal-Mart website and they claim &quot;our average, full-time wage is $10.51 per hour and we offer affordable health plans that cost as little as <br /> $11 per month in some areas.&quot;&nbsp; I don't know if this is factual, but it sounds pretty competetitive when you consider the dearth of even minimum wage jobs available in Tehachapi for unskilled workers - namely those who do want to pay for the college education or supplement their retirement.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> I am also not a fan of unions, as I believe they bully employees into supporting their political agendas and they tend to make it pretty difficult to get proper union representation should you have a labor dispute. Can you say &quot;whistleblower?&quot; Because faster than you can say it, I can guarantee some supervisor will find some justification for the formal reprimand that will soon be added to your personnel file along with the remaining write-ups necessary to legally show you the door and ensure you can't collect unemployment benefits to boot. K-Mart is non-union also. Do you think that just because one of Charlie's Angels has a clothing line there those garments aren't made by some suffering soul in some third world country?&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> I for one, look forward to being able to shop locally, have my town benefit from the sales tax revenues that will surely flow.&nbsp; And as I leave with my purchased goods, I will certain feel good about saying &quot;thank you&quot; to the young person who truly needs that Wal-Mart job so he or she can afford to go to college and get out of that economic trap you mentioned.&nbsp; &nbsp; <p>Has everyone overlooked the headline??????????????&nbsp; This will be a Wal-Mart <strong><em><u>Superstore.</u></em></strong>&nbsp; Meaning it will have a grocery store also. I wouldn't worry about K-Mart as much as Save-Mart.&nbsp; I do not and will not shop at the home of CHEAP CHINESE CRAP!&nbsp; Why oh why couldn't we ave gotten a Target?!?</p> <p>What happened to to the business that Sam Walton built.&nbsp; Made in AMERICA used to be the Wal-Mart pride. Now Wal-Mart is just another big fat corporation that doesn't give a hoot about anything but making a buck on CHEAP CHINESE CRAP!&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115743 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115743 <p>Has everyone overlooked the headline??????????????&nbsp; This will be a Wal-Mart <strong><em><u>Superstore.</u></em></strong>&nbsp; Meaning it will have a grocery store also. I wouldn't worry about K-Mart as much as Save-Mart.&nbsp; I do not and will not shop at the home of CHEAP CHINESE CRAP!&nbsp; Why oh why couldn't we ave gotten a Target?!?</p> <p>What happened to to the business that Sam Walton built.&nbsp; Made in AMERICA used to be the Wal-Mart pride. Now Wal-Mart is just another big fat corporation that doesn't give a hoot about anything but making a buck on CHEAP CHINESE CRAP!&nbsp;</p> When Wal-mart opens, you will see K-mart close as well as many smaller stores. We will have many&nbsp;empty buildings in town to look at. Please say NO to Wal-mart. Keep what little part of Tehachapi we still have. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115748 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115748 When Wal-mart opens, you will see K-mart close as well as many smaller stores. We will have many&nbsp;empty buildings in town to look at. Please say NO to Wal-mart. Keep what little part of Tehachapi we still have. <p>I'm having a really hard time with this decision. I've dealt with all the recent&nbsp;strip malls&nbsp;and have admittedly frequented Starbucks often. That's about as far as it goes. I think I've been to Coldstone once to Don Perico's once and that ends there. One thing I beg of the council....NO MORE MEXICAN RESTAURANTS! It's a joke around here. </p> <p>Now back to Wal-mart.&nbsp; I just can't seem to warm up to the idea of one being here. I also think it will run K-mart out of business. I am not a big fan of Wal-mart and&nbsp;I rarely shop there. I have to admit I find it amazing that there are enough people here to actually work in the store. Isn't K-mart and the like always looking for people? I go to some of the fast food places here and always see the same faces. I swear there are like only&nbsp;four people working at one. lol It's insane! Anyways, It's coming, it sucks and there is nothing we can do about it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115806 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115806 <p>I'm having a really hard time with this decision. I've dealt with all the recent&nbsp;strip malls&nbsp;and have admittedly frequented Starbucks often. That's about as far as it goes. I think I've been to Coldstone once to Don Perico's once and that ends there. One thing I beg of the council....NO MORE MEXICAN RESTAURANTS! It's a joke around here. </p> <p>Now back to Wal-mart.&nbsp; I just can't seem to warm up to the idea of one being here. I also think it will run K-mart out of business. I am not a big fan of Wal-mart and&nbsp;I rarely shop there. I have to admit I find it amazing that there are enough people here to actually work in the store. Isn't K-mart and the like always looking for people? I go to some of the fast food places here and always see the same faces. I swear there are like only&nbsp;four people working at one. lol It's insane! Anyways, It's coming, it sucks and there is nothing we can do about it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>jer72, look here <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html</a> and read under Nelson Lichtenstein.</p> <p>I know that most of WalMart's practices are used in other large stores like Kmart, but they don't have the terrible reputation that WalMart does of gutting towns of not only their smaller businesses, but of their (in my opinion) feeling of originality. I'm also aware that the mom and pop stores don't pay that much and don't give benefits, but (1) they really can't afford to and WalMart can but doesn't and (2) those small stores don't gut (or hold a monopoly on) the local economy.</p> <p>It just seems to me that WalMart is different from Kmart and Target, the atmosphere is different, and the effect on the community seems different (maybe not, but I just don't like WalMart). A Target seems to be a much better choice. I'm against WalMart because of the feeling it will give this town. I know that change is inevitable, but this seems to be about the worst thing that could come to town.</p> <p>As for you sushisoo, I totally understand the want for convenience...everything in one place at a low low price, it saves time and money...what could be better? If that's all you're interested in then, by all means, open your arms wide and welcome the WalMart Supercenter to Tehachapi. However, I hope that's not what it has come to for the majority of Tehachapi residents, I hope they are still interested in preserving what is left of the small town charm. I don't think the majority of the residents in the area moved here or live here to see Tehachapi become just another generic American town, I think they are here because of the wide open spaces and the other amenities that separate Tehachapi from the large city hustle and bustle that is encroaching from the northwest (Bakes) and the south (Lancaster and LA).</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115823 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115823 <p>jer72, look here <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html">http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/walmart/secrets/inside.html</a> and read under Nelson Lichtenstein.</p> <p>I know that most of WalMart's practices are used in other large stores like Kmart, but they don't have the terrible reputation that WalMart does of gutting towns of not only their smaller businesses, but of their (in my opinion) feeling of originality. I'm also aware that the mom and pop stores don't pay that much and don't give benefits, but (1) they really can't afford to and WalMart can but doesn't and (2) those small stores don't gut (or hold a monopoly on) the local economy.</p> <p>It just seems to me that WalMart is different from Kmart and Target, the atmosphere is different, and the effect on the community seems different (maybe not, but I just don't like WalMart). A Target seems to be a much better choice. I'm against WalMart because of the feeling it will give this town. I know that change is inevitable, but this seems to be about the worst thing that could come to town.</p> <p>As for you sushisoo, I totally understand the want for convenience...everything in one place at a low low price, it saves time and money...what could be better? If that's all you're interested in then, by all means, open your arms wide and welcome the WalMart Supercenter to Tehachapi. However, I hope that's not what it has come to for the majority of Tehachapi residents, I hope they are still interested in preserving what is left of the small town charm. I don't think the majority of the residents in the area moved here or live here to see Tehachapi become just another generic American town, I think they are here because of the wide open spaces and the other amenities that separate Tehachapi from the large city hustle and bustle that is encroaching from the northwest (Bakes) and the south (Lancaster and LA).</p> <strong>Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates.</strong> <strong>A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local merchants out of business. The jobs Wal-Mart creates are fewer, lower-paying and mostly part-time.</strong>&nbsp;<strong> Wal-mart will create, what 100 jobs? What about the employees of K-Mart, Save-Mart ect.???? I guess they can go to work at Wal-mart.</strong> <strong>Will Wal-Mart be able to hire them all? What will happen to the K-mart building, the Save-Mart building and all the smaller stores?&nbsp; Can you say, boarded up!!This is to high of a lost for a cheep pair of underwear!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; Wal-mart gives away money to the communities they are in to hind what they do to those communities in other ways.</strong> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115828 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115828 <strong>Wal-Mart destroys more jobs than it creates.</strong> <strong>A new Wal-Mart destroys jobs by putting local merchants out of business. The jobs Wal-Mart creates are fewer, lower-paying and mostly part-time.</strong>&nbsp;<strong> Wal-mart will create, what 100 jobs? What about the employees of K-Mart, Save-Mart ect.???? I guess they can go to work at Wal-mart.</strong> <strong>Will Wal-Mart be able to hire them all? What will happen to the K-mart building, the Save-Mart building and all the smaller stores?&nbsp; Can you say, boarded up!!This is to high of a lost for a cheep pair of underwear!!!!!!!!!!!&nbsp; Wal-mart gives away money to the communities they are in to hind what they do to those communities in other ways.</strong> <p>I think is funny how many people believe that Wal-Mart is going to kill all other stores. I have lived in a number of towns, big and small that have Wal-Marts in them. Guess what? The small towns didn't lose their mom and pops. They only way K-Mart and Sacve-Mart are going to died is if their management does not change to refelct the new competition. When Home Depot came in everyone was afraid that Ace, True Value, and Home for Less would go under, there still here. The funniest part of that is my understanding that Ace gets it wood from.... Home Depot. </p> <p>RM6,</p> <p>Like you said, I would have rather saw a Target than Wal-Mart. Target carries better product at a slightly high price.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115844 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115844 <p>I think is funny how many people believe that Wal-Mart is going to kill all other stores. I have lived in a number of towns, big and small that have Wal-Marts in them. Guess what? The small towns didn't lose their mom and pops. They only way K-Mart and Sacve-Mart are going to died is if their management does not change to refelct the new competition. When Home Depot came in everyone was afraid that Ace, True Value, and Home for Less would go under, there still here. The funniest part of that is my understanding that Ace gets it wood from.... Home Depot. </p> <p>RM6,</p> <p>Like you said, I would have rather saw a Target than Wal-Mart. Target carries better product at a slightly high price.</p> Jer - It's not just a matter of convenience, although as a busy working mom with small kids, time is also money. Gas is money. Time spent going to several stores looking for items not sold or re-stocked, is money. <br /> <br /> Just to put things straight, I do care about preserving what remains of the &quot;small town charm&quot; of Tehachapi, something I have watched dwindle over the past 20+ years. I could never live in the SoCal web of stripmalls and freeways. <br /> <br /> I hope the revenue Wal-Mart brings to this town will help the city complete our downtown renovation and make this a unique and inviting place to visit and live. I participated in the charrette plan and actually attend local meetings and I think it would be helpful if more residents also did so, instead of just complaining and unfairly maligning our city leaders. <br /> <br /> Will some of the tired old retailers downtown go out of business as a result of Wal-Mart? Sorry to say it, but the answer is yes, definitely. No disrespect, but some of them desperately need to update what they offer and make it interesting to the general population. I don't know about you, but when I visit some place I&nbsp; seldom buy craft supplies and used nick-nacks.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Personally, I think Save Mart will suffer less than Albertson's since they do go out of their way to offer personal service and familiar faces that are well known participants in this community. <br /> <br /> For a time, I lived in a very small and isolated area that first opened a KMart, then a Costco and finally a WalMart, all in a matter of two years. At first KMart faltered a bit, but as WalMart became the usual crowded and disorganized department store hustle, the two began to compete and it was good for shoppers. Costco seemed to even things out across the board. I wish our society weren't so consumer oriented, but I guess I contribute to the cycle, because when I need something, I'm guilty of the &quot;need it now&quot; mentality as much as the next gal. &nbsp; <br /> <br /> Growth is unfortunately, inevitable. I hope our leaders&nbsp; will work to attract not just more retailers, but other industry and professional businesses so that local people can afford to both live and work locally, earning a decent living so they can actually have time to enjoy our unique mountain community's small town character. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115896 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115896 Jer - It's not just a matter of convenience, although as a busy working mom with small kids, time is also money. Gas is money. Time spent going to several stores looking for items not sold or re-stocked, is money. <br /> <br /> Just to put things straight, I do care about preserving what remains of the &quot;small town charm&quot; of Tehachapi, something I have watched dwindle over the past 20+ years. I could never live in the SoCal web of stripmalls and freeways. <br /> <br /> I hope the revenue Wal-Mart brings to this town will help the city complete our downtown renovation and make this a unique and inviting place to visit and live. I participated in the charrette plan and actually attend local meetings and I think it would be helpful if more residents also did so, instead of just complaining and unfairly maligning our city leaders. <br /> <br /> Will some of the tired old retailers downtown go out of business as a result of Wal-Mart? Sorry to say it, but the answer is yes, definitely. No disrespect, but some of them desperately need to update what they offer and make it interesting to the general population. I don't know about you, but when I visit some place I&nbsp; seldom buy craft supplies and used nick-nacks.&nbsp; <br /> <br /> Personally, I think Save Mart will suffer less than Albertson's since they do go out of their way to offer personal service and familiar faces that are well known participants in this community. <br /> <br /> For a time, I lived in a very small and isolated area that first opened a KMart, then a Costco and finally a WalMart, all in a matter of two years. At first KMart faltered a bit, but as WalMart became the usual crowded and disorganized department store hustle, the two began to compete and it was good for shoppers. Costco seemed to even things out across the board. I wish our society weren't so consumer oriented, but I guess I contribute to the cycle, because when I need something, I'm guilty of the &quot;need it now&quot; mentality as much as the next gal. &nbsp; <br /> <br /> Growth is unfortunately, inevitable. I hope our leaders&nbsp; will work to attract not just more retailers, but other industry and professional businesses so that local people can afford to both live and work locally, earning a decent living so they can actually have time to enjoy our unique mountain community's small town character. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I, for one, can't wait for them to open the Wal Mart!&nbsp; I live in Cal City and have to drive 45min to an hour to Lancaster or Ridgecrest to get to any sort of super center.&nbsp; We dont even have so much as a real grocery store and have to drive to Mojave to get that!&nbsp; I am lucky.&nbsp; We are active duty military so we can shop on base, but the main store has high prices and low quality!&nbsp; We routinely travel to Tehachapi to the Home Depot.&nbsp; I have come through to Tehachapi Turf on a coupld of occasions and have enjoyed the area.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I think by having a Walmart Superstore there, more people will come to Tehachapi.&nbsp; Thats can be like a double edged sword, people like me who come more often will likely stop and see some of your local vendors!&nbsp; (Back East we call those &quot;mom and pop stores&quot;) and get to know the locals.&nbsp; On the other blade.. you will get a few of the folks that are not there for shopping... It will be your job as a community to learn how to figure out who is who and protect your neighbors and yourselves!&nbsp; I think by just keeping your eyes open, this will be a great experience for Tehachapi!</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I only wish they had put it in Cal City!!!!</font></strong></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115915 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_115915 <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I, for one, can't wait for them to open the Wal Mart!&nbsp; I live in Cal City and have to drive 45min to an hour to Lancaster or Ridgecrest to get to any sort of super center.&nbsp; We dont even have so much as a real grocery store and have to drive to Mojave to get that!&nbsp; I am lucky.&nbsp; We are active duty military so we can shop on base, but the main store has high prices and low quality!&nbsp; We routinely travel to Tehachapi to the Home Depot.&nbsp; I have come through to Tehachapi Turf on a coupld of occasions and have enjoyed the area.</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I think by having a Walmart Superstore there, more people will come to Tehachapi.&nbsp; Thats can be like a double edged sword, people like me who come more often will likely stop and see some of your local vendors!&nbsp; (Back East we call those &quot;mom and pop stores&quot;) and get to know the locals.&nbsp; On the other blade.. you will get a few of the folks that are not there for shopping... It will be your job as a community to learn how to figure out who is who and protect your neighbors and yourselves!&nbsp; I think by just keeping your eyes open, this will be a great experience for Tehachapi!</font></strong></p> <p><strong><font face="Comic Sans MS" color="#0000ff">I only wish they had put it in Cal City!!!!</font></strong></p> Jer72, Home Depot hasn't even been here a year yet.  I think it is unfair to say that their presence hasn't effected the local hardware/lumber stores.  I am opposed to WalMart mainly because I don't want to see an empty, boarded up building where the KMart currently operates.  I have wavered back and forth about my feelings towards WalMart's business practices, and their presence in smaller towns.  I don't believe any large retail business in the United States today operates in a way that is fair and beneficial to customers, employees, townspeople, distributors, or manufacturers and their employees.  As has been stated, Target utilizes many of the same practices as WalMart, their clothes just happen to be a little more stylish and made in Vietnam instead of China.  We are all truly to blame for WalMart and their empire.  We all believe we deserve flat screen TV's, lots of soda, new clothes, videogames, dvd's, and shiny new toys.  WalMart is simply catering to what we all want and are spending our money on.  Unless 85% of the people in our country changed our priorities, and refused to spend every last dime of every paycheck, demanded and purchased quality goods (clothes, food, etc.) we can't really cuss WalMart.  We should cuss ourselves first and change our habits as individuals so that we hopefully make impacts on those around us because of the example set. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116079 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116079 Jer72, Home Depot hasn't even been here a year yet.  I think it is unfair to say that their presence hasn't effected the local hardware/lumber stores.  I am opposed to WalMart mainly because I don't want to see an empty, boarded up building where the KMart currently operates.  I have wavered back and forth about my feelings towards WalMart's business practices, and their presence in smaller towns.  I don't believe any large retail business in the United States today operates in a way that is fair and beneficial to customers, employees, townspeople, distributors, or manufacturers and their employees.  As has been stated, Target utilizes many of the same practices as WalMart, their clothes just happen to be a little more stylish and made in Vietnam instead of China.  We are all truly to blame for WalMart and their empire.  We all believe we deserve flat screen TV's, lots of soda, new clothes, videogames, dvd's, and shiny new toys.  WalMart is simply catering to what we all want and are spending our money on.  Unless 85% of the people in our country changed our priorities, and refused to spend every last dime of every paycheck, demanded and purchased quality goods (clothes, food, etc.) we can't really cuss WalMart.  We should cuss ourselves first and change our habits as individuals so that we hopefully make impacts on those around us because of the example set. I get the feeling that most of the people that support Wal-Mart's entrance into the local economy do so because it will be easier and more convenient to get stuff, not because they think it's good for the area. You're right kdswi, we should be cussing ourselves for being too lazy and too *gasp* cheap (no offense to anyone) to keep Tehachapi from selling out to the largest corporation in America. I guess it's that ubiquitous &quot;it's better for me&quot; attitude. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116083 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116083 I get the feeling that most of the people that support Wal-Mart's entrance into the local economy do so because it will be easier and more convenient to get stuff, not because they think it's good for the area. You're right kdswi, we should be cussing ourselves for being too lazy and too *gasp* cheap (no offense to anyone) to keep Tehachapi from selling out to the largest corporation in America. I guess it's that ubiquitous &quot;it's better for me&quot; attitude. At our local Walmart&nbsp; Many of the people who work there do so because of the good insurance.&nbsp; Some have husbands who are farmers or operate small businesses such as a repair or machine shop.&nbsp; To these folks the very reasonable price of Walmart health insurance is a Godsend.&nbsp; On lady told me the cheapest insurance they could get if she didn't work was about five times the price of WM.&nbsp; http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116146 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116146 At our local Walmart&nbsp; Many of the people who work there do so because of the good insurance.&nbsp; Some have husbands who are farmers or operate small businesses such as a repair or machine shop.&nbsp; To these folks the very reasonable price of Walmart health insurance is a Godsend.&nbsp; On lady told me the cheapest insurance they could get if she didn't work was about five times the price of WM.&nbsp; <p><strong><font color="#000080">I am with kidswi on this. I feel this will be bad for Tehachapi. It's a lot to trade for an increase&nbsp;in tax dollars and cheep clothing. Really most of us live up here because of the small town life style. Why would we want to give that away. I to wish they would have built it in Cal City! </font></strong></p> <p><em>&quot;They only way K-Mart and Sacve-Mart are going to died is if their management does not change to refelct the new competition.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong><font color="#000080">Like letting go of employees, lower pay, selling cheaper merchandise. How else are they going to compete? </font></strong></em></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116158 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116158 <p><strong><font color="#000080">I am with kidswi on this. I feel this will be bad for Tehachapi. It's a lot to trade for an increase&nbsp;in tax dollars and cheep clothing. Really most of us live up here because of the small town life style. Why would we want to give that away. I to wish they would have built it in Cal City! </font></strong></p> <p><em>&quot;They only way K-Mart and Sacve-Mart are going to died is if their management does not change to refelct the new competition.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp; <strong><font color="#000080">Like letting go of employees, lower pay, selling cheaper merchandise. How else are they going to compete? </font></strong></em></p> <p><font size="2">My big question for the day is......Why in the heck did you move to&nbsp; a small town in the first place, if you want to turn it into&nbsp; like the place you left?&nbsp;Congestion, too much traffic, ugly buildings, etc.</font></p> <p><font size="2">&nbsp;I've been here 10 years and have never felt inconvenienced by having to go out of town (still never to W-M) to shop. I plan my trips wisely and take care of as many things as possible while I'm in Bakes or Lancaster, I always have, even before these ricockulous gas prices.</font></p> <p><font size="2">People&nbsp;moved here to get away from the same old everyday crap to a beautiful semi-secluded mountain town and now&nbsp;they gripe because&nbsp;they can't go to Wal-Mart....of all places....We didn't have a Wal-Mart when&nbsp;they moved here, so I guess from the amount of people that have moved here in the last 5 years, not having a&nbsp;Wal-Mart wasn't a deal breaker...They moved here anyway..And now people act as if having a Wal-Mart is their salvation for moving here.....I just don't get it.....maybe it's just me.</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116169 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116169 <p><font size="2">My big question for the day is......Why in the heck did you move to&nbsp; a small town in the first place, if you want to turn it into&nbsp; like the place you left?&nbsp;Congestion, too much traffic, ugly buildings, etc.</font></p> <p><font size="2">&nbsp;I've been here 10 years and have never felt inconvenienced by having to go out of town (still never to W-M) to shop. I plan my trips wisely and take care of as many things as possible while I'm in Bakes or Lancaster, I always have, even before these ricockulous gas prices.</font></p> <p><font size="2">People&nbsp;moved here to get away from the same old everyday crap to a beautiful semi-secluded mountain town and now&nbsp;they gripe because&nbsp;they can't go to Wal-Mart....of all places....We didn't have a Wal-Mart when&nbsp;they moved here, so I guess from the amount of people that have moved here in the last 5 years, not having a&nbsp;Wal-Mart wasn't a deal breaker...They moved here anyway..And now people act as if having a Wal-Mart is their salvation for moving here.....I just don't get it.....maybe it's just me.</font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">I personally will love to see a walmart here in Tehachapi... It is about time that there is some competition in Tehachapi. The stores here have outrageous prices to the point I cannot afford to walk into them. I personally have to watch every dime i spend and when I go to a local grocery store and see the prices for things I almost fall over in shock!!<br /> </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">And another point with walmart is I always here and see that they are in full support of several charities do you see Kmart or Target doing that? I rarely do...</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116188 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116188 <p><font color="#0000ff">I personally will love to see a walmart here in Tehachapi... It is about time that there is some competition in Tehachapi. The stores here have outrageous prices to the point I cannot afford to walk into them. I personally have to watch every dime i spend and when I go to a local grocery store and see the prices for things I almost fall over in shock!!<br /> </font></p> <p><font color="#0000ff">And another point with walmart is I always here and see that they are in full support of several charities do you see Kmart or Target doing that? I rarely do...</font></p> <img height="14" alt="Arts Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/arts_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants are awarded to programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for families to participate in cultural experiences.</div> <br /> <img height="15" alt="Early Childhood Reading Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/reading_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants support programs that promote a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age 9, to read together with their families.</div> <br /> <img height="15" alt="Family Violence Prevention Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/fam_viol_prev_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants support programs that strengthen families by preventing or reducing the cycle of family violence.</div> <br /> <br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 2px"></div> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px"> <div class="smalldarkgray">We recognize that certain communities offer unique opportunities outside the scope of our focus areas. Therefore, we provide each store limited funds for Target GiftCard donations. GiftCard donations are available March through December as funding permits. For further details, contact the Store Team Leader at your local Target store. </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">TARGET DOES NOT MAKE GRANTS TO: <ul> <li>Individuals </li> <li>Programs located outside Target communities </li> <li>Educational institutions for regular instructional programs </li> <li>Religious organizations for religious purposes </li> <li>Treatment programs such as substance or alcohol abuse </li> <li>Athletic teams or events </li> <li>Fundraiser or gala events </li> <li>Advocacy or research groups </li> </ul> </div> <!-- End Page Header --> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116202 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116202 <img height="14" alt="Arts Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/arts_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants are awarded to programs that bring the arts to schools or make it affordable for families to participate in cultural experiences.</div> <br /> <img height="15" alt="Early Childhood Reading Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/reading_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants support programs that promote a love of reading and encourage children, from birth through age 9, to read together with their families.</div> <br /> <img height="15" alt="Family Violence Prevention Grants" src="http://sites.target.com/images/corporate/community/grants/fam_viol_prev_grants_narrow.gif" width="323" /><br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">These grants support programs that strengthen families by preventing or reducing the cycle of family violence.</div> <br /> <br /> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="MARGIN-LEFT: 2px"></div> <div class="bodycommcatV2" style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px"> <div class="smalldarkgray">We recognize that certain communities offer unique opportunities outside the scope of our focus areas. Therefore, we provide each store limited funds for Target GiftCard donations. GiftCard donations are available March through December as funding permits. For further details, contact the Store Team Leader at your local Target store. </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; MARGIN-LEFT: 2px">TARGET DOES NOT MAKE GRANTS TO: <ul> <li>Individuals </li> <li>Programs located outside Target communities </li> <li>Educational institutions for regular instructional programs </li> <li>Religious organizations for religious purposes </li> <li>Treatment programs such as substance or alcohol abuse </li> <li>Athletic teams or events </li> <li>Fundraiser or gala events </li> <li>Advocacy or research groups </li> </ul> </div> <!-- End Page Header --> Well I personally support Wal-Mart super center coming into town. If the local owned businesses cannot compete, then I'm sorry to say but that's just too bad. It's called competition. Did you people honestly believe that Tehachapi was going to be a small city forever? Eventually every city builds up and expands and becomes a larger city with larger corporations and more modern conveniences. Obviously the good ol' folks are not going to be able to compete with Wal-Mart. That's obvious. But the point here is that Tehachapi is not going to stay a small city forever. No city is. It's going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. It isn't going to get any smaller.<br /> <br /> When I moved to bakersfield over 15 years ago, it was a nice &quot;town&quot;. No crime, no pollution for the most part. Now look at it. The place is so crime infested you cannot go for a jog at night unless you carry an Uzi on you. Which is why we moved to Bear Valley. But thats beyond the point. What I'm saying is that every city expands and gets bigger. Sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. I guess you all will have to find another small city to move to, until that city gets big and then you will have to find another. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116208 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116208 Well I personally support Wal-Mart super center coming into town. If the local owned businesses cannot compete, then I'm sorry to say but that's just too bad. It's called competition. Did you people honestly believe that Tehachapi was going to be a small city forever? Eventually every city builds up and expands and becomes a larger city with larger corporations and more modern conveniences. Obviously the good ol' folks are not going to be able to compete with Wal-Mart. That's obvious. But the point here is that Tehachapi is not going to stay a small city forever. No city is. It's going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. It isn't going to get any smaller.<br /> <br /> When I moved to bakersfield over 15 years ago, it was a nice &quot;town&quot;. No crime, no pollution for the most part. Now look at it. The place is so crime infested you cannot go for a jog at night unless you carry an Uzi on you. Which is why we moved to Bear Valley. But thats beyond the point. What I'm saying is that every city expands and gets bigger. Sometimes for the better, other times for the worse. I guess you all will have to find another small city to move to, until that city gets big and then you will have to find another. <p><font color="#ff0000">I AM IN SUPPORT OF WALMART BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR KIDS YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE BETTER DEALS!!!! WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE&nbsp; LITTLE SHANE AND I WOULD SAVE SO MUCH MONEY ON DIAPERS AND FORMULA AT WALMART. WE WOULD ALWAYS GO TO BAKERSFIELD TO STOCK UP! THEN K-MART STARTED DOING PRICE COMPARISON SO WE USED THAT IF WE GOT LOW. WHEN EVER WE GO TO BAKERSFIELD WE ALWAYS HIT THE COSTCO, WALMART, AND HOME DEPOT...... HOW COULD TEHACHAPI BLAME US OUR TOWN IS GROWING....TIME FOR WALMART!!!</font></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116224 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116224 <p><font color="#ff0000">I AM IN SUPPORT OF WALMART BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE FOUR KIDS YOU ARE ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE BETTER DEALS!!!! WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE&nbsp; LITTLE SHANE AND I WOULD SAVE SO MUCH MONEY ON DIAPERS AND FORMULA AT WALMART. WE WOULD ALWAYS GO TO BAKERSFIELD TO STOCK UP! THEN K-MART STARTED DOING PRICE COMPARISON SO WE USED THAT IF WE GOT LOW. WHEN EVER WE GO TO BAKERSFIELD WE ALWAYS HIT THE COSTCO, WALMART, AND HOME DEPOT...... HOW COULD TEHACHAPI BLAME US OUR TOWN IS GROWING....TIME FOR WALMART!!!</font></p> <p>The picture of it is so ugly. I hate it. I can't help it.  The only thing I'm semi happy about Wal-mart coming to town is the larger selection of children's shoes.The clothes there are ill fitting and poorly made. That old saying, "You get what you pay for!" rings all to true in Wal-marts case. I used to buy diapers in bulk from Wal-mart also. Having two kids in diapers for a long time the savings were great! I used to recommend their name brand to everyone. I however don't do this anymore. I went and stocked up on diapers in Bakersfield awhile back for my son and was extremely disappointed at the quality.  I didn't even end up using the whole box they were so bad. I got sick of changing out my child's crib sheets in the middle of the night.  </p> <p>Before anyone slams me. Yes, if it is here. I will end up shopping there for a few things I'm sure, BUT I'd rather make the trip to Bakersfield and keep this hideous building out of my town!!</p> <p>Exwife- Why do you write in caps all the time? It's like you're yelling. The added red font is a nice touch also. </p> <p> </p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116230 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116230 <p>The picture of it is so ugly. I hate it. I can't help it.  The only thing I'm semi happy about Wal-mart coming to town is the larger selection of children's shoes.The clothes there are ill fitting and poorly made. That old saying, "You get what you pay for!" rings all to true in Wal-marts case. I used to buy diapers in bulk from Wal-mart also. Having two kids in diapers for a long time the savings were great! I used to recommend their name brand to everyone. I however don't do this anymore. I went and stocked up on diapers in Bakersfield awhile back for my son and was extremely disappointed at the quality.  I didn't even end up using the whole box they were so bad. I got sick of changing out my child's crib sheets in the middle of the night.  </p> <p>Before anyone slams me. Yes, if it is here. I will end up shopping there for a few things I'm sure, BUT I'd rather make the trip to Bakersfield and keep this hideous building out of my town!!</p> <p>Exwife- Why do you write in caps all the time? It's like you're yelling. The added red font is a nice touch also. </p> <p> </p> <font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Peace &amp; Country, I couldn't agree with you more that's why the &quot;H&quot; I moved here to the small rural town from cement city and personally I want it to stay like that. I have absolutely no problem driving down to Bakes or <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lancaster</st1:place></st1:city> when I need the big box stores. The last thing I want to do is deal with the dirty snotty nosed kids running in and out of the clothing playing tag while their moms count their food stamps. Sorry but I HATE WALLMART.... If Tehachapi wants revenue they need to promote tourism along downtown so they come in spend their money and leave. That&rsquo;s my opinion&hellip;BOO to Wal-Mart!!</span></p> </font> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116280 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116280 <font face="Comic Sans MS" size="2"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: &quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Peace &amp; Country, I couldn't agree with you more that's why the &quot;H&quot; I moved here to the small rural town from cement city and personally I want it to stay like that. I have absolutely no problem driving down to Bakes or <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lancaster</st1:place></st1:city> when I need the big box stores. The last thing I want to do is deal with the dirty snotty nosed kids running in and out of the clothing playing tag while their moms count their food stamps. Sorry but I HATE WALLMART.... If Tehachapi wants revenue they need to promote tourism along downtown so they come in spend their money and leave. That&rsquo;s my opinion&hellip;BOO to Wal-Mart!!</span></p> </font> Katz, my opinion exactly, I don't think people should move to a city and expect it to change to what they think it should be, people should find a town that already fits their needs and wants. Of course stuff is more expensive everywhere up here than down in Bakes or Lancaster, but that's the price you pay to live in a smaller city. Indeed Tehachapi is growing and that is unavoidable, but I just don't like Wal-Mart...Target, Costco, etc...fine, but a Wal-Mart <em>Supercenter</em>?? <em>Always Corprate Greed, Always!</em> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116312 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116312 Katz, my opinion exactly, I don't think people should move to a city and expect it to change to what they think it should be, people should find a town that already fits their needs and wants. Of course stuff is more expensive everywhere up here than down in Bakes or Lancaster, but that's the price you pay to live in a smaller city. Indeed Tehachapi is growing and that is unavoidable, but I just don't like Wal-Mart...Target, Costco, etc...fine, but a Wal-Mart <em>Supercenter</em>?? <em>Always Corprate Greed, Always!</em> I have to agree with you Peace...I know  the reason I moved to Tehachapi was because it was a small town and I liked<br /> it that way!  Unfortunately it's not staying small.  I see no reason to have a Wal Mart here.  That's what Bakersfield, Lancaster and Palmdale are for...  You go THERE and do your Major shopping.  With Wal Mart comes Everybody that would normally keep driving by on the freeway.... Not to mention the Cal City  and Mojave folks.  Cal City has NOTHING out there; why don't they build Wal Mart There?  <br /> Give it a few more years, and Everyone that loves this little town  will be looking for a new place to live.  I know I will. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116322 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116322 I have to agree with you Peace...I know  the reason I moved to Tehachapi was because it was a small town and I liked<br /> it that way!  Unfortunately it's not staying small.  I see no reason to have a Wal Mart here.  That's what Bakersfield, Lancaster and Palmdale are for...  You go THERE and do your Major shopping.  With Wal Mart comes Everybody that would normally keep driving by on the freeway.... Not to mention the Cal City  and Mojave folks.  Cal City has NOTHING out there; why don't they build Wal Mart There?  <br /> Give it a few more years, and Everyone that loves this little town  will be looking for a new place to live.  I know I will. I agreed I like Tehachapi small also. But that was before the booms of the 80s, 90s, and the current one of today. I find it very funny to hear non-natives say they liked Tehachapi as a smal town when most made Tehachapi grow and don't remember a Tehachapi without the windmills, a populated Golden Hills, Bear Valley, or Stallion Springs. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116845 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116845 I agreed I like Tehachapi small also. But that was before the booms of the 80s, 90s, and the current one of today. I find it very funny to hear non-natives say they liked Tehachapi as a smal town when most made Tehachapi grow and don't remember a Tehachapi without the windmills, a populated Golden Hills, Bear Valley, or Stallion Springs. Windmills and community growth is much different than welcoming big box stores into the area.  I believe growth here can be done responsibly and reasonably.  I strongly resent any notion which suggests that we as citizens need to accept the small town atmosphere transitioning into a city scape.  I believe this town is continuing down a slippery slope with its acceptance of businesses such as WalMart. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116870 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_116870 Windmills and community growth is much different than welcoming big box stores into the area.  I believe growth here can be done responsibly and reasonably.  I strongly resent any notion which suggests that we as citizens need to accept the small town atmosphere transitioning into a city scape.  I believe this town is continuing down a slippery slope with its acceptance of businesses such as WalMart. <p>Well, I gotta put my 2 cents in...I moved to this small town I am now currently living in&nbsp; a little over 4 years ago. At the time I moved here there was a regular Wal-Mart, I loved it&nbsp;, it was small&nbsp;and it&nbsp;met&nbsp;most of&nbsp;my needs. You could go in and find what you wanted and at a good price, exactly what I/we needed. There was a few grocery stores at each ends of the town, there were stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General and Dollar Tree also, it was great, they were always running deals and so you felt you were getting your moneys worth&nbsp;while budgeting.( Oh and by the way the produce was good and fresh at the regular grocery stores&nbsp;unlike the now Super Wal-Mart.). Then they built the &quot;Super Wal-Mart&quot; and just like dear old Tehachapi, because it was something new and something to do, everyone flocked to the &quot;New&quot; Wal-Mart. It was nice at first but overwhelming and still is because for some reason in the past year or more they move everything around&nbsp;constantly and they constantly change products, drives me nuts. But antoher thing happened, hmmm, all but one regualr grocery store went out of business and so did&nbsp;a couple of the other bargain/$1 stores. Also, &nbsp;ALL of &nbsp;Wal-Marts prices went up! I would say by &nbsp;at least&nbsp;10% maybe even more on some products. So, mark my words, WAL-MART&nbsp; WILL drive out the small bussinesses and then raise their prices, can't remember the technical name of this strategy&nbsp;&nbsp;but my husband learned about this&nbsp;in his Microeconomics class at college and they used Wal-Mart as an example. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss KMart, I guess WalMart drove out KMart way before I got here and I now have to drive about 45 mins. to nearest KMart.</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117045 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117045 <p>Well, I gotta put my 2 cents in...I moved to this small town I am now currently living in&nbsp; a little over 4 years ago. At the time I moved here there was a regular Wal-Mart, I loved it&nbsp;, it was small&nbsp;and it&nbsp;met&nbsp;most of&nbsp;my needs. You could go in and find what you wanted and at a good price, exactly what I/we needed. There was a few grocery stores at each ends of the town, there were stores like Family Dollar, Dollar General and Dollar Tree also, it was great, they were always running deals and so you felt you were getting your moneys worth&nbsp;while budgeting.( Oh and by the way the produce was good and fresh at the regular grocery stores&nbsp;unlike the now Super Wal-Mart.). Then they built the &quot;Super Wal-Mart&quot; and just like dear old Tehachapi, because it was something new and something to do, everyone flocked to the &quot;New&quot; Wal-Mart. It was nice at first but overwhelming and still is because for some reason in the past year or more they move everything around&nbsp;constantly and they constantly change products, drives me nuts. But antoher thing happened, hmmm, all but one regualr grocery store went out of business and so did&nbsp;a couple of the other bargain/$1 stores. Also, &nbsp;ALL of &nbsp;Wal-Marts prices went up! I would say by &nbsp;at least&nbsp;10% maybe even more on some products. So, mark my words, WAL-MART&nbsp; WILL drive out the small bussinesses and then raise their prices, can't remember the technical name of this strategy&nbsp;&nbsp;but my husband learned about this&nbsp;in his Microeconomics class at college and they used Wal-Mart as an example. And I can't believe I'm saying this, but I miss KMart, I guess WalMart drove out KMart way before I got here and I now have to drive about 45 mins. to nearest KMart.</p> <strong><em>Just like our Home Depot. Prices are higher here then in Bakersfield and they never have what I need. Like a snow shovel and rock salt during the winter. Today they had no hooks and no one to help me find anything. Plus a lot of there employees are from out of town.&nbsp; You guys want cheep stuff ( price and quality) but we will lose so much in trade. This is a sad thing for Tehachapi!&nbsp; Home depot has only been here for a year Still to early to see if it will hurt the other stores.</em></strong> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117048 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117048 <strong><em>Just like our Home Depot. Prices are higher here then in Bakersfield and they never have what I need. Like a snow shovel and rock salt during the winter. Today they had no hooks and no one to help me find anything. Plus a lot of there employees are from out of town.&nbsp; You guys want cheep stuff ( price and quality) but we will lose so much in trade. This is a sad thing for Tehachapi!&nbsp; Home depot has only been here for a year Still to early to see if it will hurt the other stores.</em></strong> <p>farrinna, the term you're looking for is <em>predatory pricing</em></p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117072 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117072 <p>farrinna, the term you're looking for is <em>predatory pricing</em></p> It started with Kmart long ago....NOT Home Depot.&nbsp; It creates more pollution and uses more gas to drive out of town for things we need, http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117153 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117153 It started with Kmart long ago....NOT Home Depot.&nbsp; It creates more pollution and uses more gas to drive out of town for things we need, <strong>anonymous<br /> </strong><strong><em>Just like our Home Depot. Prices are higher here then in Bakersfield and they never have what I need. Like a snow shovel and rock salt during the winter. Today they had no hooks and no one to help me find anything. Plus a lot of there employees are from out of town.&nbsp; You guys want cheep stuff ( price and quality) but we will lose so much in trade. This is a sad thing for Tehachapi!&nbsp; Home depot has only been here for a year Still to early to see if it will hurt the other stores.<br /> <br /> <br /> cry me a river...</em></strong> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117571 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117571 <strong>anonymous<br /> </strong><strong><em>Just like our Home Depot. Prices are higher here then in Bakersfield and they never have what I need. Like a snow shovel and rock salt during the winter. Today they had no hooks and no one to help me find anything. Plus a lot of there employees are from out of town.&nbsp; You guys want cheep stuff ( price and quality) but we will lose so much in trade. This is a sad thing for Tehachapi!&nbsp; Home depot has only been here for a year Still to early to see if it will hurt the other stores.<br /> <br /> <br /> cry me a river...</em></strong> <p>HOW DOES THIS FIT IN WITH THE CITYS CONCEPT OF "LOCAL CONTROL" </p> <p>WHY DOESNT OUR "LEADERS" EVER LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE</p> http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117598 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_117598 <p>HOW DOES THIS FIT IN WITH THE CITYS CONCEPT OF "LOCAL CONTROL" </p> <p>WHY DOESNT OUR "LEADERS" EVER LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE</p> <a href="http://www.wherestehachapi.com/walmart-tehachapi/">get educated about wal-mart</a> and what they are currently doing to make the profits they make. http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_134281 http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/Blog/rm6/11911/#c_134281 <a href="http://www.wherestehachapi.com/walmart-tehachapi/">get educated about wal-mart</a> and what they are currently doing to make the profits they make.