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Letters to the Editor published August 31, 2011
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Sad tactics used by project foes

Editor, Ceres Courier,

The tenant restrictions imposed on Walmart is unique in that the same is not true of other retail outlets in the so-called "growth oriented" city of Ceres.

The notable competitors to name a couple - Food 4 Less and Savemart - feel that any restrictions imposed on Walmart's existing location constitutes sufficient grounds to deny Walmart moving to a new location.

Note well, fellow Cereans (small business owners too) not once during the Ceres City Council hearings did these Walmart competitors ever allude to the fact that they employ tenant restrictions as well and rather drastic measures that deny local competition.

In Antioch, Save Mart closed its store down and this, too, after extending its lease for an additional five years so much so that no competitor could move in to the shopping center. This space will remain vacant and the shopping center owner is livid in that he will not be able to havea major anchor tenant who will be a draw card for customer traffic to his complex. According to the local press, neighboring merchants claim that this move will cost them dearly customerwise. Perhaps this is Save Mart's concept of being a good neighbor.

Sad indeed are the tactics being used - which in the opinion of the writer is balderdash. Attorney Brett Jolley and the group called "Citizens for Ceres" have resorted to attempting to create meaningless opposition to the Walmart Supercenter. Allegedly 200 or so families as opposed to a genuine 10,000 plus area residents who look upon this undertaking by Walmart as a blessing in more ways than one!

There are so many like-minded persons who believe it will serve these detractors better to address the poor state of the plaza which houses the current Savemart complex in Ceres firmly.

Reasonable minds will dictate that their decrying Walmart's re-tenanting plan as being insufficient is indeed extremely unreasonable.

It is time for wavering minds such as Vice-mayor Ken Lane has demonstrated to see through this façade and take a firm stand and vote yes to the ambitious and well thought out Walmart project. Healthy competition is what we all need. If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen, then please leave.

We, the very concerned citizens, urge the erstwhile City Council to see through these spoilers and boldly take the step that will benefit the citizens of Ceres - and we are not alluding just to the group calling themselves "Citizens for Ceres" but the vast majority of the Cereans - and unanimously vote 'yes" to this very beneficial and long awaited project.

Procrastination is the thief of time!

Please note that Walmart has been a tremendous community partner and to wit have never engaged in such nefarious practices which surely are detrimental both to communities and consumers alike.

For this reason alone I stand firm with Walmart.

Gary Rambaran,

Ceres

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Opportunities like this do not come often

Editor, Ceres Courier,

I think I can speak on behalf of all the Walmart supporters who attended the Monday, Aug. 22 City Council hearing when I say, approve it already!

The council members all agreed that they are pleased with what Walmart has proposed, but due to Vice Mayor Lane acting like nothing more than an unreasonable obstructionist, we are left where we started - an aging, over-shopped Walmart store and dwindling availability jobs for Ceres residents. These are desperate, challenging times for families and to watch an already lengthy process be held up for one person is extremely frustrating.

Over 10,000 area residents have voiced their support for the project and the company has delivered plans to build a beautiful new store that will serve the needs of the community, along with a plan to re-tenant the old store. What more does Vice Mayor Lane want?

Opportunities like this one do not come often and we would be foolish to require Walmart to jump through more hoops to build here. Approve the project already, we need it.

Gladys Boland,

Ceres

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CPD to minimize checkpoint delays

Editor, Ceres Courier,

In the August 24, edition of the Ceres Courier, a citizen expressed concerns about the negative impacts caused by a recent Ceres Police DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint. Specifically, the author was distressed about the lengthy traffic delays caused by the checkpoint, the wasted fuel and the motorist imposition. This is simply to say that these concerns are legitimate and that we will change our future checkpoint traffic management plans to mitigate as much of these delays as possible.

Our officers were overwhelmed with the number of unlicensed (or suspended) drivers and other violations that occurred during this last checkpoint. We will work to achieve an improved balance between the need for these important traffic enforcement activities verse the problems we create for law-abiding motorists.

I apologize for the inconvenience and I appreciate the citizen feedback.

Art de Werk,

Chief of Police,

Cere

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Retire left-wing ideology

Editor, Ceres Courier,

Congressman Jeff Denham has proven his commitment to economic growth and job creation by vigorously fighting against job-killing taxes and regulations imposed upon businesses by out-of-step government bureaucrats.

Republicans and Democrat leaders in Texas have worked together for two decades in making it the top job creating state in the nation today; in part by reducing union power.

Responsible, conservative fiscal policy is a cure for chronic high unemployment and unsustainable entitlement dependency, not the cause. Left wing ideology needs to be retired - without a union pension.

Can anybody tell me how to get this message to President Obama, who is currently enjoying a traveling vacation on his "Magical Misery Tour" Hello-Goodbye bus? Wonder if he will come up with a viable shovel-ready, green jobs creation program while putting around at Martha's Vineyard.

Narinder Mann,

Ceres

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LETTERS POLICY

Letters to the editor will be considered for publication but must be signed with the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters should contain 250 words or less and be void of libelous statements. Letters may be sent to The Ceres Courier, P.O. Box 7, Ceres, CA 95307, or emailed to jeffb@cerescourier.com