Editor, Ceres Courier,

Ceres Courier editor Jeff Benziger is to be held in high esteem with respect to his journalistic integrity displayed in his continued coverage of the Walmart Supercenter.  The approved project for Ceres is delayed due to cooked-up environmental challenges.

In his February 6 editorial, Benziger brought out that attorney Brett Jolley is financed by union money that he uses to systematically attempt to impede free market competition is as represented by attacks against the construction of Supercenters throughout California. In view of the economic downturn, Ceres cannot afford to be strictly a union town or a non-union town. We need more business, jobs and economic security - not political theater.

Mr. Benziger has also brought to light that Jolley creates (i.e., contrives) anti-Walmart group names that are tailored to give the false impression there is wide-spread support in each community he targets.  This explains why the group, dubbed “Citizens for Ceres,” has only been seen in the public eye at Ceres City Council meetings and in local print media, while expressing concern for only one issue: Preventing Walmart from building its Supercenter. Should they succeed, a union monopoly would exist for all high volume grocery outlets in town.

Although I am obviously gung-ho about the prospect of a future Walmart Supercenter anchoring a high-scale shopping center along Service and Mitchell, I feel equally strong regarding a prerequisite need for the current Walmart store to have a replacement vendor(s) that is contractually bound to take its place once the move is made to the new site. Jeff Benziger is correct in his claim that the recently opened Patterson Walmart Supercenter escaped the scrutiny of Jolley and his frivolous complaint driven groups due to the lack of large retail business, and the considerable distance from cities that have an abundance thereof.

We are too strong a community to cave in to the fact that we have a struggling economy, and a wealth of competition from elsewhere. The city revenue producing commerce we (individually and collectively) can create in Ceres is virtually limitless. One such enterprise that we should definitely entertain is a movie theater. Why not place it at the future Walmart Supercenter site (as has been previously suggested by others in our community)?

One final thought: why settle for Jolley’s theatrical song and dance act when we can experience “Prosperity City” presented in high definition 3-D?

Ken Groves,
Ceres