grosse-out wrote on Jul 19, 2007 10:18 PM:Here's the thing, Patricia; when you bought your cheesy little tract house, you neglected to buy the adjacent undeveloped property. If you had done so, you could control it. As Carlsbad paves itself over with bland little developments, everyone gets something to whine about. Airport, traffic, walmart, whatever. The fact is, YOU bought a place next to UNDEVELOPED land, which you do not control. Too bad...

Why worry? wrote on Jul 19, 2007 10:19 PM:Oceanside's stumble-bums have allowed 3,yes that's right THREE, in our city. We are sick of them but wouldn't wish them on anyone else either.

Tom, no longer in Carlsbad wrote on Jul 19, 2007 11:11 PM:grosse-out, you are so right! May I borrow your words for the next Patricia?

LNinOside wrote on Jul 20, 2007 6:53 AM:Why allow this corporate cancer to metastasize in our society when they refuse to provide satisfactory wages or health benefits for their employees? We must all do our part - each one of us DOES make a difference - ... keep them out of Carlsbad.

Ron wrote on Jul 20, 2007 7:33 AM:For any reason, any time, you can think of..... it just doesn't matter, does it Pat? You hate Wal*Mart, and Wal*Mart shoppers. You said it: It (Wal*Mart) affects YOUR quality of life. It brings low class people to your neighborhood, people of, how shall we say? Less substance than you.... you don't want them around you or your property. It, they.. reduce your property values? Then we have YOUR Wal*Mart breeds theft and crime argument, again.... dumb. Wouldn't all stores attract theives and criminals. Afterall, that's where the stuff and money is. I can imagine a "quality of life" problem being too many, or noise, or trash.. but she never mentioned these as problems. She simply hates Wal*Mart, and those who choose to shop there. Don't you Patricia?

Walmert is China wrote on Jul 20, 2007 8:16 AM:You folks who defend Walmart and who shop at them are ridiculous. They bring in cheap, shoddy goods from China to save you 30 cents while they poison you and hurt your kids with recalled toy products. As far as I'm concerned they could all disppear and I'd be happier. Let's go back to supporting our local merchants rather than China.

Sunny Creek Res wrote on Jul 20, 2007 9:15 AM:Bring on the mall!!!!! I hate driving two miles to the other malls!!!!

Bad for who? wrote on Jul 20, 2007 9:16 AM:All those people buying all those tract houses need a place to shop, and Wal-Mart's prices are hard to beat. Good for us consumers. Don't fault Rider for stating an economic truth. If you have to blame someone, blame City Planning ... they zoned it commercial ... and Wal-Mart's stockhoders have as much right as anyone else.

So Sad wrote on Jul 20, 2007 9:28 AM:While it may be the property owners right to build the WalMart, no one can say that this type of development in this particular area of Carlsbad is really good for the City. There should be some priority given to preserving the character of the area, and no matter how "special" the WalMart is supposed to be, it'll do nothing toward this end. Patricia's tract houses were the first in this trend, so if it does get built, I have a tough time feeling sorry for them. But that doesn't mean development like this isn't deleterious to the community. Let's see what sort of vision the City Leaders really have for the rural parts of Carlsbad. I predict a great battle ahead!

wondering reader wrote on Jul 20, 2007 10:10 AM:Like so many wal-marts, they promise cheap goods and low paying jobs. Please find out how much your city is paying in tax breaks to wal-mart for them to build in beautiful Carlsbad. Where will the mimimum wage workers they hire come from? Check out how much much it will cost the city to provide affordable housing and health care for their workers. Hope you all don't have to live with a eyesore in your neighborhood.

Christiemarie wrote on Jul 20, 2007 10:28 AM:Thank goodness there is opposition to the building of another Wal Mart "China Mart". The prices may be a little lower sometimes, but to those of you who support it: Do you feel good about giving an American child a toy covered with lead paint, or a bib filled with lead? Do you feel good about your hard-earned dollars going to support the build-up of the Chinese military? Do you care so little about your children and grandchildren and their future? The people of San Marcos kept another Wal Mart ("China Mart") from opening in the San Elijo area. May Carlsbad citizens have the determination to do the same. Good luck to you!!

Way Pro Wal Mart wrote on Jul 20, 2007 11:17 AM:Why don't you just get to your worn out wish: You just don't want a non-union success story cluttering your tiny lot, terraced front yard. Sounds like you got suckered with some pie in the sky "promises" in your CC&Rs. And the guy even came to make speeches about it to all you down trodden residents. Very convincing. Very sad. Boo hoo. As Richard Rider said, the new Wal Marts soon to blossom in our region will be a boon to all.

Freecom Lover wrote on Jul 20, 2007 11:41 AM:Indeed, Patricia, there are many Wal-Marts around already. But not superstores that include groceries. If there were more Wal-Marts than the shopping demand, they would not be trying to build more. If you don't want to live next to an unknown and unknowable large commercial complex, don't buy a house next to a large empty lot zoned commercial. Its true that most Wal-Mart items come from China. But look in Target and Sears -- no difference. The US does relatively little manufacturing any more -- people want to live next to a factory even less than they want to live next to a Wal-Mart. Perhaps we are all getting exactly what we deserve.... And Wal-Mart has excellent benefits, compared to other large retailers and grocery stores; health benefits are available to anyone who works enough hours to justify them. And the small retailers (that everyone wants to defend) rarely offer any benefits at all -- they are just too expensive for small businesses to afford.

josil wrote on Jul 20, 2007 11:44 AM:let's see: walmart is bad for costco; costco is bad for , say, vons; vons is bad for mom and pop grocery. so, let us return to horses and buggywhips. the problem isn't walmart, it's change.

JohnnyTrigger wrote on Jul 20, 2007 12:01 PM:Why is it that people try to impose their morality on others through force? Next in line on this phenomenon are the anti Wal Mart crusaders trying to save their communities from a multitude of alleged evils. What they end up doing is restricting choice & freedom because they supposedly know better. WalMart saves my family hundreds of dollars a month and that's my bottom line. Banning WalMarts ultimately force people to pay higher prices.

Amused wrote on Jul 20, 2007 12:42 PM:Wow! Didn't take long to get the NIMBY contingent going. I am very glad that people on both sides of this issue are expressing themselves. One thing that people like Patricia never seem to understand: they don't really represent the community -- just their little NIMBY piece of it. This will be an interesting process to watch!

Randy wrote on Jul 20, 2007 12:59 PM:Costco has a better business plan than Wal-Mart. Costco compensates its employees better than Wal-Mart.

Jack wrote on Jul 20, 2007 1:43 PM:Of course you're a NIMBY, Patricia. Different NIMBYs can have different motivations. Your motivation is sour grapes over a poorly negotiated "deal" where you expected a parcel of land, which you or your association didn't own or control, to be reserved for you to use as you wish. You said that building a Wal-Mart causes nearby property values to drop, but who wants to live next to an RV parking lot? The fact is your complaint has nothing to do with Wal-Mart specifically, it's simply your attempt to force those who own the land around you to use their land as you wish. You would be making the same complaint regardless of who was going to build on "your RV parking lot." Textbook NIMBY behavior.

Bill wrote on Jul 20, 2007 1:44 PM:I have every confidence that we the citizens of Carlsbad can beat back this encinitian style development. Failing that I will for the first time in 40 years work to replace any city council member who may vote to allow this to become a WalMart town.

Former Encinitan wrote on Jul 20, 2007 2:30 PM:Bill, I guess your term "encinitian" style development is a knock on that city. It should be noted, though, that during the battle of Home Depot, we heard all the same kind of nonsense that we'll hear abouot WalMart now. Some 13 or 14 years later, however, Home Depot is a pretty nice part of the fabric of Encinitas/Carslbad life, preventing people from having to travel to Oceanside for their hardware. Oh, and the half million or so revenue to the city isn't bad either.

Amused wrote on Jul 20, 2007 3:35 PM:Bill, I assume "encinitian style" is a knock on the fine city of Encinitas. I recall during the Battle of Home Depot that we heard the same criticisms of that company as we are going to be hearing here. It should be noted, however, that 13 or 14 years later, Home Depot is a solid member of the Enciniteas/Carlsbad communities and patronized regularly by people who don't want to go all the way to Oceanside for hardware. The half million dollars or so in tax revenue to the City of Encinitas isn't a bad thing either, nor the several acres of permanent habitat preserved just south of the store.

User wrote on Jul 20, 2007 3:47 PM:I don't want the Walmart in my backyard because it will bring traffic and criminals and dispalce all the cheap illegal-immigrants that work in my backyard for below legal wages. WAAAA!!!!!

To Bill wrote on Jul 20, 2007 5:50 PM:We moved from cookie-cutter tractville Carlsbad to our custom home on an acre, with horse trail in Encinitas. I'll take cool Encinitas anyday over the pretentious Carlsbad what-about-me mentality. And just to educate you, there is not a walmart in Encinitas...

John D. wrote on Jul 20, 2007 7:22 PM:What business is it of the politicians as to who builds a store where ? As long as they are obeying laws and being environmentally concerned, if it is a good store, it will work. if it is not a good store, people will not shop there and it will go bust. simple.

RobertM wrote on Jul 20, 2007 8:15 PM:Not everyone can live on an acre in Encinitas, but no one has to buy a house under an airport flightpath or near commercial zoned property. There are still houses in purely residential areas. It's a pain in the neck to move, but if you've made a mistake in your choice of house it might not be too late to correct it.

RichardinSD wrote on Jul 21, 2007 9:30 AM:It turns out that the Carlsbad Wal-Mart will be a smaller, more upscale store -- not a superstore with groceries. It appears that such superstores WILL be available in Oceanside and/or Vista (Vista is poor choice because it has a higher sales tax). The good news is that SOME cities have figured out that what's best for their citizens and their tax receipts is to allow superstores. Apparently Chula Vista plans two such super-Wal-Marts.

dee wrote on Jul 22, 2007 10:16 AM:In commenting to LNinOside in July22 paper, Wal-Mart DOES provide benefits for their employees. We have sick pay, vacation,personal days and good medical beneifts. Don't know where you got your info. Wages are comparable-better than "Mall "wages.People like you scream "No" to stores like ours, but shop these stores for great bargains while talking on your cell phone at the register and screabing at the cashier because you forgot a package. Wal-Mart is the best thing going for the low/middle class families.

Not a Fan! wrote on Jul 23, 2007 6:08 PM:I have alwalys hated Wal-Mart. Always. Why? This might come as a surprise to all the Wal-Mart lovers out there (loads of them from the number of comments): it is tacky and crappy. Seriously. The whole shopping experience. I suppose I could find a little more room in my heart for my despise for Wal-Mart in the event it were to go up (eeek!). PS: Don't hate me for having good taste.

Walmert is right wrote on Jul 23, 2007 10:59 PM:Walmart IS china and they do sell us crap from china that poisons peopls (read the news? yes *poisons*), and won't last so you have to keep buying and re-buying and end up paying more. Close 'em all and open up the shops that sell quality things for the money we pay.....and have people that really care about the business!! I would gladly pay more

RobertM wrote on Jul 24, 2007 3:53 PM:If you want to pay more for quality, it's available. You don't have to shop at Walmart if you don't want to. Some people want to save money by shopping there and should be allowed to. That's what the free market is all about.

BigTony wrote on Jul 26, 2007 7:41 AM:You holier-than-thou people are HILARIOUS!! If WalMart wasn't selling "poision from China" and "cheap" items etc etc., don't you think someone else would? As if! The argument about wages is made by illogical people. If they are so bad, how come they routinely have more applicants than jobs? They are able to CHOOSE who they hire. To say that the company should pay more makes no sense. If people did not WANT to work there, they WOULDN'T. Most all people live in tract homes, built at least in part by Illegal immigrant labor...do you think the big construction company that built that home paid those guys the highest wages, with full medical benefits? NOPE. But you likely don't think about that because it benefits you. Quit being a hater. If YOU don't like WalMart...don't shop there, kind of like TV, if you don't like it, change the channel. It's All about choice.

Sunny Creak Resident wrote on Jul 26, 2007 10:56 PM:This seems like a lot of noise over nothing. Let's see what WalMart presents to the City Planning Commision and go from there. If you want to be mad at someone be mad at 4-Square they got away with one. But when their sign went down at the corner of El Camino and College didn't you wonder what was up? I know I did. It was more profitable to sell the land then develop. It just happened that WalMart bought it. Such is life.

Carlsbad resident wrote on Aug 10, 2007 11:26 PM:It just doesn't make sense to build a Walmart at College and El Camino Real when there is one 5-8 minutes away on College Boulevard (less time away when College Road goes through). In addition, there are already traffic problems on El Camino Real and Palomar Airport Road. This will increase traffic...more problems for the city to solve. A Walmart is needed to service the community. What we need in this location is the smaller community mall with a small grocery store.

Sandy wrote on Aug 13, 2007 3:05 PM:I agree with the fact that Wal-Mart is not welcome in Carlsbad. We have enough Wal-Marts in the area and they add nothing to the community as far as I'm concerned.