Democracy for Vancouver

NuVoice News

For the Overburdened Taxpayers of Vancouver Washington

November 28, 2007

In the headlines of yesterdays Columbian they have an article indicating that Wal-Mart will appeal the decision of the county commissioners in turning down Wal-Mart building a store in the Salmon Creek area. In fact Wal-Mart with all their lawyers has appealed the decision in Cowlitz Superior Court.

So why are partnership between governments and businesses wrong? Because the law says that the government is supposed to protect you and me against businesses that have the intention of making as much money as possible without any government standards in building. If the county commissioners accept substandard business standards by Wal-Mart now, we as taxpayers pay to correct those mistakes in the future. Wal-Mart is a high volume low cost operator which depends on customers getting in and out of their place of doing business. They, not the taxpayer should pay for the initial cost of building adequate roads and runoff to be in full compliance with local law.

An example of a bad decision would be the Wal-Mart built on East Mill Plain near I-205. The intersection at NE 104th and East Mill Plain has the third highest accident rate of Mill Plain. Part of this problem was not having proper planning of the infrastructure to begin with and not requiring Wal-Mart to pay the initial cost of the roads going into and leaving via NE 104th. Semi trucks were using the 104th Avenue entrance and destroying not only the sidewalk but also the electrical box for the lights. In recent months it was modified and is still being worked on at a cost to the taxpayer at over half a million dollars.

This neighborhood is still choking on traffic and congestion because of decisions made developers and local governments. Isn’t it about time that taxpayers and residents in neighborhoods had a voice in what we consider as our quality of life? How about a business partnership between our government and the citizens they represent that says we will look out for your interest first? As the saying goes “If we haven’t learned from past history we are doomed to repeat it”.

Charlie Stemper of Vancouver USA

Mr. Stemper’s email newsletter is republished here with his permission.