Duluth blogger Bill Allen wrote last week about the battle over a proposed new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Duluth. The following are some of the comments exchanged on ajc.com about his column. The names listed are ones the respondents chose to use online. Let the taxpayers of Duluth outbid Wal-Mart for Mr. [Jack] Bandy’s property. When a city changes its zoning after the fact because the townsfolk stormed the gates, they should pay the gentleman for the property.
Wal-Mart is the big bad guy because it did everything legally? Smart Growth Gwinnett, come on. Don’t you think it is a little late for that?
Come election day, just remember who makes the laws and does the zoning. Hint: It’s not Wal-Mart.
I hate defending them, I’m pro-union and do not shop at Wal-Mart, but right is right. — BRUCE WILCOX I did not know that America was all about attending meetings, wearing T-shirts, signing petitions and going to court.
Thanks for the lesson.
I submit that you do not understand Mr. Bandy’s position. Not at all. — JB I have lived in Duluth 19 years. While I’m no fan of Wal-Mart, the property at issue has been zoned commercial, meaning the city has decided it is appropriate for retail like Wal-Mart. I am bothered by people who think they get to vote to deny another’s use of his property. I’m sure the protesters would howl if their use of their own property was denied.
I resent that my tax dollars are going to fund the [city’s] defense [against] Mr. Bandy’s suit and likely judgment. If the protesters are such experts at whether another big box is needed, I suggest they apply for a job with a development company, as their skills are valuable. — BROCK Perhaps the land is NOW zoned commercial, as was ALL the land around it at one time. Perhaps the city should have done the correct thing and rezoned all the land to residential at the same time, instead of allowing a chunk of land in the middle of a residential area to exist. By the way, that land was M1 before it was rezoned commercial and as a longtime Duluth resident, (over 24 years) I have never seen a rezoning sign posted anywhere on that property, so I would suggest to all cities, you do things the proper way and not try to slide things by under the table. — ALEX Mr. Allen, you ask “when do people get to decide what they want in their community?” They decide every time there is an election, and long before Wal-Mart came sniffing around, the representatives of the people, which is how our system works, decided to zone that man’s land commercial. The time to oppose any commercial use, much less the Wal-Mart plan, was way back then. Also, is it not fair for Mr. Bandy to decide on how he wants to use his property? What if he pulled strings behind your back to get your property condemned by overreaching government officials? Wouldn’t you be just as mad? Wouldn’t you be wondering what happened to due process and most of all the liberty to do what is legal? This is a slippery slope the opponents of Wal-Mart have pushed their elected officials onto, and I for one hope they get pushed back where they belong, because the next time they decide to forgo due process, it may be my property they come after. Our Founding Fathers vehemently opposed pure democracy, aka mob rule. Now you know why. This is a history lesson, folks. You better wake up. — E J BAUR Mr. Baur, you raise some interesting points. First off, I want to restate what I wrote: When do people get to decide what they want in their community? We have planning meetings. As citizens, we have the right to voice our opinions at these meetings where such plans are considered. Looking back, I can see how that could be open for interpretations. The point I wanted to make is that no one should say, “no one asked us.” There were opportunities.
Second, to JB: “I submit that you do not understand Mr. Bandy’s position. Not at all.” I completely agree with you, I don’t understand. An earlier draft I wrote said, “I have not talked to Mr. Bandy, so I really can’t speak for him.” I think this made the chopping block, and I may have been the one who chopped it. Mr. Bandy has every right to state his position, and I have no wish to deny him that right or to misinterpret his position.
I want to encourage a dialogue. Pro, con, I want to hear what you think. Honestly, I’m on the fence. I’m not thrilled about another Wal-Mart going in there, but I also believe that, as the property owner, Mr. Bandy has rights as well. I don’t want his rights trampled any more than I want the rights of the residents of Riverbrooke trampled. I think that this is what Duluth.Talk should be all about. — BILL ALLEN What else is there to say? Bandy makes millions of dollars while he and Wal-Mart put a blight on the area and my and other families’ quality of life.
Speaking of taxes, my taxes are paying for Wal-Mart subsides like PeachCare health program and other subsides for their low-income employees who can’t afford housing and other necessities.
I also don’t appreciate the huge tax breaks Wal-Mart receives through tax loopholes, while us common people who live next door to their parking lots pay a higher tax rate.
Unfair practices like these are why Wal-Mart can afford to make greedy land stewards like Bandy rich and hire expensive accountants and lawyers like Roy Barnes. — DD