Do you see San Francisco values somewhere further in the distance?
Now that Target has hosted its well-received community meeting to an enthusiastic audience and several reports of the gathering have appeared, consider an editorial view from The Square, the new website that's all about Alamo Square (never mind that Geary at Masonic is more "Outer Lands" and some distance from the Square).
I agree. I worry about the impact to local business. A friend of mine recently said that he hopes to shop here for things and save $-- so he doesn't have to buy things as much at his neighborhood hardware store. A store,btw, which has been an institution for years and is hardly expensive... it just isn't big-box-exploitative-cheap.
ReplyDeleteThat's just what large (for example, mining) corporations have been doing to countries like Bolivia for centuries. They discover wealth in the land, but don't fail recognize the added value of tourism. So they move the town over about a mile or so (away from the mining), and of course, take a large percentage of the tourism revenue because it is now on their land. But hey, the people get to work at the mine, so they shouldn't compain.
ReplyDeleteThere has always been a major retail business in that location---Sears, Mervyns, and now Target. SF already welcomes Starbucks, KFC, Walgreens, Subway, Office Depot, etc. People should stop pretending that this major American city is some kind of village with mostly mom-and-pop stores. It simply isn't true.
ReplyDeleteI was all in favor of Target in this location- I would love to be able to walk or bike to Target instead of having to get in a car & drive to get the things I can't afford and am not buying already at 'local businesses' (I can't afford to buy say, shoes & dresses, at any 'local' boutiques. not made of money, as much as I would like to support the "mom&pop" places.). But then today I read this: http://gayrights.change.org/blog/view/targets_150000_donation_to_fund_anti-gay_politics
ReplyDeleteI wish that Target's employees would have a livable wage, like the San Francisco Costco, whose employees are represented by the Teamster's Union.
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