To the editor:

Since the lawsuit against the city, and therefore against us taxpayers, claims that Wal-Mart is not a department store, I looked up the company’s official Web site, Wal-Mart.com. Here are a few direct quotes from the company (italics mine):

About Wal-Mart/Retail Division/Wal-Mart Stores: “Wal-Mart Stores offer pleasant and convenient shopping in 36 departments, including apparel, health, beauty aids, electronics (etc.) … In addition, some Wal-Mart stores offer a Pharmacy Department, Tube & Lube Express … etc.”

Specialty/Wal-Mart Optical: “The Wal-Mart Optical Department is one of the fastest growing areas of the company.”

About Wal-Mart/Supercenters: “Referred to as Supercenters, Wal-Mart stores with grocery departments offer the ultimate in convenience — grocery shopping and 36 departments of discount general merchandise under one roof.”

Ah, so.

If Wal-Mart is not a department store, apparently the management doesn’t know it.

John Clifford,

Lawrence