To the editor:

I have lived in Lawrence for only three short years, and I love it here. Lawrence has many things to offer people of all ages.

But, in this short time, I have come to realize that Lawrence is totally controlled by Kansas University and downtown. Nothing else seems to matter to our commissioners. Well, guess what? You are looking for downtown to be our Land of Oz, and here we are still in Kansas, and there is no Oz. Downtown is not the entire focus of our lives – at least not mine.

I don’t like downtown; it basically has nothing to offer me, except the parades, but they do not entice me to shop there.

You moan and groan that you want more shoppers to stay here. I am among the 59 percent that go elsewhere. I want to see more big box stores and more retail shops that sell more than trinkets and dust collectors.

Also, you complain that we should support local businesses. Did you ever stop to consider that most of the people working in the chains are local people and that their paychecks are probably being spent here?

Quit bellyaching about Wal-Mart. Most people in Lawrence like to shop there, and many do want the new store. Wal-Mart hires a lot of people and brings in a lot of tax revenue.

Spend a little more time thinking about what most of the people really do want and see your vision from there.

Christine Taber,

Lawrence