To the editor:

It has become painfully obvious that the city and county planning commissioners and our mayor are absolutely determined to have a new Wal-Mart built in northwest Lawrence, even though the overwhelming majority of Lawrence residents who have spoken on the plan have vehemently opposed it. Wal-Mart’s predatory pricing and employment policies are a matter of public record, and this store will be no different.

The commissioners’ argument that sales tax revenues will be increased by this new store is absolutely preposterous. If I intend to buy a new lawn mower or a quart of milk, do they really think I’m going to buy one mower and milk at my old stores and then go buy two more at the new Wal-Mart? And obviously Wal-Mart is not a destination store where Topeka residents will drive by their two existing stores to come to Lawrence.

Sadly, our commissioners have simply abrogated their responsibility to do what is best in the community’s interest in the name of “land use.” It is amazing how a multibillion-dollar corporation can apparently influence the votes of a dozen elected and appointed public officials to thwart the will of the overwhelming majority of the community that those officials purport to represent.

Richard L. Warrick,

Lawrence