Wal-Mart could stimulate economy
To the Editor,

Yes to Wal-Mart!! Why? These are my reasons 1. Jobs; 2. Broader tax base; 3. Convenience and broader selections.

Jobs - around 350 if Wal-Mart comes to Bath. Jobs for the unemployed, the senior citizen, the high school or college student. Jobs that will mostly be filled from the Bath area, an area with a high unemployment rate. Jobs that could create an annual payroll in the millions of dollars which will be used for shelter, food, clothing and many other things. Much of this payroll will be spent in the Bath area.

A broader tax base due to the property and sales taxes paid by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is not getting any tax breaks nor have they asked for any. My husband and I pay town, school, county and village taxes. These taxes paid by Wal-Mart will help stabilize our taxes and maybe even result in them being lowered. Convenience and a broader selection of goods. Though I shop in most of the business in Bath I still have to travel to the Mall. This costs me gas dollars, taxes that go to Chemung County and buying items and eating lunch while down there that I could have gotten in Bath

I believe that Wal-Mart coming will stimulate business throughout Bath. You always think of something else you need when you are out shopping and people will find that our specialty shops have that item they were looking for. Watkins Glen and Hornell

have both done well since Wal-Mart arrived. This was stated by the Mayor of Watkins Glen and Jim Griffin, HornellEconomicDirectoronTV and in the papers. The business in downtown Bath is specialty stores and should not be hurt by Wal-Mart. Wal- Mart is not going to have a beauty shop in their store as Bath has sufficient hair salons. The beauty shop has been removed from the Wal-Mart's site plan. Does this sound like Wal-Mart is a bad neighbor? I don't think so. Many of the anti Wal-Mart people do not live in the Town of Bath. They do not vote here or pay taxes here (some don't pay property taxes in their own town) but spout their anti Wal- Mart rhetoric and try to control our decisions. Let the governmental bodies of the town of Bath decide Wal- Mart's fate after the SEQR process has been completed. Thank you!
E. Beth Clark
former County Legislator
Town of Bath