Wal-Mart could dress up the area

To the editor,

I hear alot of people complaining either for or against Wal-mart , but has anyone really taken a step back and looked at Bath as a whole?

I would like to start out by saying that if my words are offensive to some good people out there, I honestly don't mean it that way. I'm not trying to stereotype anyone. With that said, has anybody noticed the unsavory people that are accumulating in Bath at an ever rapid pace?

You have people coming in to this area to get closer to their welfare checks. I know, some people honestly need and deserve welfare. I've been there. I'm talking about the ones who abuse the system. The ones that aren't looking for jobs and are loitering around the downtown area. I don't hear anybody complaining about that.

How about the V.A. drug rehab program? Again, there are some honest people who need and deserve this program. I'm talking about the ones who do their rehab during the day and then sell drugs right out in the open on Liberty St. They hang out downtown all day and night. I haven't heard anybody complain about them either.

I personally think that the abusers of these systems should be made to get jobs and contribute to society. We need more jobs in the area to maybe help get some of these seedy people off of our streets. Maybe that's where a Walmart would be a good thing. What other establishment is going to draw people to Bath? The Steuben County Fair? I don't think so.

Good or bad aside, I think we have a lot bigger issues to address than whether a Wal-Mart is coming or not. If we don't open our eyes and make changes, it won't be long before you see sagebrush rolling down an empty Liberty St. That would truly be a shame.

Thomas M. Hall Bath