That does make sense, however they don't have the camera packages at every wal-mart store. I would think cost-related, but they don't even have them at some stores in larger metro areas. Try this; tell a wal-mart rep that you had a fender-bender in their parking lot and ask if they could look over the video

And no, I don't put a lot of faith in the "facts" of that video, I just found it interesting and happened to notice where there were and were not cameras in Wal-Mart parking lots.

and yes! great store that I walked out of with three bikes for three kids for around $25!

Most of the Walmarts have cameras facing the parking lots, I think all of them that I have ever been to. The cameras are there for a variety of reasons, possibly for union activity, but I've never seen that. Of course, like you said, there really haven't been any major protests here that I am aware of. For the most part, they are used for evidence in shoplifting cases, sometimes for accident documentation. As far as it being available when you've had a fender bender in the parking lot, video is generally only released by police request.

I finally got around to Googling Vlasic and found, in addition to the article you were referring, that Vlasic pickles are made in America. I was actually surprised by this because Nalley's is not really a big Walmart brand. You can find a selection of Nalley's pickles in the Supercenters, but not in the regular stores like Aberdeen. And you won't ever see the Nalley's pushed in the stores they are in. People want them, they are available, not priced much differently than in any other store. What does that have to do with Vlasics? Well, where do you think the "Taste of the Great Northwest" is made these days? Not Tacoma...

The reason I was careful to state I was not directing the comment at you was that I'm aware of your effort to remain local.

But people cannot have it both ways. The very vocal and majority reason I have heard about not shopping at WalMart (even stated by both you and Stash) is that we need to support locally owned businesses. Now both of you have brought up the other reasons but for the most part local is the issue.

With a few exceptions the things I'm hearing from those against the expansion of WalMart is strictly regarding the effect on local business. A valid arguement but one that raises my original question regarding how many other non-locally owned businesses are these citizens willing to boycott? This would be my first question to Mark Swanson after his letter to the editor. Simply put how many non-locally owned businesses does he patronize? Of those businesses how many have a local competitor?

Obviously he has a self-interest. How much of what he wrote was strictly because he was gaining a competitor? And, as was stated by some commentor on that letter on TDW website, where was he when the original WalMart arrived sans groceries? Did he speak up then? If so what was his position at that time? I don't blame him for being concerned or looking out for his business but my questions are valid.

One could even take that a step farther and bring up the past rumors and accusations regarding his own families business practices and real estate dealings that supposedly kept their competitors from gaining a foothold near them. Are these true? If so how is that different from WalMart?

In the end I completely understand and agree that the WalMart of today is a predator with a singular search and destroy mission regarding competition. But legally speaking the sale of the acres and building of the store are purely business and not illegal thus cannot be stopped by the city if that was the city's desire.

A final thought. I was in Sequim last week. A WalMart, Costco, Home Depot, QFC, Safeway and various other national chains all existed there. Just blocks away from WalMart a very vibrant downtown existed with......wait for it......CONSTRUCTION. Several buildings along Sequims main street were being built (rebuilt?) in an area that seemed to contain mostly if not all local small businesses. This in an area no bigger than ours. Now admittedly due to the larger retired population not dependant on employment things, economically speaking, may be a little better but the point is WalMart, which has been there for quite a while was doing no damage that was readily visible.

I haven't confirmed it yet but I think Port Angeles ALSO has a WalMart. So if that is the case two WalMarts within 20+ miles of each other and their town is not dead. Something to think about.

Port Angeles does have a Walmart, the Sequim store is newer.

What's that mean? The Port never announced prior to going into any of their executive sessions that they were going to talk about selling something to Walmart. The newspaper staffs every Port meeting. You could have had 100 TV cameras in there and unless someone at the Port wanted to tell you they were talking to Walmart, you weren't going to find out from a public meeting until they were ready to sell the property some nine months later.

The only thing they say prior to going into any executive session is "to consider the sale or lease of real property and discuss with legal counsel potential or actual litigation. No action to be taken during Executive Session." No specifics are ever mentioned on who they will talk about. That would defeat the purpose of going into an Executive Session.

This is true. News media, to an extent, have to depend on the honesty and openess of a government entity. While the general subject of what is to be discussed is mentioned nothing specific is never stated. Additionally, elected officials are prevented from discussing what is said in an executive session.

The subject matter Steven has mentioned is a very normal general term used before going into executive session to announce the subject matter. Very routine. Unless there is some other indicator there is very little chance of the news media finding out this was going on.

One other thing to remember the City of Aberdeen who supposedly has an open line of communication with the Port <cough><hack> found out about this deal one hour before it happened. Not one indicator, whisper or hint of anything happening. Now when the Port is very obviously hiding it from another government entity how easy do you think it would be for a news department, especially one expected to cover at least 9 different cities, the county agencies, Quinaults and various others to be able to come up with the info.

Local is a big issue and should be for anybody who wants to see their community thrive. However, this doesn't negate the importance of the domestic issues, like maintaining domestic manufacturing jobs, the trade imbalance, etc.

I sure can't speak for Swanson.

Folks who live there tell me that Sequim's downtown has blossomed since the highway has re-routed away from the downtown care making it a more walkable, pleasant area. And I'm sure the higher-income retirees that they are attracting due to being in the "rain shadow" probably helps, too.

I think both Sequim and PA have done a better job of capitalizing on their strengths. PA's waterfront area is very nice.

You answered your own question, I see the same legaleeze that you do "to consider the sale or lease of real property and discuss with legal counsel potential or actual litigation. No action to be taken during Executive Session." If I ever see "action will be taken" I go to that meeting.

I have no doubt that prior to action being taken, the subject of those meetings has been newsworthy, but never resulted in any "action" for one reason or another.

If I knew exactly HOW a story like that could have been broken sooner, well then I would have broken it - and I'm sure you would have known too.
By better staffed news industry I didn't mean to riff you, only to point out that I'm sure you have 99 stories on your plate at once and you're not the only one.

Bottom Line: we can't all be Fletch, but we can all WANT to be.