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If you do a google search, you will see that MS Diane Bianconi McNiel, is listed as a Parks and Recreation Advocate, as noted in the City Directory. Having direct connections to the City of Scotts Vally City is a common denominator for many of the people listed in the Opinion part of the paper as a proponent for target.

Other people who are identified "for" the big box and the massive problems it brings, can be connected by google to the City or employees of the City, including the council.

It is disingenuous to be listed as a business owner when the real connection is with the city in my opinon. The entity pushing for the sales tax. Who will be next - Just look in on the city web site.

The main fact is that during tough times, the city would like to balance it's budget by increasing sales tax. They know that they could balance the budget with a few prudent decisions, like not re-hiring the City Manager.

A small tree can split a boulder in half, it finds a crack and forces it oven a little each year until it finally splits. This is the danger SV has, Target would try to entice the city with easy money, but in reality it is a pact with the devil. Then the City is fearfull of layoffs - the crack grows wider. Then the doors open and crime and traffic rolls in - oops. Too late.

Extending Measure C would elevate the need for layoffs. It looks to me that they are all scared that it might be one of them; The residents of SV DO pass responsible propositions.

I have sympathy, I have a family too and the loss of a job is no small thing, but ruining our city, inviting an unprecedented level of crime, traffic and other problems does not look like like a good idea. Especially when there are easy alternatives available.

By and large the city does a good job, I just think that a handful of good people could do better. Votes: +6

The proposed 155,000 sq. ft. Target Shopping Center at Gateway South on La Madrona is incredibly inappropriate – and wrong for Scotts Valley. The preliminary traffic report estimates an additional 9,100 car trips per day on this two lane country frontage road. The Mt. Herman corridor is already the third highest traveled route in the county. This project would reduce the service level of the Mt. Herman and La Madrona as well as Altenitas and La Madrona to the lowest possible level of “F”.

Target will not bring in significant additional sales tax revenue. In fact, it will have a net negative economic impact on both the local economy and the city government. This project would also negatively impact the business of the Hilton Scotts Valley – to the point where it may be put out of business. The owners and operators of the Hilton are opposed to Target.

The Target will also negatively impact other local small businesses and endanger the success of the Town Center project. Why? Because Target is a destination store. Because Target also plans to include a grocery component, it may force the closure of one of the existing Scotts Valley grocery stores. A Big-Box Target store does not generate additional sales tax revenues – it simply pirates the sales of existing retail sales in the area where it is built.

The net additional infrastructure costs on the City of Scotts Valley will have the exact opposite effect intended – higher sales tax revenue for the city.

These are facts -- not just my opinion. Numerous economic studies bear this out. In fact, over twenty bay area governments have reached the same conclusion and placed either outright bans on Big-Box stores or severely limited the size of large retail operations.

The majority on the city council, led by Mayor Randy Johnson and councilman Dene Bustichi, has been made aware of these facts – and simply ignored them. They would do well to follow the example of other Bay Area governments and disallow Big-Box stores from locating in Scotts Valley – including Target. It is the right thing to do for our city. Votes: +3