Attorney general targets Target

EDITOR,
Target stores across the state have been illegally dumping hazardous wastes in landfills, according to the state attorney general and 20 district attorneys in a lawsuit filed June 15 in Alameda County.
“Target has shown a willful disregard for California’s hazardous waste laws by dumping flammable liquids and toxic chemicals in local landfills over a period of eight years,” Attorney General Jerry Brown said. “If successful, this lawsuit would force Target to comply with state laws governing the lawful handling and disposal of toxic and corrosive waste.”
As examples of illegal dumping by Target — which operates more than 200 stores in California — the lawsuit cites two instances from May in which Alameda Target stores sent waste, including flammable aerosol canisters, propane canisters, light bulbs containing mercury, corrosive spray cleaners and medical waste, to local landfills not authorized to receive it.
Since 2001, inspectors have served Target with hundreds of violation notices for breaking California’s hazardous waste control laws. This lawsuit, alleging violations of the state’s Health and Safety Code and unfair-competition laws, would force Target to clean up its act and seeks up to $25,000 for each violation
Large big-box retail stores, as proposed for Gateway South, have a net negative impact on both the local economy and local government. More than 20 Bay Area governments have reached this conclusion, enacting restrictions or outright bans on retail superstores — including Salinas and Santa Clara
Target’s talk about “social responsibility” and “giving back to the community” is disingenuous when its ongoing business practices flaunt the law and have such a negative impact on our environment.
Add to this a pattern of bad corporate behavior as described in this lawsuit, and it is easy to assess the proposed Scotts Valley Target project. Not only is it a highly inappropriate development proposal, Target is simply wrong for this city and community.
Frank Z. Kertai, Scotts Valley