Editor:

I just read both of the negative letters in the Oakley Press regarding Wal-Mart in Oakley, and I am curious: Do any of the residents of Oakley who are against this have any alternative in mind?

I saw the outlet mall suggestion. I guess that person has never seen the outlet mall in Tracy that has several empty storefronts. Let's be real, folks. I don't particularly like Wal-Mart either, but a city needs sales tax revenue to exist. And Oakley got a late start. There isn't an awful lot left to choose from.

Oh, and the Safeway that is supposed to go at Laurel and O'Hara, I have heard rumors about that since I moved out here in 1984, so I don't think that it is excessive fees that the city is charging for businesses that is keeping Safeway away.

So, in closing, let's all calm down, take a deep breath and look around to what we can do to help improve our property values, like cleaning up our neighborhoods, taking some responsibility. After all, if you want city services we have to pay for them somehow. Ask anyone in East Palo Alto what sales tax revenue did for that town, and their property values.

Wal-Mart may not be the fix all, but we have to start somewhere. And until we have any other big shops willing to come to town, Wal-Mart is it.

Rick DuMont

Oakley