Dreaming of a Green Target?

By David GreenwaldOctober 10, 200612 comments

In Sunday’s paper we were told that a “green Target” not only “provides affordable shopping” but it “fits Davis’ values.”

I read through the entire column written by a large number of individuals, and I did not see much that would sway my view of Target as a large business that would put local owners out of business, would bring in a number of jobs to people who could not afford to live in our community on the Target salary, who practices union-busting behavior, and I could go on.

In fact, I came away rather insulted that they thought, “The use of wood, stone and other design features to make the store unique to Davis” would make me believe that Target supported my values. My values are not based on exterior aesthetics.

The big story from last weekend is the closing of an icon in Sacramento and Davis: Tower Records. From the Sacramento Bee:

“The Tower Records legacy began on Watt Avenue in 1960, where Russ Solomon opened his first store. A store still exists on Watt Avenue, above, but not for long. Tower served as a point of pride for capital-area residents. But competition from big-box discounters and the Internet began eroding music retailers like Tower in the mid- and late 1990s.”

Tower is obviously not a locally owned business, but it was started in Sacramento. Moreover, it demonstrates once again that big-box retailers have the capability to put others out of business.

Meanwhile, we can do some math. Target brings in about 200 jobs (150-250 is the estimate). Most of those will receive Minimum wage which is currently $6.75 per hour. Even if they work a full 160 hours in a month, that is $1080. And that’s before taxes. So we’re talking about $900. No one can reasonably live in Davis on $900 per month. So we would not be bringing in 200 jobs into Davis, we would be bringing them into Woodland, West Sacramento, Dixon or wherever someone can afford to live on $900 per month.

Now imagine that we adopt Heystek’s living wage ordinance, those same people would make $1600 per month before taxes. You could in fact, rent an apartment and live in Davis on $1400-1500 per month. But of course, the council supporters of Target also oppose a Living Wage (despite their weak attempts to claim otherwise).

By the way, an excellent letter by Gene Borack on Sunday calling Souza’s rhetoric for what it is. By the end of this week, Davis residents will be able to view the exchange between Souza and Heystek from the August 1, 2006 meeting on our site and they will see that indeed as we have said and Borack stated, that council encouraged Heystek to go forward only to pillory him for bringing it out at the last minute.

Folks, this is all very basic, the pro-Target people talk about Target fitting Davis values, well it’s all about which values you hold and support. I support the concept of locally owned and operated business. I support the small business owner who resides in our community. I support unions. I support the living wage. This Target proposal goes against all of these core values of mine. If they go against yours, then you ought to oppose Target. If on the other hand, you believe we need to be able to buy socks and underwear in Davis no matter who manufactured said apparel, then by all means, support a Target. I do not wish to tell other people how to vote, but people should have the facts at their disposal.

—Doug Paul Davis reporting

Author

  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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12 comments

  1. This Target referendum is about values and choices. Our citizen Budget and Finance Commission unanimously concluded that there was no significant community fiscal benefit to the Target proposal. Does occasional minimal local shopping convenience outweigh the values that make Davis a very special place in which to live? Remember, our kids are taking this all in, learning from us what is really important. Davis is not Natomas because of the choices that the Davis voter has made.

  2. This Target referendum is about values and choices. Our citizen Budget and Finance Commission unanimously concluded that there was no significant community fiscal benefit to the Target proposal. Does occasional minimal local shopping convenience outweigh the values that make Davis a very special place in which to live? Remember, our kids are taking this all in, learning from us what is really important. Davis is not Natomas because of the choices that the Davis voter has made.

  3. This Target referendum is about values and choices. Our citizen Budget and Finance Commission unanimously concluded that there was no significant community fiscal benefit to the Target proposal. Does occasional minimal local shopping convenience outweigh the values that make Davis a very special place in which to live? Remember, our kids are taking this all in, learning from us what is really important. Davis is not Natomas because of the choices that the Davis voter has made.

  4. This Target referendum is about values and choices. Our citizen Budget and Finance Commission unanimously concluded that there was no significant community fiscal benefit to the Target proposal. Does occasional minimal local shopping convenience outweigh the values that make Davis a very special place in which to live? Remember, our kids are taking this all in, learning from us what is really important. Davis is not Natomas because of the choices that the Davis voter has made.

  5. From my perspective (I am 56 years old and have plenty of stuff), Target has no significant appeal and I do not shop there. I certainly would not think of buying socks or underwear there – I would to Mervyns or Costco instead.
    The only time I spent any signficant money at Target was when two of my kids set up their apartments in Davis. Target has plenty of cheap furniture, room decorations and household items. It is a very good store if you are tying to set up a household on a budget. You can get dishes, cookware, glasses, towels, lamps, bookcases etc. Davis has a high turnover of housholds (mainly students) and perhaps that is where Target fits.

    The notion that Davis and “big box” stores do not mix seems a little odd to me. Everytime I visit Davis I see “big box” grocery stores and I can not see any difference between a big Safeway and a big anything else.

    If I was given a choice I would prefer a place like Lowe’s.

  6. From my perspective (I am 56 years old and have plenty of stuff), Target has no significant appeal and I do not shop there. I certainly would not think of buying socks or underwear there – I would to Mervyns or Costco instead.
    The only time I spent any signficant money at Target was when two of my kids set up their apartments in Davis. Target has plenty of cheap furniture, room decorations and household items. It is a very good store if you are tying to set up a household on a budget. You can get dishes, cookware, glasses, towels, lamps, bookcases etc. Davis has a high turnover of housholds (mainly students) and perhaps that is where Target fits.

    The notion that Davis and “big box” stores do not mix seems a little odd to me. Everytime I visit Davis I see “big box” grocery stores and I can not see any difference between a big Safeway and a big anything else.

    If I was given a choice I would prefer a place like Lowe’s.

  7. From my perspective (I am 56 years old and have plenty of stuff), Target has no significant appeal and I do not shop there. I certainly would not think of buying socks or underwear there – I would to Mervyns or Costco instead.
    The only time I spent any signficant money at Target was when two of my kids set up their apartments in Davis. Target has plenty of cheap furniture, room decorations and household items. It is a very good store if you are tying to set up a household on a budget. You can get dishes, cookware, glasses, towels, lamps, bookcases etc. Davis has a high turnover of housholds (mainly students) and perhaps that is where Target fits.

    The notion that Davis and “big box” stores do not mix seems a little odd to me. Everytime I visit Davis I see “big box” grocery stores and I can not see any difference between a big Safeway and a big anything else.

    If I was given a choice I would prefer a place like Lowe’s.

  8. From my perspective (I am 56 years old and have plenty of stuff), Target has no significant appeal and I do not shop there. I certainly would not think of buying socks or underwear there – I would to Mervyns or Costco instead.
    The only time I spent any signficant money at Target was when two of my kids set up their apartments in Davis. Target has plenty of cheap furniture, room decorations and household items. It is a very good store if you are tying to set up a household on a budget. You can get dishes, cookware, glasses, towels, lamps, bookcases etc. Davis has a high turnover of housholds (mainly students) and perhaps that is where Target fits.

    The notion that Davis and “big box” stores do not mix seems a little odd to me. Everytime I visit Davis I see “big box” grocery stores and I can not see any difference between a big Safeway and a big anything else.

    If I was given a choice I would prefer a place like Lowe’s.

  9. Anonymous.. Supermarket shopping can be a several times per week or a daily excursion for some.. Shopping at Target is big box RETAIL and is a several times a year event for most of us. On those occasions, we can drive the 9 miles to the brand-new 200,000+ sq. ft. Target that will be built on Poleline(Woodland) to replace the old smaller one in the Woodland mall.Our B& F commission did not find any significant fiscal benefit to Davis having a Target and refused to approve this proposal. Why then change Davis’General Plan that prohibits big box RETAIL when there is no obvious real benefit?

  10. Anonymous.. Supermarket shopping can be a several times per week or a daily excursion for some.. Shopping at Target is big box RETAIL and is a several times a year event for most of us. On those occasions, we can drive the 9 miles to the brand-new 200,000+ sq. ft. Target that will be built on Poleline(Woodland) to replace the old smaller one in the Woodland mall.Our B& F commission did not find any significant fiscal benefit to Davis having a Target and refused to approve this proposal. Why then change Davis’General Plan that prohibits big box RETAIL when there is no obvious real benefit?

  11. Anonymous.. Supermarket shopping can be a several times per week or a daily excursion for some.. Shopping at Target is big box RETAIL and is a several times a year event for most of us. On those occasions, we can drive the 9 miles to the brand-new 200,000+ sq. ft. Target that will be built on Poleline(Woodland) to replace the old smaller one in the Woodland mall.Our B& F commission did not find any significant fiscal benefit to Davis having a Target and refused to approve this proposal. Why then change Davis’General Plan that prohibits big box RETAIL when there is no obvious real benefit?

  12. Anonymous.. Supermarket shopping can be a several times per week or a daily excursion for some.. Shopping at Target is big box RETAIL and is a several times a year event for most of us. On those occasions, we can drive the 9 miles to the brand-new 200,000+ sq. ft. Target that will be built on Poleline(Woodland) to replace the old smaller one in the Woodland mall.Our B& F commission did not find any significant fiscal benefit to Davis having a Target and refused to approve this proposal. Why then change Davis’General Plan that prohibits big box RETAIL when there is no obvious real benefit?

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