quote:

Originally posted by SocialJustice:
Once in awhile we drive to Home Depot in RP since they closed in Petaluma, we never go to Target, big ticket items Santa Rosa but besides that we buy everything in Petaluma. Yes, it may cost us more but not after we take into account how much money we spend on gas, wear on our car and to us our time.

My thought on this comment... On weekdays it takes me longer to get downtown than it does to get to Rohnert Park.

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We are not wealthy by any means, and do our big weekly shopping at the Grocery Outlet. Would we shop at a Target if we had one in Petaluma, maybe, but that won't bring in additional tax revenue to Petaluma, so it is a moot point.

Of course it would bring additional sales tax revenue to Petaluma. Think of ALL the people that are leaving town to shop and think of how many people will actually stay in town to shop, including you if Target was here, since you say you shop at the Grocery Outlet.

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The City needs to include a survey of the people that live here in their Economic plan in order to determine what retail is needed to increase their tax base. The Retail Linkage study is old news.

No more surveys. Regency is far overdue in building a much needed shopping center on the land they own. And let's not forget our former Mayor's famous lines/empty words - "I look forward to both those shopping opportunities coming into Petaluma. This will go a long way toward shoring up our sales tax leakage."

Hey does anyone know if Vallejo made it out of BK. Why did they have to file BK? HMMMM..

The original subject is 'Lack of shopping options'. So, let's take a look at our neighboring cities. Is Petaluma in line with the rest or are we staggering behind? And of course I am leaving off the smaller stores...

Santa Rosa
Approximate Population – 161,000
Shopping:
Santa Rosa Plaza Mall
Coddingtown Mall
Kmart
Costco/Best Buy/Target/Sports Authority
Borders, Michaels, Bed Bath & Beyond
Toys R Us, Cost Plus, REI

Rohnert Park
Approximate Population – 41,000
Shopping:
Target
Costco
Wal Mart

Petaluma
Approximate Population – 55,000
Shopping:
Kmart
Petaluma Village Premium Outlets

Novato
Approximate Population – 53,000
Shopping:
Costco, Target, Sports Authority

San Rafael
Approximate Population – 55,000
Shopping:
Northgate Mall
Best Buy, Toys R Us, Borders

I'd like to see Best Buy though the SR store may be too close.

I know before they closed Circuit City was planning to open a store in Petaluma.

In addition to a real building supply store, I think an electronics/appliance store is sorely needed in Petaluma. These are generally big-ticket items that generate a lot of sales tax.

We just purchased a refrigerator, stove and over-the range microwave at KMart. They carry the Kenmore (Sears) brand.

KMart also has a huge toy selection, holiday section, and since Martha was booted out, there is a new "home line" of household products.

Personally, I wouldn't mind a Target, but we seem to be able to get everything we "need" at OSH, Rex, KMart, Ross, Big 5, Trader Joe's, Raley's, Safeway, Petco, Craig's, Toys West, Powell's, Copperfields, CVS, Ideal, Grocery Outlet, G&G and Kragen's. I do miss Home Depot Yardbirds.

BULLSEYE ~~

PACIFIC SALES (kitchen, bath and electronics) should open up a store here. If you haven't been to the SR location, go see it. It's HUGE.

Hey JEH, I'm glad to hear you can get everything you need in Petaluma.

I myself prefer Target over Kmart for a myriad of reasons, I prefer The Sports Authority or any REAL sporting goods store over our Big 5, I love Costco for just about everything, and Best Buy certainly beats out Kmart and Radio Shack for ALL electronics, including TV's, appliances, computers and so much more. And as for OSH, I consider this store on the very low end of the scale compared to Friedman's or Lowes. My favorite store was the old Yard Birds on Lakeville, before it became a Home Depot.

And we can all agree we do not need another bookstore or grocery store in this town.

The bottom line is that all our surrounding cities have at least a Target and/or a Costco and/or a Best Buy and/or a Sports Authority. We have nothing and this is why many people are leaving town to shop.

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The bottom line is that all our surrounding cities have at least a Target and/or a Costco and/or a Best Buy and/or a Sports Authority. We have nothing and this is why many people are leaving town to shop.

Only in America does this mindset exist. I used to defend us when I go abroad. I guess I was naive.

elienos, I'm still waiting to hear your ideas on how the city can generate revenue so no more layoffs occur.

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Originally posted by Tahoe:
elienos, I'm still waiting to hear your ideas on how the city can generate revenue so no more layoffs occur.

Sorry, I didn't realize you were waiting. I don't read these forums much anymore, cause every time I do, I get a little depressed.

Since I am a Social Theorist by training it would be hard for me to relay my ideas on issues that have to do with the socio-economic system in this forum, where half of the chatter is about where one likes to shop. Or any forum for that matter. If I ever write a paper touching on Petaluma's economy (unfortunately I usually write about global and national systems) I will come by and post a link. From what I know about how economies work in society at the present, I don't see a strip mall with a Target saving Petaluma. I see reorganization (no, not communist reorganization for you commu-phobes) and a strong civil society as the key. Good-bye. I have nothing constructive or comprehensible for this forum of obsessed shoppers.

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Originally posted by Tahoe:
elienos, I'm still waiting to hear your ideas on how the city can generate revenue so no more layoffs occur.

Most of the ideas the shoppers here have aren't going to generate revenue for years (like a shopping center), if at all, so that doesn't make sense. I mean, we could have a bake sale, or sell our city and property like RP.

Also, how many people do we need in our government? Maybe we should think about whether we really need so many people on the city payroll taking public money. And what does saving a few city jobs do if the city as a whole isn't better off. i am interested in creating jobs. We need good old fashioned industry in this country. Good paying jobs that don't put the burden on the public (like low-paying Target super-center jobs do, less than half have health insurance, and less than half have livable salaries which means we foot the bill in social services.) We need to manufacture items in the USA! that last instead of trash designed to break, filled with toxic chemicals, filling our houses. When I was a kids had a few toys. Have you walked into a child room recently....full of TRASH MADE IN CHINA!

Back to the topic...Trying to save a few jobs seems silly. I think our goals should be much bigger.

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Originally posted by alive:
Most of the ideas the shoppers here have aren't going to generate revenue for years (like a shopping center), if at all, so that doesn't make sense. I mean, we could have a bake sale, or sell our city and property like RP.

When Regency finally get the okay to build, the city will receive developer fees. Also construction jobs will be created immediately.

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Back to the topic...Trying to save a few jobs seems silly. I think our goals should be much bigger.

What's silly is this statement. I wonder if you would say this if you were the one losing your job. I have a friend that works in city hall and I can tell you everyone is worried about their job. Morale is not good. And what if the cuts included police, fire, ambulance? Would you still think that trying to save a few jobs is silly?

Believe me, almost everyone in every industry is worried about their job everywhere, not just city hall. I think it is silly to make huge city-wide changes for a few jobs. Make huge city-wide changes for good reasons, not simple for more publicly funded jobs. I would not do so to save my own butt nor anyone else's. I am talking about the greater good. For this reason I don't think the focus of city council should be to save a few jobs, though it should be a consideration. There are so many issues to think about. Past present future, folks.

quote:

Originally posted by Tahoe:

quote:

Originally posted by alive:
Most of the ideas the shoppers here have aren't going to generate revenue for years (like a shopping center), if at all, so that doesn't make sense. I mean, we could have a bake sale, or sell our city and property like RP.

When Regency finally get the okay to build, the city will receive developer fees. Also construction jobs will be created immediately.

quote:

Back to the topic...Trying to save a few jobs seems silly. I think our goals should be much bigger.

What's silly is this statement. I wonder if you would say this if you were the one losing your job. I have a friend that works in city hall and I can tell you everyone is worried about their job. Morale is not good. And what if the cuts included police, fire, ambulance? Would you still think that trying to save a few jobs is silly?