narth shore news More sides to Big Dear Editor: While reading the advertisement for the public meetings to view the plans for the “big box” store expansion to Park Royal Shopping Ccntre, it struck me how well the owners and management of the shopping centre had selectively and carefully used information to create the impression that this expansion would have little, if any, impact on the business- es and citizens of West Vancouver. From the beginning of the campaign with the hypocritical statement that they were considering expansion because they didn’t want people to make the long drive to Burnaby and Surrey, the centre management has presented their version of the factors to be considered in this decision. In the most recent article, they state that small independent retailers can co- it’s not to MAIL Box " exist with the “big box” stores. The facts are that about half of them cannot. Retail experts predicted this. Over the last few years in southern California, the “big box” share of the home improvement and lawn and garden market has increased from 26% to 51%. They gain this market share by practices that are designed to take business from other retail outlets, not by expanding the market. The market is not growing here in B.C. Many small and successfiil retailers in the home improvement and toy sectors have already closed. If the “big box” stores are to do the sales volumes to be profitable, it comes at the expense of the smaller merchant who lives in the com- munity, provides employment, and sup- ports local causes. The article also stated that the traffic impact on the community would be min- imal because the additional traffic count would only be seven cars per minute dur- ing weekday afternoons. That is over 3,300 cars per day with- out allowing for peak volume periods. What would the traffic count be at 5 p.m. on a weekday or on a Saturday afternoon? A typical Home Depot store serves over 2,000 customers a day. What about the other “big boxes?” Does Park Royal want us to think that their customers walk to the store or ride the blue buses? Wake up Mr. Amantea. You are deal- ing with educated adults who would like to make an informed decision. Tell us all the facts, not just the ones that you think support your point of view. John Zaplatynsky West Vancouver Dear Editor: Goodbye Mr. Collins — but a word before you go .. Some questions for Mr. Collins: Why are you so fear- ful of homosexuals, feminists, Jews, First Nations people and non- whites? Why do you feel so threat- ened by these and other _ minority groups? I’ve heard more than enough of Mr. _ Collins’ opinions. It’s his motives I’m question. To what end and what purpose have you been deni- grating these groups? Could it be that you want to influ- ence the people of the North calling into Shore against minorities? Why do you relentlessly and boringly, bludgeon the Jews? What possible difference could it make to you person- ally the exact body count of the holocaust? Surely for even one human being to be killed because of race, color or religion is one too many? In what way does it affect you that compensation for loss of family, property, etc. is finally being made? Did not the allies pour huge amounts of money into restoring Germany even after the hor- rific deaths and destruction they caused? Is one penny of Jewish compensation coming out of your pocket? Do you actively do any- thing positive for the North Shore or any other communi- ty? Do you understand that you have choices? Instead of fighting against what doesn’t suit your own personal vision of the world, might you not be better served by joining with the many people and institutions dedicated to helping their fel- low citizens in any number of wonderful selfless ways? 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