Preserve Portsmouth presser
By John McDaid | Thursday, 5 April 2007
About two dozen members of the recently-formed group Preserve Portsmouth met with members of the press this afternoon to express their opposition to the proposed Target store on the corner of West Main and Union.
The mood was determined but upbeat as they shared their stories and got to know each other while their kids played soccer. Then they marched across Union for a photo op. I don't want to jump anybody else's story, so keep your eye on the local papers.
They did announce that their web site, PreservePortsmouth.org, is now live. Check it out, and pencil in May 1 on your calendars: that's the day Target will be back in front of the Design Review Board.
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Heather
Mon, 04/09/2007 - 12:55pm
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Preserve Portsmouth
http://www.yesmagazine.com/article.asp?ID=762
Link article on how other towns stopped big-box from building in their towns.
Newport resident...this will not only impact Portsmouth residents but Aquidneck Island as a whole community. Newport has Wal-Mart...how much more do Islanders need of cheap product?
What is Target going to do for our community that is positive? giving you better price on toilet paper...
Push your community leaders for DATA
The water run off is already awful in Redwood farms neighborhood-find out what the impacts are to the ecosystem. Yes, this is going to create more traffic, noise, light and signage eye sores but press your local community leaders on taxes, maintaining security, ecosystems, water run off issues. Get ORGANIZED and EDUCATED on the facts.
John McDaid
Tue, 04/10/2007 - 9:22am
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Thank you
Hi, Heather...
Thanks for your post -- that's a very informative link. I particularly noted this insight about the largely invisible economic impacts:
"When you spend that dollar at a local store, it gets deposited in a local bank, and spent again in the community a couple more times. That generates local taxes, which are spent on local needs."
The "local taxes" isn't exactly right, since sales tax goes to Providence, and we know how little we ever get back. But the larger point about supporting local businesses and keeping money circulating in Portsmouth is valid. Not so much the taxes, but the profits are important; I'd rather have those here than at Target Inc. headquarters in Minneapolis.
They are particularly hungry right now -- last year, Wal-Mart saw weakness in their same-store sales, year-on-year, while Target continued to grow. They are clearly gunning for an aging and vulnerable Wal-Mart, and are likely to fight hard for entry into Portsmouth, which they rightly see as a near-perfect demographic fit.
Cheers.
-j