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Gloom and doom? Consider this

For decades, our downtown merchants have been largely spared from competing with big-box retail, and Davis has generally been delighted to demonstrate a penchant for this extreme position. “Save our downtown” has been the rallying cry, as we continue to protect the little guy and save mom and pop.

Certainly our downtown is vibrant and attractive and we can thank many of our progressive planning and development methods for this result. However, with the feel-good blinders removed, we can calculate our big-box obstructionism as having led us to a municipal planning deficit that will require inevitable payback. The question is not “if,” but “when” will we allow some big-box retail in this town to help meet the normal service expectations of modern life in a large town.

If the time for a Davis Target has arrived, are the downtown merchants' gloom and doom fears justified? I think not. Consider the following:

• Despite similar arguments, Borders did not reduce the number of smaller downtown bookstores and cause downtown decline.
• Davis attractive and vibrant downtown has staying power beyond any threat from the likes of Target.
• Vacaville is the poster city for allowing big-box shopping, yet the old downtown is vibrant with shops and restaurants. Woodland's old downtown is also on the rise.
• Target's model is low prices and convenience. Items are generally bulk-packaged consumables or lower-quality goods and customer service is non-existent. Downtown stores are mostly high-end specialty shops that emphasize customer service.
• Unless you are lucky to live within walking distance, traffic and parking problems downtown already limit the amount of business. Adding a Target may redirect bargain hunters from the downtown to make room for more high-end shoppers.
• Some Davisites cannot find or cannot afford needed products in town. Conversely, with more local shopping options available, more people will think to shop in Davis.

With low traffic congestion, adequate parking, quality products and great customer service, downtown Davis should continue to thrive. Without this, out-of-town shopping and the Internet are much bigger threats than any local Target will ever be.

Jeff Boone

A High price to keep Target out

The debate on the proposed Target store in Davis is being distorted by stereotypes, misinformation and belligerent tactics on the part of its opponents.

Last year my wife and I relocated to Davis from Reston, Va., near Washington, D.C. Reston is like Davis in many ways. It has mixed-income housing and low-density businesses. It has scenic bike and walk paths, recreational facilities and senior centers. Its town center serves as a community magnet. Reston also has a Home Depot, a Best Buy and a Target- all of which fit an overall master plan that is environmentally conscious and people friendly.

Some Davis residents want us to believe is that this town is perfect as it is and that existing commercial options are sufficient for the entire community. Without substantiation, they allege that Target has destroyed the soul and substance of other communities, and that Target is now forcing itself on Davis. They insult our intelligence by telling us that Davis can control its fate if Target is kept out, but will lose control and become another Woodland if Target is allowed in.

Target represents consumer choice and economic necessity. Wage-earning families with children, retirees on fixed incomes and university students want Target nearby because downtown specialty shops and boutiques do not offer affordable, convenient choice for everyday shopping needs.

Target will compete minimally- and yes, fairly- with downtown and mall merchants. Target will bring jobs, fresh tax revenues and support for local schools and charities. Target is both a large retailer and a good corporate citizen.

Davis residents will pay a high price by keeping Target out. Quality schools, public services, roads, parks and recreation facilities are expensive. Unless new revenue sources are developed, Davis faces the prospect of seeing those services decline, or raising taxes and other levies on current residents. Even museum-quality perfection needs new investment to remain vital.

The citizens of Davis, like those in Reston, have the right to a development plan that provides for prudent economic growth, consumer choice and social responsibility. Target meets those requirements.

Frederick A. Becker, Davis

Target supporters have to go underground

Like a great number of my fellow Davisites who are close enough to Target in Woodland that chunks of merchandise sometimes blow up on the front lawn on north windy days, I am truly conflicted about bringing the Menace from Minneapolis to my humble hometown.

I watch the council meetings and see my fellow Davisites wearing their “No Big Box” T-shirts and predicting the end of Western civilization if Target comes our way. Then just last week at the Farmers' Market I encountered a local couple wearing very stylish symbol driven shirts that, when translated, said “I love Target.”

Will the Target snack bar put that esteemed- and steamed ñ Davis institution, The Hot-dogger, out of business? Not likely. When you serve the best hot dogs in the world, with great mustard, great bums and a great smile, you're pretty much untouchable.

One particularly elitist letter to the editor claimed Target doesn't sell goods worthy of Davis' place in the caste system of the free world. Well, to borrow a line from those who made Davis a Pro-Choice City, if you don't like Target, don't shop there.

As I read the ballot measure proposed for this fall, there will be no law requiring any Davisites ever to set foot inside the automatic double doors.

As I was pondering the prose and cons and wondering out load how I would vote in November, a chap named Greg interrupted my thought process with an especially provocative e-mail.

“I think I have a solution to the Target woes,” Greg begins. “It seems there are several elements that contribute to the angst many have with this project.”

Wow. I thought you could only get angst in Woodland.

“They feel that the aesthetics of the project do not meet with the high-quality standards we have established here in our little burg and that the size scope of the project is too imposing on the local landscape.”

That's a lot of sugar beets we could be growing out there, Greg. “Further,” Greg adds, “the apparent traffic, noise and pollution problems associated with the throng of patrons, ostensibly only from certain areas of town, shopping at the various merchants will diminish the quality of life and resale value for the adjacent homeowners.”

Hey, Greg, there are a lot of folks in my neighborhood who would trade homes with those folks, straight across, and live with it if Target moves in next door.

“My solution is to bury the Target.”

I think that's what the “No Big Box” folks want to do.

“Yep, dig a big hole and put the whole project underground. This serves many purposes. It gets rid of the eyesore by replacing it with our own mini-mountain created from the 1.3 million cubic yards of dirt, complete with a new min-forest of trees. The mini-mountain will also serve to deflect noise from the freeway and railroad tracks. Our new min-forest will actually help with removing air pollutants.”

As Ronald Reagan once said, you seen on mini-forest, you seen'em all.

“Heating and cooling of the stores will be reduced since the underground temperature is lower and more constant and not subject to our blazing summer sun.”

You are a genius, Greg. Have you contacted the Planning Commission?

“I also propose expanding the Toad Tunnel concept by building tunnels to the areas of town that are likely to patronize Target. This way the locals won't have to contend with the increased traffic and pollution. We could also incorporate a BART-like transit system for the tunnel.”

I think you've just about coverall all the bases, except planting corn on top of the whole mess to provide a permanent disguise.

“If this idea takes off, all new projects could be treated in a similar fashion. Why, maybe, someday our whole city will be underground- safe, secure and invisible. What do you think?”

I think youíd better have a prescription for whatever it is you're smoking.

Bob Dunning

More homes but no Target?

The topic here in Davis recently has been to have or not have a Target. In previous years there have been many similar issues like Borders, Nugget, Wildhorse, Mace Ranch, the Pole Line overpass, the demolition of the Terminal Hotel, the South Davis Safeway- I probably could go on forever. I can't say whether I agree with all of these, but most of them have happened and Davis is still here.

I have lived here my entire life and, yes I can say that it has changed from the small town I grew up in. Now it is filled with many more people, buildings, cars, homes and students, but it hasn't added sufficient shopping.

We still are trying to have the 60,000- plus people in our town shop in a downtown that doesn't even have close to enough parking. Every time I do try to do any shopping here in town I end up driving around with my four children, trying to find a parking space in awful traffic, and I either end up very far from the store I wanted to shop in or I end up giving up and driving to another town like Dixon, Vacaville or Woodland. It has become obsolete for families to do all their shopping in downtown.

I spend hundreds of dollars every month in other cities, mostly at Target or similar stores. As a longtime Davis resident, I find it unfair that we can add more homes and add many more people with their cars to our town, but can't add a convenient Target for families like mine.

I also find it very amusing that many of the people fighting the Target live in areas like mace Ranch that were also not wanted by Davis residents.

Please help us repair our town by adding the shopping, dispersing some traffic out of downtown and helping to serve the population we have added in recent years. I would like to add my support to a Target being built on Second Street.

Heather Faulkin-Flood, Davis

Rational discussion, please

When politics dominates economic decisions, the results are les than desirable.

The decision to allow any legitimate business to locate in Davis should be an economic decision of the business investors. If patrons buy from the business, it likely will succeed. If it miscalculates patronage, in time it will move on. Cities cannot assure any business, local or foreign, that it will be profitable.

Davis is too large to allow special interests to dictate economic decisions. Any many believe Davis is too large to funnel all development into a finite downtown controlled by a small group of investors.

In their attempts to maintain the status quo and to keep large businesses from entering Davis, some cite advantages of local ownership. They believe local businesses are friendlier than are those based outside Davis. Some are. Some are not.

At least one local business treats me like a foreigner, by requiring a picture ID when I write a check, despite the fact the cashier has looked up my “preferred customer” status on the computer and my check is drawn on a local bank. I have had stores in Europe cash my Davis checks with no ID requirement of any sort. Chain grocery stores in Davis with headquarters elsewhere do cash my checks without a picture ID. Not all local businesses are customer-friendly.

Some people want to protect local stores from competition. I believe preventing competition among stores is outside the scope of city government. The role of city government is to maintain an environment attractive to business and favorable to its residents, rather than to assure any specific business it will be free of competitors. The adage is to protect competitive practices, not specific stores from competition.

Finally, some claim that profits earned by locally owned stores remain local, while those of chains leave the community. I wonder where the profits of local store owners are invested? Are they not invested in national and international accounts and stocks?

Emotionally charged disputes are difficult to discuss rationally. And, they lead to nasty behavior.

Leon Garoyan, Davis

Let's welcome Target to Davis

I moved to Davis in 1964 to practice law and have lived here ever since. The population then was about 7,000; we had two traffic lights. I loved Davis then and I love it now. Has Davis remained the same over the past 42 years? Of course not. Will it remain the same over the next 20 years. No way.

Davis has had many wars against business and industry over the years. The Hunt-Wesson battle occurred shortly before I arrived, but tales of family and neighbor feuds are rife. But Hunt-Wesson did not ruin Davis. In fact, it provided much-needed employment.

The battle over The Marketplace lasted years, but Karen Fox finally prevailed and it now is a very attractive and needed shopping center. Then the Stille family tried to get rezoned their new Nugget Market in the Oak Tree Plaza, and after a bitter debate it finally was built and now is treasured asset to Davis residents.

And, of course, we had the vicious war over Borders, but they persisted and now Davis Commons is a beautiful shopping area.

I ran for City Council in 1976 just after finishing my term as Chamber of Commerce president. In walking the precincts and at the election forums the great cry from the public was the need for convenient shopping in Davis. That was 30 years ago!

Davis should not be an elite shopping area responding to a vocal minority who resist all change but a community that looks to the needs of the elderly, the students and the young families with children who need to shop for the best goods at the lowest prices close to home.

We need to welcome Target and help it make this another attractive shopping area, and stop using valuable and expensive gasoline to do our shopping out of town.

Margaret Hoyt, Davis

In the City of Davis, Politics Drift Off Target

The Sacramento Bee; 7/2/2006

Jul. 2--The Davis City Council has decided that building the first Target store in town is beyond its job description. That decision belongs to the mob.

The council in the wee hours Wednesday morning placed the Target proposal on the November ballot. It's true, neighbors of Mace Ranch might have ginned up enough signatures to place it on the ballot anyway, but does the council have much relevance if it gets into the habit of turning city planning into a popularity contest?

It is hard to imagine a more politically constrained Target, or a more diplomatic response by a retailer that must be wondering what it has gotten itself into.

Its 137,000-square-foot design will have to be certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. To protect existing grocery stores, the council limited the food products in the Target to no more than 10 percent of the floor space. To prevent a mega-pharmacy, Target's prescription footprint could not exceed 10 percent. The transplanted trees for the parking lot (which must create enough shade to cover half the lot on Aug. 1, 2021) must come in containers of 15 gallons or greater. The city's bicycle coordinator must determine the number of bicycle stalls. Construction waste must be recycled. And Target will have to pay $80,000 to put the proposal before voters.

Target is aptly named, for the retailer finds itself as the debate du jour in Davis (see www.notargetindavis.org) that has prompted descriptions of the horrors in rezoning industrial land for a commercial use, harming downtown and placing a popular store near where people live.

There's nothing wrong with bike racks, trees, recycling and other environmentally friendly features. But there is something wrong when elected officials abandon all pretense of making the decisions they actually were elected to make.

Rethink anti-Target tactics

We have lived in Davis for 29 years. We read with disgust the June 21 article in The Enterprise describing the conduct of many "anti-Target" members of the community at the June 20 City Council meeting.

Sunday's letter to the editor section confirmed the outrageous and childlike behavior of many residents. How embarrassing that Samantha McCarthy sat on the floor in protest, refusing to move! How embarrassing that all police officers on duty at the time needed to be called to the meeting!

We've been on the fence about how our vote would go if this Target controversy finds its way to a referendum. We see the pros and cons. But the conduct of the "No on Target" contingency last Tuesday night helped us make our decision. We're voting in support of Target.

So, all you "Citizens Against Virtually Everything", your efforts to sway the citizenry and elective officials may work against you. Maybe you'd better rethink your unprofessional and desperate tactics.

Come on, Samantha, this isn't the '60s. This isn't Vietnam.

published June 29 2006, Davis Enterprise

Renee Crevelli-Gross and Jim Gross — Davis

Davis retailers want it both ways

Remember Measure E? Back in 1997 there was a proposal on the ballot to widen the Richards Boulevard undercrossing into downtown Davis. It was opposed by downtown merchants who did not want to increase traffic into the downtown area. Every South Davis precinct voted yes (as well as two North Davis precincts), but Measure E was defeated by 12 percentage points.

As a South Davis resident, I think about Measure E every time I have to sit through several stop light changes while I wait my turn to go spend money downtown.

Now the downtown merchants are complaining about a "big-box" retailer taking business away from them? They're kidding, right? I say, "Welcome to South Davis, Target!"

published June 29 2006, Davis Enterprise

Lorna Bernard — Davis

We all must be good role models

My husband and I were both raised in Davis and remained because of how special Davis is to us and what a wonderful place it is to raise a family. We have lived in this community for 39 years and have embraced the changes to our town knowing that without economic growth Davis would not have the ability to offer the necessary services a growing family needs.

I do my best to shop locally, but unfortunately all my shopping needs cannot be met in my own hometown. I would prefer to have my tax dollars stay here and Target is a good solution. Will it change our town? Perhaps, but certainly for the better. Davis cannot stay stagnant. We must be willing to make the necessary changes and encourage economic growth to sustain the future of our community.

You might say that I had the misfortune of attending the City Council meeting on June 19 and was appalled by the behavior of my fellow residents in opposition. I strongly believe in freedom of speech, but yelling and slinging insults does not show support or passion for your cause, especially when this is done in the presence of children.

For those who are opposed, I applaud you for taking a stand on what you believe is right for our city, but let's be rational and show how a democratic process can work. Let's be good role models for our children and neighbors.

published June 29 2006, Davis Enterprise

Christina Blackman — Davis

email us your comments

I would like to express my support for the proposed Target at Second Street. As a mother of two children under four, I typically make a weekly trip to either Target or Walmart in Woodland. It is a shame that we do not have any sort of affordable option for shopping in Davis.

Through discussions with other mothers at playgroups, I have heard nothing but overwhelming support for the idea of a Target. As far as taking business away from the downtown area, the consensus was that it would have very little effect. As it is we shop downtown for specialty items and head to Woodland/Sacramento/Vacaville for things like clothing, diapers, picture frames, towels, etc.

I suspect that there are far more people in Davis in favor of a Target than are being represented at the City Commission and Council meetings. Unfortunately, many of the people in favor of a Target have families with small children and our ability to attend meetings where the public comment period does not begin until after nine at night is difficult.

In conclusion I would just like to reiterate my very strong support for the proposed Target at Second Street.

Thank you for your consideration.

—Sincerely, Natalie Lindquist

I support Target in Davis. Regardless of how people may or may not feel about it. Numbers are non-partial. Money that is made in Davis is going to Woodland or Sacramento. Obviously there is a strong interest and obviously there are quite a few people paying money at Target stores, myself included. If Davis wants to have Davis money stay in Davis, then give us somewhere to shop in town like Target.

And yes, I am a staff employee and not a student. I actually do live here.

—Sincerely, Stephanie Perla

Dear City Council:

I have an infant at home so my wife and I cannot make the city council meetings. Please count my wife and me as two supporters for a Target in Davis.

Please donít succumb to the political fringe. Honor your pledge of protecting the environment by reducing the amount of Davis households driving to other cities for their shopping.

A citizen wishes to be heard,

—Ted Tucker

As a resident of Davis for over 53 years, I ask you please to vote yes on bringing a Target to Davis. We have left a lot of tax credits in Woodland and Sacramento that should have been available for Davis. Driving out of town is also getting much more costly and is very inconvienent! One of our grown children lives in Rohnert Park, a small college town of about 35,000 residents. It is within 7 miles of both Petaluma and Santa Rosa, which have large shopping areas. Nevertheless, Rohnert Park has kept its tax dollars in town by bringing both Target and Walmart along with many other "Big Box" stores to their quiet little college town. We hope our council will at least bring us a Target. The verbal minority has forced its will on Davis far too often! For once I decided I too should speak up.

—Thank you, Nola Haggerty

There are a number of people who fear that if a Target comes to Davis that the character of our town will change. Iíve lived here for 40 years, and it certainly has grown. The character has changed, but a Target wonít change it dramatically.

During all these years Iíve shopped a little bit in our downtown, but mostly I go to Woodland to find economical shopping and a larger choice of items. If a Target comes to Davis, the only thing that will change is that more of us will shop more in our own town for those necessary household and clothing items. I do not believe it will hurt our downtown one bit, since the shopping that is currently done elsewhere will simply be done closer to home.

A local Target has a number of benefits. With their wide variety of products, our tax dollars (an estimated $659,000 per year!) will stay in town. Just think about how Davis can use this money to benefit the community. Target also supports local schools and charities. With a local Target, we will save gas and money, as well as keep our air cleaner. We will spend less time on the road, and since we donít have to go so far away, we may go ahead and shop at other Davis stores.

Target is a good fit for Davis. I love living in Davis, and I want to shop more here. Our unique downtown area is always full of people, and it will survive just fine!

—Sincerely, Karen Russell Davis

As a parent of young child I was unable to participate in the public comment period of the 6/13/06 City Council Meeting. However, I feel it is important to speak up for the silent majority who are not able or willing to participate in these divisive, marathon, city council sessions. After reviewing the facts, I’m in support of a Target in Davis. It is time that our community diversify sources for sales tax revenue and provide expanded shopping opportunities for residents. Based on available data it is apparent that a majority of Davis residents shop at Target. The City Council has a responsibility to capture this significant stream of lost sales tax revenue and reduce the number of trips residents of Davis are forced to make out of town to purchase basic household staples. I appreciate your deliberate consideration of this Target proposal and look forward to shopping at Target in Davis in the future.

—Sincerly Clark Williams

I support the building of a Target in Davis. This would bring convenient, economical shopping to Davis. Currently, I drive to Target Woodland on a regular basis for items that I just can’t get in Davis for a reasonable price (kid’s clothing is the best example).

I read with interest the article in today’s Davis Enterprise and believe that there are many residents that support a Target in fact most of the families that I know. However, it tends to be those individuals that oppose an issue that show up at Council meetings. I personally stayed away because the strong “opposition” sentiment is almost too much to handle.

I have lived in Davis for 10 years and recall the opposition to both Borders and Nugget (on Covell). Despite opposition, both stores are now in place and are a welcome part of the community. I believe that this would also be the case for Target and the store would not impact our wonderful downtown.

I urge you to support the building of Target in Davis.

—Sincerly Vicki Kramer

My husband and I were both raised in Davis and remained because of how special Davis is to us and what a wonderful place it is to raise a family. We have lived in this community for 39 years and have embraced the changes to our town knowing that without economic growth Davis would not have the ability to offer the necessary services a growing family needs. I do my best to shop locally, but unfortunately all my shopping needs can not be met in my own home town. I would prefer to have my tax dollars stay here and Target is a good solution. Will it change our town? Perhaps, but certainly for the better. Davis can not stay stagnant. We must be willing to make the necessary changes and encourage economic growth to sustain the future of our community.

—Christina B.

I strongly support bringing Target to Davis. Will it change our city? Yes! But look at the other projects that critics said would change our city for the worse. Many people thought that Borders, another big box retailer, would destroy our downtown. Nugget was also a business that people objected to because it was going to be “too big”. Both of those businesses are thriving! I do not currently shop for much in the downtown area. Since I have to go to either Sacramento, Vacaville or Woodland to go to Target, I do all of my shopping while I am there. I know that there are many people in town that do the same thing. If Target were in town, I could shop downtown since I would not have to leave town to make the purchases I want. Another reason to bring Target to Davis is economics. There are many people in Davis who cannot afford to purchase goods here. Most of the items sold downtown are simply too expensive. Having a Target would allow them the opportunity to purchase items that are affordable. It is possible to have big box shopping and still maintain a viable downtown. Napa and San Luis Obispo are examples that come to mind. Each of these has a viable downtown and a large shopping mall outside of downtown.

Let's bring Target to Davis!

—Nancy Shein

It is time for Davis to move beyond using the building of houses and property–owner taxes as the staple of revenue generation in this city. It is also time for this city to step out of the bubble and take its fair share of development growth in the greater Yolo area and not dump it on Woodland and West Sacramento. Davisites are commuting to stores out of town on a daily basis and Target is but one of our many destinations. I don’t have a problem with various ’big–box’ stores scattered around the county, but Davis needs to show some leadership in this area. A city of this size should host more than one (Borders). If we are truly an environmentally concerned citizenship then lets show it by cutting down on driving out of town.

It won’t kill our downtown. Our downtown doesn’t cater to Target items since we all leave town to shop there. Borders didn’t kill our downtown either. As a matter of fact it is one of the nicest places to shop in Davis and the Sacto Bee recently listed it as one of the nicest places to shop in the greater Sacto area.

When the time comes to vote on this, do not focus on the 200 active people who say this is a bad idea, because in reality, that is the total number of people against it in the entire city. The rest of us, who work hard and don’t have time to sit on a committee or attend meetings, we want a Target in Davis. We have children and are trying to raise families in a town that pushes out the little guy by the economics of the cost–of–living. Davis is a growing city, not a walled retirement community. We must do our share as a city in the region. Letting in a store doesn’t mean the flood gates are open. We can still reasonably plan the growth of retail businesses with the growth of residential areas. I voted against Covell Village, not because I had a big problem with the development itself, but because I was sending you, City Council a message –“Look for other ways to generate development/ tax revenue other than housing.” Housing developments put a strain on all of our city infrastructure and we seem to be always paying for the impact of last year’ls housing development with the monies collected for this year’s new development. This is how suburban sprawl begins and never ends. It is time to change course. It will be a good thing for Davis. It will turn the tide and start a movement of more equal sharing of the tax base between residential development and business development. It might even help drop the cost of a home in this city just a little bit (building more houses hasn't done it) AND that is a good thing for everyone.

—Zackary O'Donnell Davis, California

I fully support a Target in Davis. Consumer and tax dollars are escaping to Woodland, Vacaville, Sacramento and points beyond as folks travel to other locations to enjoy the particular array of goods available at Target. Whenever possible, I shop here at home. Sufficient opportunities are not available here to meet everyday shopping requirements. We add to freeway congestion, use precious fuel and waste valuable time as we travel to other locations to meet these requirements. I am very impressed that Target is planning a LEED certified structure. They are to be commended for this extraordinary effort. Davis should behave like a responsible community, not an isolated suburb where citizens are forced to travel distances to make routine purchases. Please make a good decision.

—Sincerly, Janet C. Hamilton

As many other residents have noted, Target would be good for Davis. First, residents who want to shop at Target, which there are many, end up leaving Davis and shopping in a near–by Target. This wastes gas and money spent on gas and takes valuable consumer purchase funds out of Davis. Second, Target is a one–stop place, with reasonable prices for quality items. Everything you need or want you can get a Target. There are no stores comparable to Target in Davis. The retail that does exist is pricey and not easily accessible. Third, residents in Davis do not turn to downtown for their everyday, household shopping needs. Thus, target is not a threat to downtown. If residents want to shop at Target, they will go to a near–by one. Fourth, Target would generate valuable jobs for students and residents. Fifth, Target would draw in other quality retail stores, which would in turn generate more consumer–purchase funds and jobs. Lastly, Target is willing to work with Davis’ core values. It is time to bring Target and more choices to Davis. The residents want it.

—Ceara O’Fallon

Davis City Council:

After reviewing the facts, we are in support of a Target in Davis. We are regular Target shoppers, visiting locations in Vacaville or Sacramento 3-4 times a month. The addition of a Target in Davis will not stop us from patronizing local merchants, which we already frequently do. What a Target in Davis will do is generate sales tax revenue, lower local gas consumption and decrease the amount of time that my family and many other residents of Davis spend in their cars. It’s time to expand the shopping opportunities in our area.

—Sincerely, Sheryl and Robert Eberhardt

Hello,

I am writing to voice my support for the proposed Target along Second Street. As a long time resident of Davis (approximately 20 years), I strongly support the establishment of a wider selection of retail opportunities within the city limits. Currently, the city has failed time and again to provide adequate retail opportunities for my family. Instead, my family chooses to spend its’: time and money in other cities where retail opportunities are superior to that of Davis. I would love to end my family’s monthly retail trips and I would prefer to spend my money where it could benefit my community by providing needed sales tax revenues. I believe this Target proposal is a step in the right direction and it would go a long way in adding to the overall Davis experience.

I would also like to say that I appreciate the work that city staff and the various commissions have done on this project. The review process has been extensive. Despite the concerns raised during the planning commission meeting, I believe that Target has clearly demonstrated that any impact to the city and surrounding neighborhoods can be mitigated sufficiently. The positives far out weigh any potential negatives. I can’t help but remember all the opposition against developments like Mace Ranch and the Davis Commons. Yet despite that opposition, when all was said and done the projects turned out to be huge a success for the community and the city. Let’s not let the vocal voice of a few trump the larger needs of the silent majority. Again, I fully support the proposed Target along Second Street.

—Justyn Howard

Dear City Council Members:

When my husband was working on his Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota in 1966, and I was a newly-hired high school English teacher in Minneapolis, we had no money. Our first extravagant purchase, after I received my first paycheck, was at the Target near Minneapolis. We bought two pillows for a total cost of $5.00.

During the three years we lived in Minneapolis, we relied on Target for many of our basic needs. Target is a huge asset for students living on a limited income. With 30,000 students attending UCD, why shouldn’t we benefit from the sales tax here in Davis?

Both young people and elderly people on a fixed income need the kind of quality basic items that Target provides. Please add my name to the list of enthusiastic supporters for the Target store.

—Marilyn Moyle

To City Council members:

We strongly support a Target in Davis. After reviewing all the information, it is time for our city to make an amendment to the growth plan and make it happen. The financial gains can only help our city's budget. Our downtown area will not suffer because we do not shop downtown for our needs anyway. We now are forced to shop elsewhere.

Please make the right decision!

—Sincerely, Wayne and Patricia Kino

As a resident of Davis I am ready to accept that we can't be an island and be consistent with our espoused values.

Without competitive retail opportunities in the City of Davis, we are driving a lot of miles to shop. While as a city we espouse the values of energy conservation, energy efficiency and pollution reduction, without providing appropriate retail opportunities we are literally 'driving' our citizens out of town to shop.

The demographics of our city have changed over the past 10 –20 years and will continue to change. We have the opportunity to respond thoughtfully to this reality rather than wish for the good old days.

We have many families with children and two working parents. The cost of housing, transportation, education, etc. have risen disproportionately. The most important issue though is time for families. We need to be more supportive of the every day needs of the families in Davis for time and affordable shopping.

There is a growing senior population that is projected to be a bigger and bigger slice of the total population. We need closer and more affordable shopping opportunities for this portion of our citizens.

As a city we need new revenues to continue to provide the services and ammenities that make Davis a very special city. You are asking Davis citizens to pay more taxes and at the same time limiting their opportunities to shop close to home while saving time and energy.

Bring Target to Davis!

—Sincerely, Janet Thatcher

Dear City Council,

I am strongly in favor of the Target proposed for the East side of town. I love Davis and feel that it is a great community. Unfortunately, there are a couple of problems that a Target would help eliminate. First, Davis is an expensive place to live. Therefore I need to spend my money wisely and I can't do that in Davis as it is now. There is nowhere I can go to purchase everything I need at a reasonable price. I then have to spend extra money on gas to drive out of town to the closest all-inclusive store that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it's products. That is not only bad for my wallet, but also for the environment. I'd much rather my money go to support Davis then a neighboring community. Second, I am a working parent and don't get to spend as much time with my daughter as I would like to. We probably do 75% of our shopping outside of Davis. This is time-consuming, and although Davis has wonderful family activities, we miss out on the majority of them. We seem to spend the majority of our time driving out of town to purchase the products that we either can't get or are too expensive here in Davis. Please consider saying yes to Target. Not only will it keep my money here in Davis, but it will also keep my family here in Davis so we can spend our time and money in other Davis businesses as well.

—Desiree Jenks-Asay

I shop at Target and think many people who live here would, as well. Why not? Everything costs less at Target from cleaning supplies to books. It's funny, the Borders shopping plaza was controversial at first. Now everyone seems to enjoy shopping and dining there. Despite that Target would be erected in Mace Ranch, just minutes from my neighborhood, it doesn't bother me at all. I won't have to drive to Woodland and our tax dollars will be invested in our town.

—Andrea Khoo

Dear City Council Members,

My name is Jennifer Bakker and I have been a resident of Davis since 1987. I love everything about this city, except for the opposition some residents have toward the construction of the Target facility. Personally, I am extremely frustrated about having to shop in other cities such as Woodland, Sacramento or even Vacaville. I don't understand w hy there is such reluctance to allow the Target Corp. to build here. I have visited the targetindavis.com website numerous times looking over the plan, and I can not find one legitimate negative concern that anyone would have. Currently there are no viable options for shopping in Downtown Davis. All of the stores or boutiques are very overpriced and many times you can't find what you are looking for. The Target Co. has bent over backwards to try and gain support in this community, and despite all of their endevours it seems to have no impact. I am honestly fed up, and I am hoping that the plan will be approved next council meeting. I appreciate your time, and I hope to hear of the good news.

—Sincerely, Jennifer Bakker

Dear Council members,

I'm writing in strong support for a Target in Davis. A lot has been said about quality of life in Davis. For me, and I'm sure for most working mothers I know, quality of life is being able to shop locally and spend my precious free time with my family. I resent the frequent but inevitable trips to Woodland, Sacramento, and Vacaville to buy those

things we all know are not available in Davis. Even more important, I avoid driving on freeways with my children as much as possible, due to ever more aggressive drivers and speeding. Leaving my children behind while I "enjoy" the weekend shopping crowds is very upsetting to me - and

I don't think I'm the only one who feels this way. Please remember us, the silent majority who do not have the time or temperament for organized demonstrations at the Council Chambers!

—Sincerely, Cyllene R. Morris, DVM, PhD

Target is much needed in our community. I'm in full support of a Target in Davis.

—Andrea Johnston

Dear Council,

As one of the only UCD freshmen on my floor with a car, I made countless trips to the Woodland Target carting back and forth roommates with clothes, CDs, laundry detergent and hairdryers. Sure, there are places to buy those things in Davis, but as a new resident, you flock to what you know, and you know you can find most everything you (and your dorm floor) needs at Target, in one trip...

After living in Davis for over 8 years now, I try to stay in town and shop, but not everyone fits into (or can afford) cute boutique clothes, so the occasional trip must be made, and I'll usually wind up at a Target, spending my money — earned in Davis — in some other town. Part of that money goes to support an economy that will never benefit me.

It's not just about buying clothes or what other people might classify as junk, it's about having the choice to shop in your own town. Right now, that is a very hard choice, requiring pre-plotted maps and downtown parking conundrums to visit the four stores needed to maybe get something close to what you wanted.

Davis needs a one-stop shopping opportunity, Target is willing to work to make it unique, just like our town. I think it's a perfect fit, and about time.

—Brianne Leymaster

Dear Council Members,

I noticed that the planning commision did not approve the Target proposal. However, this is a very-very short sighted recommendation and neglects the needs of most Davis residents. The community as a whole would benefit by increased tax revenues and the quality of life would not change. Davis needs a few extra dollars so that fees for everything do keep rising faster than inflation. We do more harm by driving to Dixon and Woodland in order to find basic goods.

As an example I site the past protest against Nugge in East Davis. Now, Nugget is the most popular store in town, receiving glowing reviews from those that once opposed it. Let's get real. Most goods purchased at Target cannot be found Downtown. I love the feel of the Davis community and a Target would not change it. As elected officials you have the responsibility to make decisions that provide long lasting benefits to the entire community instead of listening to a few complaints from those residents that want to be stuck in the 1850's. Most residents are getting tired of the lack of basic services in Davis.

—Sincerely, M. Fregoso East Davis Tax Payer

I will not be able to attend the meeting on may 24, so I thought that I'd email you and let you know how excited I am at the thought of Target coming to Davis! To be perfectly honest, I really don't shop that much in Davis. The stores are small and overpriced! So, when I need to shop I go to another town to do my shopping. I have lived here for 8 years now and I love living in Davis. But the one thing that bugs me about this town is that the choices for shopping are terrible! Please do your best to get Target to come to Davis. I'd much rather have my money spent in Davis, to be used as a revenue here in the city that I live in. But if this town repeatedly turns down shopping choices (i.e. measure X), then I will continue to take my money to Sacramento, Woodland or Vacaville.

—Respectfully, Jennifer Lowe

I am so excited to hear that this project may be coming closer to being reality! I have lived in Davis for 8 years, my Husband all his life, unfortunately I regularly travel to Sacramento and Woodland to shop for our family. I can not see paying double on household items from the local stores what I can buy at Target for half the price. My husband and I just had a baby and now even more so than ever require good spending habits and getting whatever we can at a bargain, but still high quality.

Target is wonderful as you can buy gifts, clothes, and household supplies for a fair price. The other reason I shop there is they contribute back to the communities they are in - unlike Wal Mart.

Please Please Please get those doors open so I can shop here and keep my money in town. The Target store will be a great asset to our community as it will also be a great source of flexible jobs for the many students we have in our community.

—Thank you, Rebecca B.

Dear City Council Members,

I am writing this letter to show my support for have Target at the proposed site in Davis.

Being a long time resident since 1989(maybe short when compare to those of you that been here for much longer), seeing the growth in Davis, I can see the positive changes during all these years. Now own two properties and a family with two children, I am more and more aware of the changing attitude of the “anti-growth” attitude that the Davis is famous for.

I am pround to be a Davis Resident, a town filled with the Green active group…with everything in town, many will enjoy the conveniences, as well as saving the environment by driving less — a very fitting Davis culture. Not to mentioned the willingless and patience of Target…working with the city to build the LEED certified building…

In short, my family support to have Target in Davis! Sincerely hope that you will also cast a supporting vote for this new business.

—Alfred L.

I am not opposed to a Target in Davis, in fact, my view is “it's about time.” With the population growing around us, it's unfortunate that the Davis mentality is “zero growth.” When a city does not evolve, it becomes dangerous. For instance in our schools, it's not sound to have declining enrollment because that means less funding to our schools.

The location, however, is another discussion. Why put a Target in “open space?” Clearly, the motive is it will attract drivers from the freeway since it will be in plain view of I-80. Let's use existing buildings and/or abandoned spaces like the Hunt/Wesson plant. Why is it taking so long to even renovate or eradicate that location? It's such an eye-sore.

On another note, I was disappointed that the city rejected Measure X even though it complied with environmental and sustainable laws. Congress for the New Urbanism is ahead of its time and they have done wonders in urban areas.

Again, let's revisit the site of the former Hunt/Wesson plant and not use open space. That will truly make the proposed Target even 'greener.'

—Thank you, Najia R.

Dear Honorable Council Members:

Our household strongly supports the addition of a Target store in Davis. We have lived here many years and have not understood why this city does not allow us to have stores in the city where we can buy a variety of goods. We shop in Woodland, Vacaville and now Natomas to buy goods that we should be able to obtain in Davis.

The loss of sales tax to the city coffers is ridiculous. As home owners we feel this denial of multi department local stores causes us to have a higher city taxes as well as spend time, money and unnecessary travel to neighboring towns for basic goods.

Target is a responsible company and its store would be an asset to the community. Other stores should also be allowed. (Except WalMart)

—Sincerely Mary G. and Peter M.

My family lives at Lake Alhambra Estates, very near where TARGET is planned. We would love to have TARGET in our neighborhood rather than driving out of town. If there would be voting we have 5 “Yes”es.

—Ilhan Eser

We need you in Davis.

—Anneli Sovero

Great idea! Much closer than Wal-Mart with better stuff. Thanks.

—Astyn Johnson

We live in Davis and would like to shop here. We believe in economics, not snobbery.

—Mike Yambrovich

Please, please open in Davis. Target is a wonderful store with great buys.

—Diana Bunfill

We want you in Davis. Help us save gasoline.

—Sam & Gwen Harrison

Bring Target in!

—Sierra Preston

It is time to complement the Davis community with a full service store. I am tired of seeing my tax dollars go to Woodland and Vacaville.

—Andrew Wallace

We want Target!

—Jessica & Mark Pemberton

We desperately need a full shop store in Davis so we don't have to travel to Woodland or Sacramento for good quality merchandise.

—Carol Wheaton

We are in favor of Target in Davis - the sooner the better.

—Frank & Maria Thomsen

I look forward to spending my Target here instead of elsewhere. Welcome!

—Roz Pascoe

Love it!! Can't wait.

—Jeran Leymaster

I love Target, closer to home the better.

—Brenda Scalpi

I love Target, although having one in Woodland is close enough.

—Sara Nelson

Yes I am for it.

—Karey Kodine

I love Target, maybe not in Davis.

—Rebecca Weaver

Keep my shopping trips in Davis. Save gas $$ and keep taxes in town.

—Fran Leistikow

I will like to have here. Great company. Good revenue for city! A good employer!

—Prakash Poudyal

We want Target. Keep $ in Davis.

—Laney Mangacy

I have long thought that Davis needed a nicer, one-stop store like Target.

—Sarah Lebgerwood

I would love a Target in Davis. I work for Target and also volunteer (Special Olympics, Reading ProgramÖ)

—Noura Elfassi

I love Target. I am a 22-year-old female who loves quality stuff at a great price. Can't wait 'til there is a Target in Davis so we don't have to drive to the trashy one in Woodland or of the other ones in Sac.

—Abby Johnson

We could surely use you in Davis. Good thoughts.

—Nancy Davis

We need to be able to buy day-to-day supplies in Davis! How can we be anything BUT a bedroom community to Sac & Woodland otherwise?

—Kristen Thaler

Please open the Target store now!!!

—Yan Guan

Maternity clothes are needed!

—Noel Bruning

Keep the tax dollars in Davis!

—Steve Wolf

Need Target in Davis - excellent store.

—Anna Venner

Go Target in Davis!

—Allison Pohl

Would really enjoy having a local Target.

—Daniel Zurigo

I would love to have a Target in Davis!

—Rian Waldon

I'm tired of shopping at Target in Woodland and Sacramento. Yes I want Target in Davis. I shop there every week.

—Sida Leavitt

We support having Target in Davis - soon!

—Dan Leavitt

Build it. I'd rather leave my sales tax $ in Davis than Woodland.

—Carl Treseder

Please pay careful attention/consideration to bike paths/roads around the store. That is, plan them with one thought: be bike friendly!

—Steve

I will buy all my clothes from the Davis Target as opposed to buying them all from the Woodland Target which I currently do.

—Nikolai Braun

I've always had a Target near me & it sucks to have to take a bus to one so a Target in Davis would be great.

—Karthika Rameshbabu

Yes on Target, then I don't have to drive to Vacaville or Sac.

—Koren Pollock

The sooner the better! We need Target.

—Matt Rafter

Yes, good for taxes!

—Stephanie Moss

It would be very nice if Target came to Davis! Saves gasoline!

—Ayako Oto

Yes!!! Come to Davis. :-)

—Liaiya Manukyan

We really want a Target, I shop there once a week and spend $200 on average. It would be nice to have an all inclusive store where you can shop for clothes and food. Please come here. We need you in Davis!

—Hedi Trauner

Come to Davis! Gas prices are too high to drive to Woodland to shop!

—Katie Cortopassi

I am glad to have a Target in our community. It is about time.

—Carmel

I strongly desire a Target store in Davis.

—Shiela Randolph

We need it! It will not impact downtown. The City will be enhanced.

—Mark Stahl

I love Target–we need a discount store to meet our needs. The tax base will be a plus!

—Jennifer Hersch

It's high time we had affordable shopping in Davis; I canít afford to buy children's clothes in this town.

—Tawny Yambrovich

Better to keep tax $$ here!

—Laurie Bottios

Davis has grown enough that this makes sense for us!

—Lisa Stafford

Please come to Davis!

—Kim Wilhelm

We need a Target NOW!!

—Marcella Hays

Please come to Davis.

—Tom Sands

I shop at Target on a regular basis. Davis is missing out on my taxes!

—Scott Arnteen

Target is one of the only corporations whose beliefs and practices are in line with those of the Davis population. From an employee of a downtown business, Davis welcomes Target.

—Kendra Spangenberg

We could really use affordable shopping in Davis!

—Rebecca Preston

I'm tired of driving. This will be such a benefit! Plus, I find it ironic that Davis residents driving to a nearby Target produce more emissions than Yolo County agriculture.

—Jeremy Turner

We need a Target in Davis. We have limited shopping choices. Davis needs to be a full-service community and offer freedom of choice.

—Mark VanRosley

Please come to Davis.

—Marion Famula

We Need a Target.

—Clarence Chia

Yea! Sounds great.

—Dee Qulivutu

Do it!

—Lou Fox

We need you.

—George Barden

About time.

—Eric Thompson

Having an all around decent store in Davis is long overdue.

—Sandi Redenbach

Want a Target and a Trader Joe's.

—Rachael Kessler

Bring it to Davis!

—Don Pochrandt

Much needed! Tired of driving to Woodland.

—Michelle Vermette

Support Target in Davis, CA!

—Irene Letro

Unionize and you've got me!!

—Charles Ford

I'm a Davis resident who is has made many, many of those 276,000 non-cash purchases at the 3 Target stores nearest to us. The items I purchase at Target stores are either not available in Davis or are so much more costly here that it's worth it to me to travel to Woodland, Vacaville or Sacramento to buy them. There's also the draw of other stores nearby those Target stores (such as Joann's Fabrics and Raley's in Woodland) that entice me to travel afar.

I've looked at the proposed site plan and I think it's as user- and neighborhood-friendly as it could possibly be. The Mace Blvd. off ramp was designed for FAR more traffic that is using it now so where else in Davis would there be such a perfect spot for a "box" store if we are to have one? We certainly wouldn't want a Wal-Mart or a K-Mart. Let's get this quality store in our community and bring some much-needed revenue to our fair city.

Thank you for your attention.

—Diane Steele

I am writing you to express my support of the Target proposal. I shop at Target and would like to have one in Davis so I don’t have to travel so far to do my shopping. I have read the EIR and financial analysis, and I believe this particular Target proposal would be a excellent addition to our city.

This controversy is reminiscent of past opposition of new businesses and shopping center projects. Two projects come to mind: Marketplace and Davis Commons. They were both heated and controversial, and, over time both have become an integral part of our city’s fabric. I challenge you to find a single person who hasn’t enjoyed a Dos Coyotes burrito or enjoyed a warm summer evening eating Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream. Both of these projects have enhanced the quality of life in our city.

Please support the Target proposal.

—Thank you, The Lindquist Family

Dear Council Members,

I am in support of a Target in Davis. Currently, I travel to Woodland on a monthly or bimonthly basis to purchase a variety of items from Target. I know of many other residents who do the same. I would prefer to shop in Davis and have my tax dollars go to the City of Davis instead of a neighboring community.

In addition, the items that I purchase at Target are not items that I would purchase at the local Davis businesses already in existence. I still purchase books from the Avid Reader, hardware from Ace Hardware, toys from Alphabet Moon & Aesop's Room, and many other items that are unavailable in a chain retailer such as Target. I enjoy supporting local businesses and would prefer to do all of my shopping in Davis. I urge you to support the building of a Target in Davis.

—Respectfully,
—Rachel F.

Dear Davis City Council members and Planning Commission Members,

I strongly support a Target store (or any commercial venture) at Second Street for the following reasons:

1. This Target offers a large economic benefit to the city. Additional sales tax, property tax and all the other economic revenues and benefits a business offers a community would certainly enhance City budgets. It seems we are seeing the usual Davis reasons for opposition to such a venture: People who have a vested interested in maintaining the status quo for existing local businesses and do not want any competition and the no-growthers are once again loudly braying their opposition.
2. There is no rational reason to oppose this opportunity for new business in Davis. The store will provide jobs and tax revenue. It will be built near our favorite superfund site and on land that currently is not in use.

I see no reason at all to delay the passage of the permits necessary for construction to begin.

As it is very, very difficult to find parking downtown. The downtown traffic is, as best, congested. Some afternoons and evenings it is almost gridlocked. Especially in the 1st and 2nd street areas. I do most all of my shopping in Woodland (and Dixon). A new store (or any new business out of the downtown core) would encourage me to shop in Davis.

I urge you to VOTE FOR THIS PROPOSAL. It is a good deal for Mace Ranch, and a good deal for the city of Davis. We need new businesses.

Competition is good for all of us.

—Sincerely, Bryce Herbst

Dear City Council…

I am strongly in favor of the proposed Target store being approved. I have lived in Davis for over 20 years, since I was a student at UCD, and have pined for better retail here the whole time.

Please make a decision that will keep shoppers from leaving Davis and that will diversify our sales tax base. We have a limited time opportunity to create a wonderful local retail destination, and I believe it is incumbent upon you to wade through the hyperbole and suffer the criticism of no-growth activists and do what's best for our community.

Thank you for all the tireless work you all contribute to our city.

—Sincerely, Michelle McKim

Target has the type of up-scale, tasteful and reasonably priced merchandise that makes it the best of resources for students and young families making Davis their home. Students without cars and everyone attempting to save on soaring fuel costs and also to cut freeway trips for ecological reasons find it very difficult to go the distances that separate them from their homes in Davis and the closest outlying Target stores. The area in question is ripe for development and a store and other equally tasteful and environmentally friendly retailers in the proximal area will serve the current Davis population and bring to Davis other young families who will appreciate having their household needs met locally.

—Sincerely,
—Ruth D.

Hello,

I am a faculty member at UC Davis, and I recently moved to Davis with my husband, who is an IT professional at UCD.

My husband and I have to make biweekly trips to the Sacramento to buy household and grocery items (at Target and Trader Joe's) as well as basic electronics/IT stuff (at Fry's -the Radio Shack store in town is useless). We pay sale taxes to Sacramento County, not to the city of Davis. The cost of life in Davis is already very high with respect to the states we moved from, and we will not accept to pay the prices charged by the local stores that are hurting for business.

We have been following Measure X and the endless discussions about growth in Davis. Let me say that the result of such vote is just a slap in the face to people like us (middle class newcomers providing a service to this community). I have many new colleagues who are exactly in the same situation. We are still interested to give our contribution and money to this city and settle here for the long term, because Davis has many advantages.

Having stores like Target and Trader Joe's in Davis would

1. allow us to give sale tax to the city of Davis
2. prevent us and many other regular Target shoppers from using the car to go to Sacramento and Woodland
3. give a welcome message to companies willing to bring business to Davis, as well as newcomers like us

Thanks for listening, and I look forward to give my vote for the opening of a Target and Trader Joe's in Davis.

—Sincerely, Valeria La Saponara, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering, UC Davis

Dear City Council members:

I have just returned to Davis after spending Memorial weekend out of town. During the course of this weekend, I spent several hundred dollars on items that I could not get in Davis.

I find it pretty ridiculous that I have to go out of town so often in order to pick up fairly basic necessities in life. I love this town, but the amount of selection there is for certain basic goods (not just rarer items) is pretty bad. Especially if the local selection often consists of expensive boutique items, with no cheaper basic goods, at stores that close at 6 p.m. I put a lot of my retail dollars into shopping downtown whenever I can instead of going online or out of town, but there's only so much I can do. At least at Target (one of the places I did visit in the Bay Area), I could have gotten a lot of my basic shopping done in *one* location.

I know that "Keep Davis Small" is a town slogan right up there with "Keep Austin Weird", but frankly, I'm willing to live with more "big city" feel in this town in order to skip getting "big city" feel every time I have to go to Woodland/Sacramento/Vacaville/the Bay Area in order to pick up things. Wouldn't it be better to have my hundreds of dollars in retail spending going towards Davis (not to mention my own convenience)?

—Thanks, Jennifer Rutherford