INDEX - ECONOMIC

www.islandbreath.org

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SUBJECT: KAUAI BUSINESS

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON juanwilson@mac.com

POSTED 28 December 2004 - 8:30am HST

Ed Case on Big Box Store

Note: the following letter from Ed Case is the only response to a letter sent several elected Kauai representatives about Costco coming to Kauai.

Rep. Ed Case at recent Congressional hearing

Dear Mr. Wilson: Thank you very much for your recent communication expressing your concerns with Costco's proposal to build a Costco on Kauai. I share your concerns and appreciate your contacting me. As you may know, as a U.S. Congressman I have no jurisdiction over Kauai County ordinances regarding land use or big-box stores. I recommend you continue to work with the Kauai County Council, Mayor Baptiste, and other members in the community to create a critical mass that will be necessary to prevent Costco from coming to Kauai. Thanks again for informing me of your views on this important issue. Please continue to let me know your concerns on this or any other matter. With aloha, ED CASE United States Congressman Hawai'i, Second District

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SUBJECT: KAUAI BUSINESS

Costco is anti-aloha and will suck the life out of Kauai

SOURCE: JUAN WILSON

juanwilson@mac.com 14 December 2004 - 8:00am


120,000 square foot Costco in Monterrey, Mexico
Structural System: Lanmark 2000 - Wall System: FlatStylwall with Texture-Cotel - Roof System: MR-24

"Costco Kauai plans in the works" The Garden Island News has a full page headline "Costco Kauai plans in the works". The article, by Phil Hayworth, goes on to say that Steve Case's Grove Farm is negotiating with the Garden Grove California regional headquarters for Costco to put a store in Puhi. There are five Costco's in Hawaii now. Three on Oahu and one on Maui and another on the Big Island. Big Box Stores are the antithesis of the spirit of Kauai and Hawaii. They sit on acres of concrete pavement, covered in acres of plastic roofing. There might be a tree at the entrance but these stores are really a blight on the landscape. Big Box stores have no windows or clocks. They are climate controlled dungeons often open 24-7. Does this look like Kauai to you? Does it look like anywhere? Big Box Stores do have great discounts on "stuff" but you have to drive there. Big Box Stores are large centralized distribution points for cheap imported junk piled 15 feet high. To shop at a Big Box Store is to work for no wages on a concrete floor in a warehouse. I've been in only one Costco, the one in Kona, as a "guest" of a friend. We drove forty miles each way, from Kamuela to Kailua-Kona. The majority of the volume of stuff we bought was in toilet paper and paper towels. We took a large SUV just to carry it all. My friend has converted part of an "extra" bedroom to bulk paper product buying at Costco, thus turning their home into a Costco distribution mini-center. Shopping carts just are not big enough. Perhaps everyone should get a forklift It has been shown that just as malls and plazas damaged shopping on "Main Street" America, Big Box stores are deteriorating business for plazas and malls. The Big Box store is an economy of distribution, centralization and lack of service. What's next? - Shopping in the holds of the container ships as they arrive from China. The effect of Costco on Kauai will be to 1)Destroy Cost-U-Less in Kapaa 2) Further centralize shopping in Puhi (creating more island-wide traffic problems) 3)Damage the Kukui Grove Mall business 4)Dehumanize our lives just a bit more. Costco is the final nail in our suburban California coffin. If you have a problem with the Big Box phenomenon on Kauai, let Steve and Ed Case know about it. Also tell State senator Gary Hooser, mayor Baptiste and our county council. If you have any problem with a Costco coming to Kauai try contacting people and letting them know how you feel. For a list of your elected representatives click here. Special attention might be directed to:

Costco LA Region Headquarters
11000 Garden Grove Blvd. #201
Garden Grove, CA 92843
Phone: 714-638-6308
laregionjobs@costco.com

Costco's corporate mailing address is:
Costco Corporation
PO Box 34331
Seattle, WA 98124

Costco's corporate physical address:
Costco Corporation
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027
Phone: 425-313-8100

US House of Representatives :Hawaii, 2nd District
US Representative Ed Case
Honolulu Office
5104 Prince Kuhio Federal Bldg
Honolulu HI 96850
Phone: 808-541-1986
Fax: 808-538-0233
Washington DC Office
128 Cannon HOB
Washington DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4906
Fax: 202-225-4987
ed.case@mail.house.gov

Hawaii State Senate: 7th Senatorial District--Kauai and Niihau
State Senator Gary L. Hooser
Hawaii State Capitol Room 208
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu HI 96813
Phone: 808-586-6030
Fax: 808-586-6031
From Kauai, toll free 274-3141 + 66030
senhooser@capitol.hawaii.gov

Kauai County Mayor:
Bryan J. Baptiste
4444 Rice St, Suite 235
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: 808-241-6300
Fax: 808-241-6877
mayor@kauaigov.com

Email all Kauai County Council members at:
council@aloha.net
mail all Kauai County Council members at:
Council Services
4396 Rice Street, Suite 206
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: 808-241-6371
Fax : 808-241-6349

Kauai Planning Department
Director: Ian Costa
Staff: Leanora Kaiaokamalie
4444 Rice Street
Lihue HI 96766
Phone: 808-241-6677
Fax: 808-241-6699
lkaiaokamalie@kauaigov.com

Background material: Analysis: Shoppers pay big box store costs http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20040123-074924-8200r 'Big box' stores hurt mom and pop http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/6869 Big Box Retail in the New Economy: http://www.charrettecenter.net/charrettecenter.asp?a=spf&pfk=7&gk=125 LA City Council Sends Notice to Big Box Stores http://www.laane.org/pressroom/stories/walmart/040810copley.html `Big box' stores leave retail spaces empty http://www.kcstar.com/item/pages/business.pat,business/30dad374.315,.html When a Giant Retailer Moves on, it Leaves its 'Big Box' Behind http://www.ptvermont.org/commentary/big_box.htm

The following 150 communities have either voted to reject a big-box retail development at least once, or pressured the developer to withdraw. ( May, 2001 ) Chandler, AZ Gilbert, AZ Glendale, AZ Mesa, AZ Phoenix, AZ Tucson, AZ Eureka, CA Grass Valley, CA North Auburn, CA San Juan Capistrano, CA Santa Rosa, CA Santa Maria, CA Simi Valley, CA S. San Franisco, CA Yucaipa, CA Colchester, CT Plainville, CT Orange, CT New Milford,CT Old Saybrook, CT Tolland, CT Fort Collins, CO Jefferson County, CO Silverthorne, CO Woodland Park, CO Rehobeth, DE Bonita Springs, FL Clermont, FL Hallandale, FL Lake Forest, FL Naples, FL St. Petersburg, FL Temple Terrace, FL Atlanta, GA Athens, GA Athens, GA Hawaii Kai, HI Mason City, IA Hailey, ID Evergreen Park, IL Lake in the Hills, IL Wheaton, IL New Albany, IN Manhattan, KS Overland Park, KS Wichita, KS Fort Wright, KY Henderson, KY Hailey, ID Evergreen Park, IL Lake in the Hills, IL Wheaton, IL New Albany, IN Manhattan, KS Overland Park, KS Wichita, KS Fort Wright, KY Henderson, KY Barnstable, MA Billerica, MA Boxboro, MA Braintree, MA Easthampton, MA Greenfield, MA Lee, MA Northboro, MA Plymouth, MA Reading, MA Saugus, MA Somerset, MA Westford, MA Yarmouth, MA Accokeek, MD Gaithersburg, MD Kent Island, MD Rockland, ME Bangor, ME Wells, ME Fenton, MI Buffalo, MN Burnsville, MN Olivette, MO Rock Hill, MO Warsaw, MO Lincoln, NB Asheville, NC Durham, NC Hickory, NC Claremont, NH Peterboro, NH Stratham, NH Walpole, NH Deptford, NJ Englewood, NJ Hamilton, NJ Manalapan, NJ Albuquerque, NM Tijeras, NM Reno, NV East Aurora, NY Aurora, NY Buffalo, NY Cazenovia, NY Hornell, NY Hyde Park, NY Ithaca, NY Lake Placid, NY Leeds, NY New Paltz, NY North Greenbush, NY New Rochelle, NY Saranac Lake, NY Beavercreek, OH Broadview Hts. OH Highland Hts, OH Lorain, OH North Olmstead, OH Ottawa, OH Strongsville, OH Yellow Springs, OH Westlake, OH Lower Gwynned, PA Milford, PA Mount Joy, PA Warwick, PA West Hempfield, PA Barranquitas, PR Utuado, PR Middletown, RI Clemson, SC Arlington, TX Cooleyville, TX Fort Worth, TX Kennedale, TX Murphy, TX Richardson, TX Layton, UT Taylorsville, UT Accomac, VA Ashland, VA Charlottesville, VA Fredericksburg, VA Roanoke, VA Warrenton, VA Williamsburg, VA Gig Harbor, WA Port Townsend, WA Brookfield, WI Menomonee Falls, WI Racine, WI Waukesha, WI St. Albans, VT St. Johnsbury, VT Willison, VT Brampton, ONT Guelph, ONT Oakville, ONT Waterloo, ONT Surrey, BC Park Royal, BC

 

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