WE NEED WALMART IN POWHATAN . I WENT TO FOOD LION. PRICES ARE SKY HIGH. I WILL DRIVE TO WALMART EVERY WEEK,IN POWHATAN OR MIDOTHIAN, VA. AND I SUGGEST YOU TO DO THE SAME.

Just as Chicken Little said, stats do lie.  Especially stats based in bad logic.

“The monthly crime rate of our neighboring Walmarts is over 45X higher than Powhatan Food Lion(s), using our own data! (9.4/(0.23+0.18/2)”

You aren’t taking into consideration the population difference between the two counties.  Chesterfield has a population of 303,469, Powhatan’s has a population of 28,006.  That’s nearly 11 times larger.  Which is about the same difference between Danville County and the City of Virginia Beach, or Tazewell County and Washington, DC.

Your stats confuse the causation.  Basically, your argument is this:

1) The Wal-Mart in Chesterfield has a higher rate of crime than the Food Lion in Powhatan.
2) Therefore, Wal-Marts cause higher crime rates.

Which is no different than saying:

1) A landfill in Chesterfield (300,000 people) takes in more trash than a dumpster in a Powhatan (28,000 people).
2) Therefore, landfills cause more trash.

Higher trash intake in Chesterfield isn’t a product of the landfill, they are a product of a larger population. Higher populations cause higher crime rates, not Wal-Marts.

Stop trying to influence people’s opinions with flawed statistics.

Facts to think about - I think your math is a little fuzzy?  If half the employeed spent $50/month locally would be $42 Billion in revenue?  Are you talking of the whole country?  At $50/month or $600 a year, it would take 70 Million people.  Your posts seems to imply the $42 billion would come to Powhatan, tho this may not be your intention?

As to crime at Food Lion vs Walmart. - Isn’t it more likely, even as most dumb as some criminals seem to act, that even they could figure it better to rob someone coming out of a Walmart which sells TV’s, cell phones, and much other merchandise rather than someone coming out of a grocery store?

As to the fire truck, someone has correctly stated that the two story high school presents more of a need for the million dollar ladder truck than Walmart.

And have you noticed more utility lines work going on along Rt 60?  Just who is this for if not the Walmarts and others?  A lot of expense for a couple of restaurants and nail salons?

Here’s my thoughts, for what it is worth.
I moved to Powhatan to escape the city, a good rural lifestyle.  I assume a lot of people did the same thing.  But now, most people want to bring the city out here with them.  More traffic, traffic lights, etc.  Just slow it down some.  If you want to go to wal-mart, go to wal-mart in Midlothian.  It’s only a short drive away.

$20 million DuPont facility planned for Chesterfield
This is what Powhatan officals should be “working” to bring to Powhatan.  REAL jobs that will pay fair salaries to feed and house families a little more than poverty level.

Let me state for the record I used to work at the Pharmacy! I was let go because of sickness!!I now work at Sam’s Club! Walmart’s sister store!!
Right now if you want somethings you have to go to midlothian or farmville to get it! Like clothes!! good shoes!!!and decent recent moives to watch for sale!!( fo example Harry Potter series) CD’s!!!! electronics!!! Where are the stores that sell these things??? I don’t see Tvs or Ipods in the family dollar !!!!
Why is Walmart the Only one being put down?? I don’t see Target Or Kmart As villianized as Walmart In this county!!!
I would love to work and shop in my county again!!
As far as crime goes, anywhere you go there is crime!!! I LIVE on THREE BRIDGE RD right near ONE of last shooting in this county!! ON Black Friday two years ago??? Remember it?? IT WAS over drugs!!!!!!!! THAT IS THE promblem with most of the crime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOT a STORE!!!!
LOOK AT YOUR STATISTICS AND TELL ME IT’S NOT!!!!!!!!!!!
If you really want stop the promblem go after drugs Help the cops with the promblem!!!! Don’t hide when there’s a promblem Report it!!

And as far as the trash is concerned maybe the next time someone throws out Food Lion, Plaza 0r Powhatan Pharmary, Family Dollar or Dollar General bag in my neighborhood; Maybe I can call you to get out of the bushes around my pond???? I

For every $100.00 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68.00 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spent that in a national chain, only $43.00 stays here!

If half the employed population spent $50.00 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than 42.6 billion in revenue

Mr. Mandarino, While I understand your position that we should be concerned with larger issues than the presence/absence of a Walmart in Powhatan, the comments in this section are in response to the news article above.  I think your thoughts would be better received if they were in a letter to the editor.

As for the opponents of the Walmart, I get it.  I really do.  Personally, I don’t like shopping at Walmart.  Before Westchester Commons was built, I routinely drove past Walmart to get to Target for almost all of my needs.  I just prefer Target.  Having said that, I recognize that there are lots of people who do enjoy shopping at Walmart, and I would much rather have them do that in Powhatan than in another town.

You know, before Food Lion came to Powhatan, I couldn’t imagine choosing Food Lion over Ukrop’s.  Now I go there almost exclusively due to the proximity to my home.  Who knows, if Walmart were closer, maybe I would convert to Walmart instead of Target.  I’ll never say never! :)

I realize the issue of building a Walmarts in Powhatan is very important to many of its residents and both sides present very valid arguments for and against. I’m just thankful that we still have the freedom to express our opinions one way or the other. Has anyone noticed that while we direct all our energies at the “Big Box”, we our losing our freedoms that so many of our ancestors gave their lives to protect? Get over Walmarts and start looking at the Healthcare Bill, Financial Reform, Card Check, Immigration, the EPA, Social Justice, an overabundence of the use of racism, and the unending attacks on Christianity and Judism. God Bless America.

I am saddened by the supervisors’ recent decision to hold off on the Walmart.  Perhaps their deep pockets aren’t affected by the recession or they dislike Walmart because they have the luxury of shopping elsewhere?  Could there be campaign contributions from wealth folks to sway their vote? Hmmmm….

For many like myself, Walmart would mean not having to drive 30 minutes to Midlothian. I’d be putting money back in to the pockets of Powhatan. It would create jobs - a place for our teens to work, a place for our out of work neighbors, etc….and if a few more folks in the area got to hold onto their house cause they now had a job, that is great for all of us! What parent wouldn’t like knowing that their teen doesn’t have to drive all the way into Midlothian for the things they need - closer shopping means less time on the road and that’s a good thing in my book for all of us who travel up and down Rt. 60.

Many working class families are struggling and don’t have the luxury of paying high prices that the local stores charge.  I’m sorry but unless you’re willing to pay my mortgage, I want a choice in where I shop and Walmart has the best prices as do other big stores found in Midlothia.  Although the local grocery store isn’t expensive, I’m tired of picking up out of date food. Walmart’s turn over is so high that I know I’m getting goods that aren’t expired. The cute gifts store we have…well, the same stuff down the road at larger stores in Midlothian is much much cheaper.  I don’t care if you litter Powhatan with specialty shops, boutiques, quaint little eateries and more…if they charge too much, you’ll find me in Midlothian. Oh wait, we’re already there. In fact was there today and several hundred dollars later, drove all the way thru Powhatan not stopping once on my way home.

For those worried about the extra traffic and pollution - if people are driving the length of the county to get to Midlothian (and many are coming from Cumberland), how would putting a Walmart in Powhatan make that worse?  We’d be traveling less, saving gas and reducing pollution! As for the increased trucking traffic…no one complains about chicken trucks, log trucks, Luck Stone trucks or trash trucks going to the Cumberland dump.  What’s the big deal about a Walmart truck just over the county line for a few hours?

For those who say it will bring litter and trash: I don’t get it - do you really think Walmart employees are standing outside putting trash in the ditches or bags in trees? Are you serious?  Point the finger at the shoppers.  If we want to maintain a nice store then we must be accountable for it.  Teach your kids and friends to not dump trash out the window and don’t lay blame on Walmart.

I could go on and on but I won’t. I’m just sorry that the good ole boys of Powhatan voted to hold off.  Perhaps if they were jobless they’d feel differently.  I think it’s time we get some new blood in those elected seats that will look after the good of the people and the economic challenges our county faces vs. worring about self preservation.  I live here too and no, I don’t want this to look like Rt. 360 but really folks - will one store or another strip mall make this a bad place.  No.  The people who live here make this place what it is. 

Last time I checked, I could have sworn the county budget was facing monumental issues like many of the surrounding counties.  Who knew we were rolling in so much dough that we could turn down millions of dollars that having a local Walmart would put back into this community?

Until the Supervisors change their vote, I’ll happlily continue to pollute your roadways driving to Midlothian, nearly 7 days a week. I’ll continue to put money back into their county, back into their schools and budgets. I’ll get my $4 prescriptions from Wally World and with the extra $ I just saved, I’ll do some other shopping in Midlo. while I’m there…including eating out, gas, groceries, department store items, clothing, car repair, house wares and more.  Sorry Powhatan residents who just got laid off or can’t find a job, kids who’s field trip was just cancelled…you should check Midlothian. There’s still a lot of money being spent there. 

Walmart - you’ve got my money and my vote.  Hope our supervisors will realize how many lives they’ve just negatively affected. And I’m willing to be that the same folks who are holding this up will show face in your store at some point.