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January 2, 2007 This is being written from the standpoint a1' a concerned citizen/consumer regarding the Hawaii Tribune article `Riga Targets Big- 13ox Retailers' that appeared in the December 28, 2006 issue. It is totally N uncalled for to want to ban `superstores' because in the minds of ma ~ citizens it includes retai,]ers such as Costco and `N al-Mart. These ax~the p.:; very retailers that provide numerous employment opportunities for our - ~ citizens and having a Costco would provide even more opportunitiesto an N ~ ; already depressed Hilo economy. These stores provide consumers with lower costs, greater choices of products, AND Ml JCH BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE than retailers such as K'['A and Sack-N-Save. Isn't that what our retailers are there for?? - to provide good customer service to its customers and reasonable costs?? I've heard Ixom a lot of clients I work with say that they refuse to go to KTA because c:f the manner in which they are treated (they are looked down upon because of the way they dress or the lifestyle they have). As the paper stated, `...small businesses need to provide better customer service to be competitive...' because at present, stores such as KTA, monopolize the market industry keeping theix prices `jacked-up' leaving the consumer with no other c.;hoice -they control the cost of items just as the aixl.ines have controlled o~~r inter-island travel for so many years. By preventing Costco and Wal-M;u~t the opportunity to be a part of our community, people like Stacy Higa arc° protecting stores like KTA/Sack-N-Save to continue their poox customer service and attitude towards the consumer as well as keeping prices high and limiting the choices for the consumer. Clients have said, `You're certainly not someone special at KTA' from the manner in which they were treated. Hamm. No. 7~•'~ Ref. To: Pnsot Rif. Date d~~