2007-06-05 TSUPERSTORES - Laserfiche WebLink

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I just want to make mention that I am a Konawaena graduate. I won’t tell you the year, but I am a Konawaenan and am proud to be a Konawaena High School grad. I’m here today to testify against Resolution 21-07. For the past three years I’ve served as the store manager for the Kailua-Kona Wal-Mart. I want you to know that I enjoy running a store for a company that truly cares about the community that it operates in. Each year we’re able to provide thousands of dollars in grants in in-kind donations to various nonprofits across the island.Last year our grants in donations totaled more than $100,000 for our Big Island Community, and that’s between the Hilo and Kailua-Kona stores. Among those efforts, you might recall the immediate disaster relief with the Hawaii chapter of the American Red Cross following last October’s earthquake where we were helping with local police and also the Red Cross issues. Just this last week we th wanted to be the lead store in Hawaii to celebrate the 20 anniversary of the partnership between the Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart. My company also encourages me for community involvement. I’m proud to be considered among the Friends of the Drug Court. I’ve also coached numerous youth and adult leagues for both football, basketball and soccer. This legislation does not help our community. It stifles competition and is unfair. Please think of our residents, think of our community, and please vote against this resolution. Thank you for your time. GRAHAM: Thank you for your testimony. Okay, Commissioner Siracusa? SIRACUSA: I am aware of some of the philanthropic things that the Wal-Mart company has done. Are you by mentioning this, and the previous testifier also I noticed made a special point of mentioning these donations that you have made, would you continue if this Resolution passed, would you continue to make donations to the community, or are you trying to hint to us that you would cease to do so? KIM: I can’t speak for the corporation, but I can just tell you the store that I run would continue and I would feel that they would actually get larger going forward. GRAHAM: Thank you, sir. SIRACUSA: Thank you. GRAHAM: All right. I appreciate your testimony? OGATA: Mr. Chair? I’m sorry, I have a question. GRAHAM: Oh, excuse me. Go ahead, Shelly. OGATA: And this perhaps may be addressed to Mr. Crowley as well. Both of you have spoken very highly of some of the benefits of a so-called supercenter to the community. But I would like to hear from both of you what perhaps some of the risks and perhaps some of the adverse effects that could happen to our community as well. GRAHAM: Mr. Yates, you want to address that first? EXHIBIT D 11