I’ve lived in Auburn for nearly 10 years now, and there are many things I love about our city. We have a great network of parks, especially with the new barrier-free playground at Les Gove. The community garden just off Harvey Road seems to be going strong, and the Auburn International Farmers Market is off to a great start in its second season.

There also are businesses like Sun Break Cafe that have been here for years and newer small businesses like British Bacon and Kid Savvy. All of these things make me proud to live here.

The latest issue of the Auburn Reporter highlights the new Super Walmart and, at the same time, includes an editorial about a “dying, dire downtown.” I know we already had a regular Walmart on the other side of the SuperMall, so why now a Super Walmart?

I can’t imagine it will help our struggling downtown, especially with another one right at the top of Highway 18 and just down the road in Covington. What was the City thinking in bringing us another store for the largest company in the world? It certainly won’t support the growth of those small businesses.

Every time I pass the construction site I shake my head. I’ll do my best to support Auburn’s small businesses and the community growth efforts of our city, but Super Walmart is definitely not a positive addition. Low prices come at a high cost to workers, small businesses and the environment, and I won’t be shopping there.

Take a look at our neighbor, Kent, and the type of thriving downtown they’ve built around Kent Station. It certainly wasn’t built around a Walmart.

– Melissa Podeszwa