Editor:

If Walmart is so bad, how come so many cities and towns allow Walmart to locate there? The answer is pretty obvious. Walmart has the best politicians that money can buy. Walmart has a horde of lawyers and lobbyists that spread mega-bucks all over the local power structure until Walmart gets what it wants.

Witness the recent vote in Antioch regarding the expansion of Walmart on Lone Tree Way. In the community, the anti expansion outnumbered the pro expansion by about 10-1. But lo and behold, the vote to approve expansion went 4 to 1 in favor of expansion. Who says you can’t buy a vote when you have huge money and no morals?

We need to put every elected and appointed official in Brentwood on notice: Don’t sell us out! Vote to allow Walmart in Brentwood and you will find yourself looking for work come next election.

Not only do Walmart’s lawyers and lobbyists pass out mega-bucks. These same lawyers and lobbyists also teach local officials what to say to make it sound like a good plan to allow Walmart into a community. “They bring in lots of jobs.” Fact: They bring in minimum-wage jobs that stop at 38 hours per week so that Walmart does not have to provide benefits. “They bring in large tax revenues to cash-strapped cities.” Fact: The problems they create more than eat up any perceived tax benefits.

Keep in mind that the civic leaders who will make the decision regarding Walmart are the very same ones that paid $16,000 each for the incredibly ugly palm trees in downtown Brentwood.

Bill Sumner, Brentwood