Letters for May 23, 2013

Water train needs new engineers

Re “Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to ‘fix' Delta a classic water grab” (SN&R Editorial, May 16):

Jerry Brown, Pat Mulroy (Southern Nevada Water Authority) and William Mulholland are in the same mindset that massive water transfers solve water problems. Water is not the problem—neolithic-thinking water managers are. The box they are/were in proffer water as an endless resource taken from anywhere it runs. [They] limit the stakeholders to those who agree with them, misstate their intentions and project impacts, and cannot be trusted to live within their agreements, as they have much money to throw around to exhaust their opponents. This is not a prescription for solutions, but a worsening struggle for solutions and an enrichment program for attorneys. The water train needs new engineers.

The other Walmart

Re “Sacramento should keep its big-box ban” (SN&R Editorial, May 9):

I’d like to set the record straight on behalf of Walmart on local sourcing of products, including fresh groceries. We are proud of our 20-year history in the Sacramento Valley, and we want SN&R readers to have the facts, including the fact that Walmart is the largest purchaser of locally grown produce in the country, and we have made great strides to boost our work with small and midsized farmers through our Heritage Agriculture program.

Last year in California, we spent nearly $21.5 billion for merchandise and services with thousands of suppliers, including regional businesses such as Lundberg Family Farms, Blue Diamond Growers and others. Additionally, this year we announced our commitment to purchase an additional $50 billion in U.S. products over the next 10 years. We will grow U.S. manufacturing on two fronts: by increasing what we already buy here—in categories like sporting goods, apparel basics, storage products, games, and paper products, and by helping to onshore U.S. production in high-potential areas like textiles, furniture and higher-end appliances.

I invite your readers to take a look at our new campaign, www.thereal walmart.com, that addresses our dedication to offering our customers in the Valley and throughout the country the best value and quality jobs in these challenging times. Part of that value comes from sourcing products locally whenever possible.

Paul Shumate

market manager for seven Sacramento-area Walmart stores

Corrections

In “Best mystery history spot” by Jonathan Mendick (SN&R Best of the Burbs, May 16), Oak Chan, the honorary mayor of the Chinese community in Folsom, was misidentified as the first mayor of the suburb.

In “Hit the road with SeniorLink” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R News, April 25), SeniorLink program supervisor Ameshia Arthur’s name was misspelled. An incorrect email address for the program was also given. The correct email contact is SLreferral@elhogarinc.org. Both have been corrected online.