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Author Archive for JOHN ADAMS

City, Review

Review: Wal-Mart No. 1274

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Why not branch out a bit, and review places and events in town? I have no experience as a critic, but I am a consumer, and consumers make market choices all the time, so why not?

We have a Discount City Wal-Mart in town, and for many of us, it’s a great convenience. The increase in store hours a few months ago has made the Wal-Mart even more convenient. It carries many of the ordinary items that a person might need, at prices that are usually low. Wal-Mart – nationally – is controversial, I know, but I’ve no interest in wading into that nationwide battle. There are plenty of sites on the web that present the benefits and detriments of Wal-Mart, Inc. My review is of Wal-Mart 1274 only.

Our Wal-Mart is a smaller sized Discount City, with less floor space than the Super Wal-Mart now in Janesvillle, and the one to be built near Jefferson. Wal-Mart does not expand the size of an existing store to make it a Super Wal-Mart; they leave the old property, and build a new, larger store nearby (as they have done in both Lake Geneva and Janesville.) I see no reason to think that we will get a larger Wal-Mart in Whitewater anytime soon.

Store 1274:

A retail store’s not just a place for selling goods; it’s a place where people work selling goods. Starting with the workforce is as good a place to begin a review as any other. Wal-Mart doesn’t pretend that it’s a full-service retail store, where obliging associates rush to meet your every need. It’s Discount City, not Tiffany’s. Still, the combination of college students, middle-aged workers, and retirees does a good job when asked, with a few exceptions. The only disappointing experiences that I have had at Wal-Mart 1274 have been with two cranky senior citizen workers.

There’s a Dennis Miller joke that people who work, and shop, at Wal-Mart are disproportionately overweight. I don’t find that true of our Wal-Mart, but that sort of jibe must be galling to Wal-Mart, and they have over the years tried to become more trendy, to attract the style-conscious customers that Target attracts.

Staffing’s not always the best, however, at Wal-Mart 1274. Sometimes the registers seem understaffed. That’s not an associate’s problem, but a management problem.

What’s most interesting to me about our Wal-Mart is how it affects nearby businesses. (In neighboring Jefferson, residents fought a years-long battle over a Super Wal-Mart, with those in favor finally prevailing. Much of the concern addresses whether Wal-Mart would harm small, independent businesses.)

One of the readers of this site, wrote in recently about our downtown area that, “Experience establishes that an enterprise most likely to succeed in a decaying downtown environment is a “niche” business provided, of course, that the costs of purchase or tenancy are reasonable.”

That seems right. A coffee shop, hot dog vendor, or restaurant is beyond Wal-Mart’s competition. Even two local pharmacists have survived, although almost certainly with supplemental sources of income (likely from rental property). A conventional five-and-dime, however, wouldn’t likely long survive.

What of the grocery business? It’s an area where local Wal-Mart 1274 has expanded, with nearly double the shelf space for foodstuffs of a year ago. Without the floor space of a Super Wal-Mart, I am not sure how much space Wal-Mart can devote to groceries, but if Store 1274 could add more, it could sell more.

Wal-Mart must place considerable market pressure on our Sentry. The addition of beer at the Wal-Mart will be another point of competition with Sentry and local liquor stores. For consumers, it’s a recipe for lower prices, or better selection (as competitors of Wal-Mart move to distinguish themselves, for example, with more exotic brands).

Are the soon-to-open Red Onion, and the Malone meat market, selling perishables because the want to, need to, or both? Both, I’d say. There’s room to walk around Wal-Mart, and our city can support many specialized retailers that can operate in that space past Wal-Mart’s reach.

There’s nothing elegant about Wal-Mart, and Wal-Mart wouldn’t expect there to be. Without this general merchandising retailer, however, our small town would likely have fewer items for sale, stocked less frequently, and priced above Wal-Mart’s prices. A few cranky senior citizen workers are not enough to disturb the benefits of Wal-Mart’s ready stock at low prices.

City

Tips for Meetings

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I wrote last week about the atmosphere of a recent Common Council meeting, in a post called, “Tax Incremental Financing, Part 3: The Mood of It All.” Everyone who has been to a public or private meeting has a few tips for making the most out of the event. A reader asked me recently if I had ever been on a public board or commission, and the answer is that I have. Someone in that situation, or anyone on a private charitable or corporate committee, has a few ideas about how to be effective. Here are mine, addressed from a man’s point-of-view, as you’ll see.

1. Go to listen. Presume people are clever, interesting, with something to say. Most of them are; listen to their opinions.

2. Have a position or philosophy to guide you. What do you believe your city, charity, or corporation needs? Try to summarize your core beliefs. More spending, less spending, rational principles, ad hoc pragmatism: what’s your fundamental perspective? It helps if people can easily summarize your views, and can describe those views to others.

3. Avoid direct, personal confrontations. A few questions, or remarks by reply, are often more effective than a direct, boorish assault. You needn’t ‘win.’ It’s enough to get your point across.

4. Treat women respectfully, as you should in any event. Sometimes men, even younger ones, have trouble treating women respectfully during discussions or debates. It’s rare, but it happens. If you have this sort of problem, stay out of public life until you get the private help that you need. No one will like, respect, or listen to you if you mistreat women. The world is filled with countless intelligent, knowledgeable women. Everybody except a buffoon understands this to be true.

Don’t be overly solicitous, either. Just speak as you would normally, to anyone. Avoid odd and unfortunate references to how attractive a woman is, although she may be lovely. Many women are both intelligent and beautiful. Your wife is surely no less so; go home to her.

5. Don’t cram. Cramming may have worked in college, but it seldom works so well as a thorough, deliberate preparation with time to reflect on one’s opinions, and to consider the contrary opinions of others. Finish preparation for a meeting two nights’ time in advance. Spend the night before with your wife and kids, or out on a date, or just watching television. You are part of the meeting, not its servant.

6. Arrive on time, but not too early. There’s no sense sitting around, possibly becoming anxious, while staring at the four walls.

7. Dress conservatively. You’re there to represent your judgment, and that of your fellow citizens, not to attract attention with fluorescent colors or revealing attire. For cologne, perfume, and jewelry, less is more.

8. Dress effectively and comfortably. If you’re too warm, too cold, or your clothes are too tight, you’ll be distracted from the only important part of a meeting – hearing what people have to say, and representing your own views when appropriate.

9. If possible, change clothes for the evening. You’ve worked all day, and you’re tired. Sometimes small physical changes have a big psychological value. A fresh shirt, a chance to shave before the evening meeting – there’s a way in which these seemingly common acts work a powerful effect to rejuvenate an otherwise tired, citizen-volunteer.

10. Drinking (moderately) before a meeting? That’s challenging. A man should never drink to excess. The best way to avoid that embarrassing situation is not to drink at all. Wait until the meeting is over.

11. Drinking (moderately) after a meeting? Enjoy.

12. Acknowledge your own silly mistakes; avoid drawing attention to the silly mistakes of others. There’s a difference between a significant error of position and a silly mistake. People fumble occasionally, this being an imperfect world. Don’t try to capitalize on trivial errors and mistakes. If you believe an error has a deeper meaning, then say so. Otherwise, recognize that small errors are not targets of opportunity. When you make a mistake – and you will – admit it, and do so honestly, without excuses. Self-deprecating humor is often effective, if used sparingly, and with a true sense of humility.

13. Don’t be shocked easily. Suppose, for example, someone nearby starts telling a suggestive limerick. If he’s an opponent, for goodness’ sake don’t interrupt him; let him tell the entire, ribald rhyme. He’ll do himself more damage by finishing than you can do by interrupting him with a rebuke. Someone else is likely to rebuke him, in any event, and that’s your opportunity for a sympathetic glance toward those who were offended. If he’s an ally (and if you need him as an ally), then a mild word of caution may be in order. (Most of these unfortunate moments transpire in smaller gatherings, before or after a meeting, and away from television cameras and reporters.)

There’s one set of statements, however, that require a more direct response: racial or religious bigotry. Still, do not show surprise or shock – show calm disdain and disagreement. Don’t raise your voice. Be firm, clear, and direct – those views are inconsistent with the deepest traditions of this country. If a person shows genuine contrition, accept his apology.

Beautiful Whitewater, City

Build a Good Building — Wednesday, August 15th

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I received a notice yesterday about a Stone Stable Work & Pizza party, to be held on Wednesday, August 15th.

Here’s the notice, with all the information volunteers will need to help with this fine effort.

Please join us for a Work & Pizza Party at the Stone Stable Rebuilding Site on Wed. Aug. 15 4:00 – 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

Pizza and beverages will be provided. Many thanks to Toppers Pizza and Sentry Food Store!

Much work has been accomplished already in sorting, brushing and stacking the stones on pallets. You can do the heavy lifting or you can brush off smaller stones. All are welcome. A water bottle, sturdy shoes, gloves, sun hat and eye protection are recommended. Safety First.

Questions, contact: Kristine Zaballos
Volunteer coordinator 473-9822
zaballos@charter.net

I’ve posted previously on the stone stable project, and that post, “Beautiful Whitewater: The Stone Stable,” includes interesting historical information about the stable that those working on the project have gathered.

Inbox Reader Mail

Inbox: Reader Mail — Immigrants

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Here’s an email from Tippecanoe, a resident of Whitewater, about the matter of immigration. First his message, and then my reply thereafter. His words in black, mine in blue:

Dear John,

I have been following your site with great interest. Although I don’t always agree with you, I think you have summed up a couple of local issues quite accurately. I am not familiar with details of the police investigations or the Star Packaging raid, but I do have one comment. It is my understanding that the arrests made were of “illegal” immigrants – not immigrants. I do not have any objection to the Hispanic population moving to America. Maybe the focus should be on helping the illegal immigrants to become legal immigrants.

Tippecanoe

Adams: Yes, you’re surely right that there is a distinction under the law between legal and illegal immigrants. I believe, with the Star Packaging surely closing, that the effort did not justify the expense, so to speak.

The raid is now portrayed — as you have sensibly mentioned it, as an immigration matter. That’s the primary take that the Daily Union, The Week, and Janesville Gazette all took on the one-year anniversary of the raid. What of identity theft? The raid was bad for the city, but the Whitewater police, I believe, damaged the reputation of our town, and have strained believability by insisting that it was an identity theft matter. (The Identity Theft Excuse.)

For all their efforts to make it otherwise, the raid looks to most people like an immigration matter, directed disproportionately at one group. (How to explain the odd — truly odd — former, but now discarded, Whitewater police practice of asking for Social Security numbers from drivers who were pulled over. In my whole life, I have never met a white person — and I’m white — asked that question. I’m sure that I’d be too busy laughing to answer.)

They’ve made a hash of the public relations on a matter that was, as I see it, bad already. Honesty and contrition would have worked better. There are few in private industry who have so bungled a public relations effort and still kept their jobs.

Thanks much for writing. Best wishes to you, and on those occasions, Tippecanoe, when you might be asked to speak in public, I suggest you bundle up, lest you find yourself in the regrettable circumstances of the politician who made your name popular.

Best regards,

Adams

Inbox Reader Mail

Inbox: Reader Mail — A Question for You, Too

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I received an email from a resident of Whitewater, much active in public life. Here’s her message (but not her name), and then my reply thereafter. Her words in black, mine in blue:

“a question for you”

Good stuff – glad you are writing what you think, and that you write so well.  Meanwhile, have you done anything, other than writing about it, to change things? Have you ever sat on a board or commission, or attended a council or plan board or CDA meeting and stood up and made your objections?  I have, and sometimes (granted, not always) it’s made a difference.  If you haven’t, I hope you will, because in the right venue your ideas could be more than just entertaining.

Thanks. 

Adams: My pleasure. I have the advantage over you, don’t I?  We’ve met before, but only I am aware that we have.  I’ll ask you a question, in a moment.

I am, as I have written, a common man, citizen, resident, and property owner, who by accident and circumstance began writing about life in our small town.  My website was unplanned, and if someone had asked me six months ago if I would write even a single word about our city, I would have found the idea surprising and improbable. Yet, here I am, writing back to you.

I have lived in this town for so many years, and have served on a public board. I am currently an active member of a community group in town. I never sought a political role, nor aspired to public notice.  I was contented — as I am no less now — to walk through my threshold each evening, to my family. As I write to you tonight, at my desk, computer in front of me, books around me, I have every reason to be thankful. By some lights, I should be one of the strongest supporters of the status quo. Over time, however, I grew increasingly doubtful of some of the things those in public life told us. Some of it strained, and ultimately snapped, credulity. Some of their explanations were so obviously false it seemed as though they were things only an adolescent would say.

I started writing, and here we are, you and I.

I have a question for you, too.

Why don’t you join me? I have done some (only some) of what you have done; why don’t you try what some of what I’m doing? I don’t mean that you should or would share my opinions — I hardly expect uniformity of opinion. A few clicks on a keyboard, and you could easily find yourself with your own website that could tell your fellow residents what you thought about things. It’s easy to start a website, and you possess already ample dedication to our city. Stretch out your fingers across the keyboard, and tell us more. There’s a lot we could learn from you as a publisher.

I hope you will, because with the right website, your ideas could be more than just “sometimes (granted not always)” effective.

Cheers.

Uncategorized

Free Whitewater — Now with Translations!

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FREE WHITEWATER now sports links on the right sidebar for translating pages into Spanish or French. (Virtually all readers to FREE WHITEWATER are from the area, so French is a stretch, but let’s just say that the site’s willing to reach out for a certain, French Canadian flair.)

School District

The Technology Plan for the Whitewater Schools.

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One seldom encounters the technology-hating, outside of ascetic communes, environmental rallies, and shacks in Montana. Most people want technological progress. Americans are justifiability proud of our advanced technology, the envy of the world, and the product of our productive, free-market economy. No one wants an abacus instead of a computer, or a slow computer instead of a speedy one.

It’s nearly impossible, then, to see how someone would not endorse a plan with the goals that the Whitewater School’s technology plan proposes.

If I were voting, then I’d vote for those goals, too.

I’d just like to ask if the goals are met by the current effort. I wrote about this previously, in a post called, The IT Dead End in Our Schools The WUSD plan wants successful students, and so do I. I doubt that a single OS, single computer configuration is the best way to achieve that goal.

The plan as implemented is less a technology plan than a Microsoft and PC Vendor Support Plan. It has to be a PC, and it has to run the Microsoft operating system.

That’s foolish. Even in many enterprises, IT managers are moving away from a homogeneous Microsoft environment. Across this continent of three hundred million, how many use the Firefox browser rather than Internet Explorer? Millions — just no one in our schools. How many use the Linux OS? Millions, just no one in our schools. How many use a Mac with OS X? Millions, just no one in our schools. (For smartphones, the whole Windows mobile world of Treos and Blackjacks is threatened by non-Microsoft software from RIM’s BlackBerry and Apple’s iPhone.)

Why? Do our WUSD IT coordinators know better than millions of successful, affluent consumers? Alternatively, is it that they know Windows better, and so that’s what they install? If we had a vendor that wasn’t a Windows-only seller, perhaps we’d have a better selection, that better matched the diverse possibilities that this amazing society offers.

By the way, a few quick points about the Register’s recent story, entitled, “Tech-Savvy.” First, is there anything about the story that’s the least bit reflective? It’s written as a story, but it might as well have been a press release. The story doesn’t really ask anything about how the plan has unfolded in our schools. The goals are admirable, but the implementation has been technologically undiversified.

One other point, that applies to comparison between our schools and peer districts. We may score better than other districts on any number of other surveys, but if our peers are performing poorly, that’s no consolation. Even the largest mouse is still puny. Why not set a better standard than peers who may be struggling? (The city budget report had the same flaw, the same consultant’s method of comparison. It shows how we are more efficient than some of our peers. So be it; can’t we set a better standard than Somewhat Above the Herd?)

When students leave our schools, they’ll have the chance to purchase and choose better software and hardware than we provide, and require, them to use while they’re with us. Our students should have the opportunity – now – to use the different computers and operating systems that America produces to the benefit and enjoyment of all the world.

UPDATE: One of the strengths of the web, over dead-tree publishing, is that a web publisher can provide links to original material about which a conventional newspaper can only refer. For example, the Register can refer to the WUSD technology plan, and EnGauge survey, but I can link to the original documents, so that you can read them for yourselves. The Tech Plan is available as a .pdf file, and the EnGauge survey is available, also, as a .pdf file.

City

Goldfinches, Private Life, and Public Office

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Suppose that someone had a job working in an aviary, taking care of goldfinches. Let’s assume that he was the best goldfinch keeper in America – no one fed and cared for goldfinches like our imaginary worker.

After work, he’d go home each evening. After drinking a six-pack, and discarding each can on the floor, he’d habitually demand his wife make a pot roast, serve it to him, and then shine his shoes, wash and detail his car, and bring him a Racing Form.

If his wife made a single mistake in the sequence or timing of these duties, he’d scream at her repeatedly, using a string of vulgar and disgusting insults.

A man like that would be an abusive, repugnant misfit. The goldfinches might love him, but would you believe that his fine care of those birds mitigated the abuse that he heaped upon his wife? Of course not. There’s no real relationship between his job as a goldfinch keeper and his private life, but still you’d not lessen your criticism of him just because he made sure each birdcage had a cuttlebone.

What if, by contrast, our imaginary worker was a public official, where he took an oath of office to uphold the law, and to render justice within our community? If you thought the goldfinch keeper was disgusting, what would you say about the same conduct in a public official representing the community? I would say that he had caused two harms, not one – the primary and most significant harm was to his wife, but a secondary harm was to the community.

That’s why it’s not possible to be a good public official while simultaneously facing criminal charges for conduct that has disgraced your small, struggling community.

A judge is more than a goldfinch keeper.

Our Council made the right decision by rejecting someone who was, demonstrably, the wrong man for a public office. more >>