Some time ago, the people of Greenfield, Massachusetts voted by a margin of 2:1 to allow the devil into town and lucifer will establish his presence in the form of a Walmart supermarket. At least that is the view of a particularly aggressive minority (the “1″ in the 2:1 ratio) in Greenfield. They are also known as the CAVE people of Greenfield, Massachusetts (CAVE = Citizens Against Virtually Everything) – See also my post A Species Of Its Own: The Greenfielder.

Now, since Walmart is allowed into town (in all consequence, nobody knows who is coming to town; it may as well be a Kohl’s or Chez Target) the CAVE people have, out of the blue, assumed a modified opinion. Yes, we need a Walmart, but the proposed size is too big for Greenfield. For those who don’t know, the proposed big box store would replace a huge, ugly sandlot. The building of a large supermarket would be a considerable improvement in terms of scenery, and, after all, it would improve life in an economically depressed Franklin County.

I, personally, still fail to see how size matters other than that a smaller size would make the whole project less profitable for the developer and even result in abandoning the project. In my personal opinion, the CAVE people don’t want a big box store. Period. Everybody is entitled to an opinion and to fight for a cause they deem worthwhile. What I don’t like is the lying part. I am highly allergic to lies, and the CAVE people, in lack of factual arguments, turn to lies or scare tactics.

The “Walmart” discussion rekindled a few weeks ago when Ben Clarke, speechwriter from Washington D.C., couldn’t constrain himself and contribute another article to the local newspaper, The Recorder. Unfortunately, I didn’t keep the article, but I will contact the Recorder for a copy. In a nut-shell, he is against a big box store (no surprise here, and I will explain why in the following). When you live in Franklin County, Massachusetts and you read The Recorder, you get used to Ben Clarke’s uncommon sense. Don’t get me wrong, he is an extremely talented writer, but his reasoning against the retail store idea can only be described as bizarre. You read it, and you shake your head. Honestly, the reason I didn’t keep the clip was that I couldn’t believe that anybody would take him seriously. After all, the man is a speechwriter, not a journalist. The difference is that a journalist needs to investigate facts, and Ben Clarke has only opinions to offer.

Fortunately, the system works, and Ben Clarke was promptly rebuked in the nicest way. On August 10, 2010 Isaac Mass, a Greenfield resident and former member of the Town Council, responded with a refreshing and insightful article on Greenfield’s identity (“Walmart wouldn’t ruin our community”). Isaac Mass is a much better man than I am, and he dismantled Ben Clarke in the most polite way by writing about his life in Greenfield and the immediate neighborhood (which include the more or less 8 years Ben Clarke spent in Washington D.C.). He cited examples of other Walmarts, and how they did not destroy the towns they’re in, actually, quite the opposite. After all, the man knows what he is writing about.

The saga continues with another “My Turn” article by Amy Clarke, Ben Clarke’s mother, on August 24, 2010, and now we know where Ben got his opinion. Her reasoning for a smaller sized big box store struck me personally as borderline bizarre. And, yet again, she cites the increase of traffic on High Street (her neighborhood). In another article some time ago, she complained that it would not be possible anymore to send your kids to walk to school due to the threat of high car traffic. As far as I know, two of Amy’s daughters went to Stonleigh-Burnham, a private school here in Greenfield, and Ben went to Northfield Mount Harmon. None of her kids walked to school, and if they did, they did it some twenty years ago. Times (and traffic patterns) have changed since then.

The most disturbing part of her argumentation is her reference to the Walmart in Orange, Massachusetts (roughly a 30 minute drive from downtown Greenfield). Basically, she says she doesn’t want Walmart to trash Greenfield, but it is acceptable they trash Orange, because Orange is already trashed. Of course, these were not her exact words, but the result is the same.

Amy knows Orange well, because as the Executive Director of the Franklin County Community Meals Program (FCCMP) she visits the Orange meal site frequently. Previously, I called Franklin County an economically depressed area, and that term applies specifically to Orange, Massachusetts. The FCCMP provides food to many Orange residents, but also to people in Turners Falls and, after all, Greenfield. Amy Clarke should know that poverty exists not only in Orange. A Walmart, or any other big box store, would be like Christmas in July to a great number of Greenfield residents. Whatever I hear from opponents of the retail store idea, I never read or hear references to people of the lowest income range.

Talking about disturbing… I find it somewhat problematic that Amy engages into public activities such as opposing the Walmart idea. From an ethical standpoint, I would expect that she confers with the FCCMP board to assure there is no conflict of interests. The FCCMP is a non-profit organization and as such should not be drawn into a political discussion. It is my belief, that Amy, an employee of the FCCMP, has crossed that line by arguing in a manner that is counterproductive to the FCCMP’s mission. Her comments, not based on facts and not compliant to the FCCMP’s mission, have cost a great loss of reputation, not only for herself, but also the FCCMP.

And yet again, the system works. Just like her son, Amy Clarke’s writing was promptly rebuked in the nicest way, this time by the Editorial Board of The Recorder. I quote:

• The issue: Is the proposed discount retail store on Greenfield “too big.”
• Our opinion: “Too big” doesn’t seem to come with the facts and data to support that position.

The Recorder – August 25, 2010

Supplement – August 27, 2010

The bashing of Ben and Amy Clarke continues… In today’s Recorder, Robert Sunderland, Executive Director of the local YMCA, comments in the My Turn column, titled An economic matter:

Ben Clarke recently wrote a column in opposition to Walmart coming to Greenfield. I know from Mr. Clarke’s Recorder articles that he recently moved back to Greenfield after living in the Washington, D.C. area for many years. … Mr. Clarke, before you go off opposing a big box store coming to Greenfield, I think you should do some economic research about this part of the world.

He continues later in the article:

Mr. Clarke, I am looking forward to the articles you can write with your new understanding of the demographics of our beautiful Franklin County and how a big box retailer in Greenfield will improve the lives of at least 62 percent of area families.

As a hidden hit at Amy Clarke, Executive Director of FCCMP, who is opposed to the retail store idea, he writes:

I got to hear and read material written and presented by the dedicated people who direct the Franklin County Community Meals Program, Greenfield Salvation Army, Center for Self Reliance Food Bank and Family Shelter Program. These directors told our panel stories of parents they know who struggle every week to pay their bills, buy clothes and feed their family. These families would benefit a great deal if there were a big box retailer in Greenfield.

Let me summarize: Ben Clarke doesn’t research the facts, and Amy Clarke, by arguing against a big box store, works against the interests of the FCCMP. Well, at least that is my interpretation…

Let me add that Amy was furious about Mr. Sunderland’s comments (we talked on the phone today, after I had sent in my resignation from the FCCMP board – See my post My Resignation from the Franklin County Community Meals Program (FCCMP)), calling his arguments unsubstantiated. In the same turn, she stated to me, that she “will loose the battle” on the Walmart topic.