Linda Pall’s “No Super-Walmart” and “Not in My Town” stance from 2007 are (rightly and fortunately) coming back to haunt her.
She, was adamantly against Walmart expanding in Moscow, and was responsible (along with the other MCA anti-business lefties: Aaron Ament, Nancy Chaney, the Moscow Civic Association, etc) for running Walmart out of town.
Don’t forget the “Celebrating ‘Yes Moscow’” and “We Won” for running Walmart out of town. We cannot afford that again.
Ten years ago, left-leaning Moscow city councilors perceived as having anti-growth views were swept away by three Greater Moscow Alliance-backed members. Linda Pall was one of the left-leaning incumbent members who was ousted. Now, she is running for mayor against incumbent mayor Bill Lambert, a pro-growth councilor who kept his seat in 2007 and was joined by Walter Steed among others.
Pall said the anti-growth characterization placed on her and other councilors at the time was “absolutely” unfair.
It is quite reasonable to have development, she says.
“But I don’t want that development to be at the cost of the livability of Moscow,” Pall said.
She said it should be the right size for the city.
Part of the anti-growth perception existed because she and other councilors did not think it would be a great idea to allow Walmart, which she said could be found anywhere else – including Pullman – to come to Moscow.
Today she says Walmart is a fine store and a great asset on Warbonnet Drive where even she shops.
She said the perception was also there because she thought development should serve the larger interests of Moscow rather than building anything that takes away from Moscow’s character.
“We want to maintain the uniqueness and the livability of who we are and what we are,” Pall said, while at the same time saying big box stores such as Target would be a great advantage for Moscow.
Lambert said he does not mind big box stores coming to Moscow.
Running off Walmart a decade ago was a bad idea, Lambert said, and when the Pullman Walmart was built, many Idaho license plates could be seen in the parking lot, which meant Moscow lost out on those tax dollars.
He and Moscow City Councilman John Weber were the only two councilors in favor of a Walmart in Moscow at the time, Lambert said.