I am writing in response to Lon Allan’s column of June 12. Lon is one of the very few, but vocal, people in Atascadero who does not want Walmart, 300 to 400 new jobs, more consumer choice and additional tax revenues.

Back in November 2008, nearly 70 percent of Atascadero’s residents voted down the attempted ban that would have kept Walmart out of town. In his letter, Lon expressed his dissatisfaction with “bigbox” stores but chooses to forget or ignore that we have other “big-box” or big-brand stores like Home Depot. And if Lon was consistent, he would have opposed Home Depot, but he did not.

We like Home Depot, and we like Walmart.

We need to grow our tax revenue and employ more people, the young and the more mature. I’d ask Lon to join the huge majority of us who want Walmart. Join with the city staff, which has supported the project. Join with the Planning Commission, which has voted to move the project forward.

It was said during the Planning Commission meeting, “We won two world wars in less time than it’s taken to discuss Walmart.”

Enough is enough. Let’s get this project going.