Stop Wasting Money

Wasting money seems to be a pastime for the city council here in Galt. The most recent examples, according to foxnews40.com, are two studies costing $60,000 each. The first is a study of what Galt needs to improve its lackluster economy. No brainer there, but it apparently takes a PhD. in economics to realize that what Galt needs is more retail stores, hotels, and pizza parlors. The second is a study of train noise in Galt. the result of that expensive joke is that trains are noisy. No kidding, that was the actual determination. I’m pretty sure I did not vote for any of these…city council members. If so, I apologize.

This situation is beyond ridiculous. In fact, it should be grounds for recall elections of every one of them that approved the two studies. Anyone with a frontal lobe could figure out in about a nanosecond after visiting our town that what it needs is more retail stores. We’ve been trying to get a Wal-Mart for about half a decade or more, but some shortsighted folks think they know what’s best for a struggling town with an almost non-existent economy, too many foreclosures, and very little tax base. They seem to prefer having to fire teachers; cut school sports, music, and elective classes- which we now have to pay for, by the way. No, let’s keep driving to Elk Grove, Lodi, and Stockton for a  pair of socks or a baseball glove. Hotels? What reason would someone have to stay in a hotel in Galt unless they were passing through and worn out from driving “historic Highway 99” or on their way out-of-town; heading for a much more business friendly state like Texas? Until we are able to provide top-notch tourist draws, which we can’t do without a tax base, and I’m not talking about property taxes Greedy Ones, I mean a retail tax base, we will have no reason to build more hotels than the ones that already exist. As for pizza parlors, I think we have enough of them for now. The last thing Galt needs is another fast food joint. I think they outnumber the citizens by about two to one.

Dont’ misunderstand me, I like small towns, even though Galt is more of a South, South Sacramento without shopping than the quaint little agricultural town it tries to come off as. I don’t think rampant overdevelopment is a good thing either. However, a town can’t build thousands of new houses, greedily devouring the property taxes, permit fees, and development charges that come with them, and not allow commercial businesses to supply those new residents with goods and services. Otherwise, those people will be forced to spend their money in another town or city, which does nothing for Galt. It’s time for Galt to stop the flea market mafia mentality, and open up Galt for business: real, competitive business. As for the trains? Put some concrete masonry blocks on them, drop them here, and build that Wal-Mart, we’ll endure the noise. While you’re at it, put in a low-cost, high-speed, Japanese-like efficiency passenger train between Sacramento and L.A.