The Cottage Grove Planning Commission recently approved the plans for the new CVs/caremark in Cottage Grove, “with almost no debate.” I am not sure what the problem is with “some debate” or even doing a little bit of research to be able to debate. If they did some research they would know what an unethical company that CVS/Caremark is. As pointed out here, they have paid hundreds in millions in fines for unethical and illegal practices, and are still under investigation in many states. If the plan commission wanted to look at it a different way, they could look at studies like this one:
Conclusion
When residents of the Midcoast region spend $100 at a big box retailer, their purchase
generates $14 in local spending by the retailer. That same $100 spent at a locally owned
business generates $45 in local spending, or three times as much. Dollars spent at a local
retailer support not only that store, but a variety of other local businesses, including local
banks, accountants, printers, and internet service providers.
So we know for a fact that the big box is bad for the local economy and has no problem with breaking the laws. Yet the Cottage Grove Village president is still able to say, with a straight face, “This is a building we’ll be proud to have across the street from Glacial Drumlin.”
What says pure class more than a chain box store as you drive in to town? Also it is great planning by the commission, to have a store that has paid millions in fines for selling Meth ingredients, directly across the street from our Middle School.
As Mikalsen said “Tonight was really another big night for the village of Cottage Grove.” Maybe his goal is to create some moving jobs when he helps to put local staple Door Creek Pharmacy out of business.
Mikalsen even used the ridiculous right wing slogan “Cottage Grove is open for Business” . Whats next for our Village a check cashing store?
I have a suspicion that what Mikalsen cares about is not how much money will be re-invested in CG by its retailers, but in how much money he can save when he shops at CVS, with its economies of scale derived from being part of a large company. That other local drug company is the problem, not the solution for Mikalsen.
If you want to change the mind of CG’s elected officials, the first thing you need to do is understand what motivates them. Maybe part of that is getting enough CG residents angry about the local drug store going out of business. But more likely than not you are also going to need something that appeals to Mikalsen’s interests.
I have a feeling that what motivates the current Village board is short term gain…ie new business like cvs coming into the village to have a record to run on to move onto bigger positions.
Does not matter that in the long run the CVS’s etc… will be bad for the village because I think they plan on being moved up by then.
i think thats a national problem, too many politicians put too much emphasis on whats happening on election day and not on the best interests as a whole in the long term.
Out of curiosity, how many pharmacies does Cottage Grove currently have?
There is one well established locally owned pharmacy in the village of 5000 with a Walgreens about 5 miles away.