Vox Pop

Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Submissions are limited to 100 words. To call in a comment, dial 829-2900 or 1-800-547-2909 then enter code 8008. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com. Comments, which must meet the newspaper's standards of fairness and good taste, may be edited for clarity, length and libel.

CRD is born

To the Vox Pop writer asking where was the Coalition for Responsible Development 10 years ago? Some of us didn't live here and some were very young. The premise is that we're on a speeding train and we can't get it to stop or even slow down? Because mistakes were made in the past, we may as well continue to make them? Also, a superstore is something this area has not seen before. It is unlike a regular "big box," which we have lots of now. What new item does this mega-store offer?

Going willy-nilly

To the Baxter police chief who slammed Brainerd: Brainerd is a community. Baxter is merely a collection of uncontrolled sprawl along a highway. Brainerd has all the basic elements of a community -- hospital, post office, library, YMCA, Brainerd public schools, government services and a daily newspaper. There is a downtown in Brainerd. Where is downtown Baxter? Baxter is like a suburb of Brainerd and obviously some people are envious of what Brainerd has, so they try to insult Brainerd. Baxter might catch up to Brainerd's century of community someday, but not the way they are going willy-nilly.

Needs a wake up call

Considering Baxter is well on its way to providing the Highway 371 low-income job market, maybe they should be providing the low-income affordable housing to support it. Baxter's police chief needs a wake-up call concerning community growth and the fallout from Baxter not pursuing living wage job opportunity.

Brainerd has character

I would like to say to Baxter Police Chief Robbi Gallant that I probably make more money than him and I live in Brainerd and not Baxter. I like it here a lot more than Baxter as Brainerd has a touch of character that Baxter won't have for a long time, if ever.

Accept it and move on

Mr. Muelhausen, I invite you to live on the west side of Mill Avenue in our lovely northeast Brainerd sometime and tell me how lovely it is. You know, to compromise your morals for the paycheck is not worth it. Our city council is just a bunch of bawl babies who like the attention, but doesn't have the interest of Brainerd in their hearts. That is obvious. Mr. Muelhausen, just accept the fact that Brainerd went to the dogs a long time ago. Sometimes the truth hurts. Accept it and move on to accomplish something positive.

Not pretty anymore

My hat is off to you Robbi Gallant. Finally, someone willing to say the truth about Brainerd. He should not stand to be corrected. He speaks what a lot of people know to be the truth. It's just that he is someone with some clout willing to say it. I was born and raised in Brainerd my whole life and moved to Baxter because of his reasons. We are nothing but bars, churches and banks. Mr. Muehlhausen was offended. Boo hoo. Why does your address say Baxter? Take a look around. It ain't pretty anymore.

Latest headline

Poverty has gone up and incomes have gone down in 2002. We now have record deficits which will effect our future economy. High unemployment rates and the loss of millions of jobs. Eliminate overtime for some so they can work longer hours for less money. Loss of prestige around the world and now we must beg others for money to bail us out of a bad Iraq policy. How can anyone still think that President Bush is doing a good job?

Welcome, Wal-Mart

You did a great job with the Wal-Mart issues. Maybe you should make the ones who attend the city council meetings prove where they live, we would keep all the Brainerd protesters out and their mouths shut. As far as all those small businesses that pay such high wages, I wish they would tell us where they are. Most of them pay minimum wages and will never meet Wal-Mart's wages and benefits. Welcome Wal-Mart. I will be there when you open. (No, I don't work for Wal-Mart but I do live in Baxter).

Thanks, Terry

The Baxter resident that did not want Terry Sluss speaking for her/him really showed ignorance in their Vox Pop. Terry Sluss lives in Baxter, is elected and represents the Baxter area as a county commissioner and was approached by residents to speak on their behalf. Many Baxter residents are not happy with their city representative's decisions and I think it will become obvious at election time. This is one "bawl baby" that will work hard to see them all defeated in the next election. Many of us appreciate Terry Sluss and his fine representation. Thanks, Terry.

Clown show

The Baxter clown show is at it again. After completely ignoring the cautions given by local groups and residents, the city council welcomed the superstore to its city. As if they didn't have enough to do. Now they whine about not being able to take care of all the paperwork. The statement by the chief of police mirrors the council's thinking, "Baxter's got all the big boxes and Brainerd's got the low-life, low income." Next time I come up north, I can't wait to see the big white box instead of the beautiful countryside and trees.

Poor driving evident

My wife and I each had separate, serious vehicle accidents within the last few years in the Brainerd lakes area. None of the fault factors were ours. Daily, we notice that area drivers change lanes without proper signals, run through the red lights on the Highways 25 and 210 intersection, especially big rigs and exhibit poor passing skills on Highway 210 between Brainerd and Crosby. Insurance settlements don't mean much when you've got a handicapped parking permit.