EDITOR,

We need Walmart and we need it bad. Thank God they want to build it in Patterson.

The other day I was informed that black pants and a white shirt were needed for that night’s event at my child's school. So, not being able to get them in Patterson, I had to get in my truck that gets 10 miles a gallon and drive out of town at a total cost of $18 — I should buy something that gets better gas mileage, but I can’t save any money having to drive out of the area for everything. What a waste of gas (six gallons) and time (over one hour total drive time).

Last night, I went to get a glass of milk and we didn't have any, so I hopped in my truck and down to the store, but found nothing open at 11 o'clock. So, do I drive over an hour up and back at a total gas cost of about $18 for a gallon of milk? As much as I want my child to be able to have milk, I just couldn't do it.

I know what you’re thinking, “But milk used to be delivered to your house, too,” but that's the point — things have changed and are changing every day.

If you want to keep things the same, then get that milkman back to home deliveries and lower the gas prices to 29 cents a gallon, and let’s do away with all the fancy farm equipment and go back to plowing and milking by hand, just like my family used to do.

And what about our Patterson grocery store? It has always charged more for items in the Patterson store. I bought a 10-pound bag of potatoes for $3.99, and I had to return them — rotten inside. I got a 10-pound bag at a store in Turlock for $1.49. That was a savings of $2.50 on one. Come on, this has to stop. Walmart never has price-gouged. (I have found all stores have the same price, always.)

Last point: Sales tax — we don’t need it? Jobs — we don’t need them? Hey, why don’t we tell Grainger, Kohls and CVS to leave — then we can have a small town again (with blocks and blocks of empty homes).

Mike Galotta, Patterson