Liverpool First

Greater Liverpool has so much to offer families, seniors and single residents. Location is at the top of the list of benefits. Within a few miles of anyone's Liverpool home is the best shopping at Carousel Mall, the best park in Onondaga County, and some of the area's most popular eating establishments, including Heid's, The Retreat, and Mother's.

Greater Liverpool also offers more shopping on Route 31 at Great Northern Mall, Marshall's, Toys R Us, Target, and Wal-Mart, to name a few, and many popular restaurants along Route 57. Grocery stores are also numerous and varied, keeping prices competitive for customers. As a village resident, I also have the benefit of living within walking distance of the library, the bank, shops, beauty parlors, Onondaga Lake Park, the school, and all of the restaurants.

The biggest negative impact of a Wal-Mart superstore would be increased traffic through the village. Already traffic is a major problem during peak hours, and a
Wal-Mart operating 24/7 just outside village limits would only greatly compound the problem, to say the least. I would even predict that a crisis situation would be created, since the village roads right now can barely handle current traffic.

Traffic congestion is going to affect all of those people who drive through the village to and from work every day.

A second negative impact would be the adverse effect to businesses that residents in and out of the village now enjoy. Some business would be adversely affected by too much traffic going by, and some businesses will be hurt by the competition. Some businesses will be hurt by both.

As for me, I would much rather keep the small business person around and maintain the more personal shopping approach. Shopping at Wal-Mart is a stress-filled experience because of traffic, packed parking lots, crowds, long lines, bad lighting, and low-quality merchandise. I do not want to give up my favorite shops and restaurants for that!

- Kelley Romano, village resident

Last updated 05/11/2004