Walmart needs to step up, support center

Published 12:48 pm Wednesday, November 12, 2014

In the Nov. 7 edition, King County, partners to keep the Auburn Public Health Center open and several partner contributions are mentioned with the City of Auburn, the Muckleshoot Tribe and Group Health all contributing $100,000 or more.

It is very disappointing that one of our city’s primary beneficiaries did not contribute.

Reporting Walmart’s reliance on public programs, including medical care, food stamps and subsidized housing to support their employees whose wages cannot support them, on April 15, 2014, Forbes said, “… a single Walmart Supercenter cost taxpayers between $904,542 and $1.75 million per year, or between $3,015 and $5,815 on average, for each of 300 workers.”

It seems Walmart should have a vested interest in keeping the medical clinic open. Maybe they will give their employees bus passes to go to Seattle? If they really need medical care, I doubt they are in any condition to walk that far.

– Bob Zimmerman