The front-page headline of your paper this week, reporting the plans for a 55- store shopping center, which will include a gambling parlor plus a Wal-Mart in the same vicinity, has left many residents in this community in shock.

We now understand the reason for the manic, so-called “beautification” project recently taking place east of the Libramiento.  It sounds like this has been in the works since the last mayor’s administration. 

Too bad the hard-working business owners on that strip, many of whom we rely on and are friends with, are now losing money and may go bust. Instead of being the self-reliant, hard-working and good business people they are, maybe they and their families can get jobs at the casino. 

But not to worry about them, those bothersome traffic jams or the increased demand for basic infrastructure in an already over-built area – at least the beach areas are starting to look great. 

I just can’t wait for the amusement park reportedly soon to be built on the road to Mezcala.

Sally Pence, Chula Vista