As noted in Governing, nobody bats an eye about publicly owned parks. They are a given. The same is true of libraries, which could be owned by a municipality or a nonprofit. So how about publicly owned groceries to fill a need in urban settings? Believe it or not, this idea is being considered in Chicago and has been implemented in Kansas.
While there is a dearth of groceries in poorer communities, a study by the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative reveals that inner city groceries in Philly have no impact on obesity rates.
Fruits and vegetables cost more than processed food.
Instead of public groceries, we should try to make an apple cheaper than a Snickers bar.
25 comments:
Many people, including posts in here I've read over the years, are tone deaf to the fact that obesity isnt a lifestyle choice for the poor.
People already pay memberships to warehouse stores for savings but still a large sum of profits go somewhere. This would have to run by a large non-profit with paid staff in order to be sustainable. It is crazy that some municipalities think volunteers are unpaid staff are part of the guarantee workforce. Such a venue would require and exorbitant amount of time and should have paid staff to operate and manage.
I also find it absurd that Country Clubers will pay $6 for a vanity drink in a small paper cup but expect a farmer to sell egg for less than $3.75. No wonder why the family farmer is selling outbto commercial farming.
Bernie,
You are not dumb and know they are closing because of losing millions of dollars due to rampant crime which is directly from this ABC article. Maybe if they upheld the laws in the city these places would stay open. The store was open for 17yrs and never made a profit. As an owner what would you do? Lastly, Chicago has a pension debt that is rising so how can they afford this? Which party runs the city of Chicago? All receipts below
https://news.wttw.com/2023/07/05/chicago-s-pension-debt-continues-rise-increasing-174-billion-2022-354-billion-city
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/heavy-police-presence-reported-at-country-club-hills-walmart/3240673/
https://abc3340.com/news/nation-world/chicago-may-create-city-owned-grocery-stores-after-major-retailers-flee-crime-ridden-city-brandon-johnson-whole-foods-nordstrom-old-navy-walgreens
The soon to open food coop in Bethlehem is a step in the direction you’re suggesting. Somehow East Broad Street is a food desert for shopping (the South aside has C-Town Supermarket, a place I get ground coffee and fresh purple yams), which is why the city council and the Bethlehem Food Co-op board collaborated to find a location on this side of the river. It’s going to open without debt and will sell fresh food, as much as possible sourced locally (I assume Scholl’s and Bechdolt’s orchard products, for example).
It won’t be gourmet. It will be fresh. And membership is not required to shop there. Bonus: two blocks from the YMCA and four from the library and city hall. This is way better than Easton’s public market for the common person.
I appreciate you bringing up this topic, but think beyond the urban need. I grew up in a rural farming area of Pennsylvania that is becoming a food desert. Fifty years ago the area was served by the Acme and A&P chains and some independents and then the mom and pop stores. Over the years the chains left or went under, the independents lost their suppliers, and the Walmart took over, but it’s 20 miles away. The Dollar General chain became a food source, but they carry highly processed food with the longest shelf life. They’re great for chips, velveeta, and frozen pizza, but no real food. And the prices are amazing. Yes, you can buy real food at a Wallmart but most prices are prohibitive. What are the options for a family? This will become more of a problem as the grocery chains become more dependent on the cost/return efficiencies of the larger stores. Yes, publicly owned groceries might be the answer.
I live in Allentown's West End. There is an abandoned house on our block that neighbors have been complaining about for years. Do you think Allentown can run a grocery store more efficiently than they run their code enforcement office?
Shoplifting in America is a rapidly growing problem. In California, some cities do not prosecute stealing items that total up to $800 per incident. Many stores across America now keep everyday items locked inside glass cases. Retailers of all kinds are reducing opening hours. Private or publicly owned, no retail business is immune from loss. Many just decide to leave the neighborhood or close.
Unless you’re into premium varieties or foolishly buy organic produce, you can typically buy apples for $1.50 - $2.00/lb. That’s about $0.60-0.70 an apple. Bananas are even cheaper. I don’t routinely buy Snickers bars, but I’m guessing they’re more than that.
Government-owned groceries? What a great idea!
Government can do the same thing for food distribution that they’ve done for veteran’s healthcare with the VA.
Imagine government getting into the grocery store business? Imagine the amount of grift - committees, directors, executives, enforcement - just to name off the top. Imagine what the prices would be to support all of those people? How about the clerks and stockpeople?
Our government does such a bang-up jobs on everything. Why not get into the grocery business?
When I lived in upstate NY - Utica in 2012, there was a family from Somalia. They told me that the were offered to move to NY and given $$$ to establish a small grocery business. They were immigrants living in NYC. They said they now have cousins all over the state of NY with their own businesses. Never really understood how that worked out. Wonder if they are still in business.
Speaking of more government spending, did anyone happen to catch that Sandra Day O’Connor (rest in peace) was lying in repose in the Supreme Court today? Complete with a ton of security and other costs. Who’s paying that bill?!
Grocery chains make between 1% and 3%. Shrinkage (disappearing stock) is such a serious problem, stores pay loss prevention officers to mitigate the damage. Moving out of a high shoplifting neighborhood is an easy decision for a company. Government will lose money more quickly than private entities did in the same places. Then, we're simply subsidizing groceries with several unnecessary added steps. If your local bank leaves, it's because they're heartless pricks. If your local drug store leaves, it's because lawyers made them bear the brunt of opioid death settlements. If your grocery store leaves, it's because you or your neighbors wouldn't stop stealing from it.
2:11, We are. That is traditionally done for Supreme Court Justices, and it is during business hours and there are no robed judges participating in what is essentially a wake. It was improper for Judge Smith. He was a great guy and would have received a memorial service by the bar, during regular business hours, as is the case for all judges who ascend to the judicial heavens. Bringing his casket in and paying deputy sheriffs overtime to provide security and act as pallbearers was macabre. Judge Hogan also recently passed away. There was no courroom 1 viewing for him, nor should there be for anyone.
"Many people, including posts in here I've read over the years, are tone deaf to the fact that obesity isnt a lifestyle choice for the poor."
Is it because we have the cheapest food supply in the world? It's absolutely a lifestyle choice. We have food deserts because of how consumers vote with their wallet. If you receive SNAP benefits, you can buy fresh food, shop at farmers markets and even buy seeds to plant a garden.
No one is forcing people to buy processed ready to eat foods, it is a choice.
Grocery stores are closing in poor neighborhoods because the local citizens are stealing them blind. Lately there have been numerous stories in the TV news about the rising " smash and grab " thefts where large gangs enter the store smashing display cases and taking what they want. If you look at these videos you will see that the criminals performing these crimes are 100% black. But the authorities and news people will never state this in public so as to not be called racist.
I have an idea let tax the rich at the rate of the 1970’s and then we can have a surplus of real fruits and vegetables for all the people who make less than $40K a year.
BTW 3:45 eating fresh food is 60% more expensive than eating cheaply processed GMO food and that’s because the greedy American corporations have gotten away with this for the last four decades. Americans eat poorly as compared to their European counterparts.
I'm pretty sure you cant use those debt cards at most farmers market. In addition there is a problem storing fresh foods with the needy people.
https://drexel.edu/hunger-free-center/research/briefs-and-reports/improve-snap-benefits/
I'm old enough to remember when Reagan declared ketchup was a vegetable in school lunches. And the cruelty goes on.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insider.com/sugar-in-condiments-nutrition-facts-2019-8%3famp
Government funding should not be involved in the food industry. Bethlehem Coop is a good example of government gone awry providing funding to compete with private industry in an highly competitive industry. We have Weis/Giant/Wegmans/Shop Right all close by with delivery options.
Dems still whining about Reagan in 2023. God he was great.
Same with the people who think more money fixes behaviors.
That's because you're poor.
I have an idea let tax the rich at the rate of the 1970’s
Great concept but then you have people like Hunter and Ashley Biden that are rich and don't pay their fair share. Wonder how Joey can run around and say to pay your fair share and his own children don't.
Go have a bowl of ketchup soup. He destroyed the middle class. Taxed Social Security. Should have been impeached for Iran -Contra. The list goes on! People are still being pissed by his trickle down debacle. And the cruelty goes on.
6:13 I’m not sure you understand GMOs
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