Poverty and lack of supermarkets...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a new problem. Food deserts are a real problem, and then this is the flip side.

I wish I had a solution.

The solution is for the people in that food desert to get their neighbors to stop shoplifting and robbing the places they count on for food.

How about some kind of added security at the door? You are vetted and have a grocery shopping ID card. If you are caught shoplifting, it is taken away? What a mess, but I think it is up to the city to address this. We should not expect businesses to solve our problems.

They would need more than one security guard at the door. They'd need to instill cameras and have people watching them constantly, PLUS security at the door, to keep control of the shoplifting. That's an added expense, and I see why a supermarket wouldn't want the cost and hassle.

..install...

[Anonymous]

You want more supermarkets? How bout you tell the locals to stop stealing shit from these stores? Supermarkets operate on a very thin margin and at the end of the day they are NOT charities.

[Anonymous]

Sad. They cannot hire in a neighborhood with high unemployment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sad. They cannot hire in a neighborhood with high unemployment.

Unemployed people in those neighborhoods aren't exactly knocking down the doors to get a job, either. Why should they? They're at least somewhat comfortable with whatever they glean from the various assistance programs they make use of.

[Anonymous]

If you read the comments following the article, it looks like Safeway pretty much sucks in general.

[Anonymous]

Interesting article, OP. I had no idea food deserts exist in part because of shoplifting by those in the neighborhood, inability to keep staffers, etc. This is stupid, but I always kind of thought they existed just because, so this answers a lot of questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not a new problem. Food deserts are a real problem, and then this is the flip side.

I wish I had a solution.

The solution is for the people in that food desert to get their neighbors to stop shoplifting and robbing the places they count on for food.

How about some kind of added security at the door? You are vetted and have a grocery shopping ID card. If you are caught shoplifting, it is taken away? What a mess, but I think it is up to the city to address this. We should not expect businesses to solve our problems.

But that's racial profiling!!!!!! /s

[Anonymous]

Create a prepaid type store. The front doors are locked. there is a metro type kiosk at the front door. You have to prepay for a grocery "fare card". You enter the store with this card. You can buy the card with cash or credit. Food stamps would dispense a different card since the type of items you can buy using food stamps is regulated.

All food is in locked cabinets. To open them you have to swipe your card. If you decide you don't want an item, you have to return it to customer service in order to get the money back on your card. When your card is empty, you can't get any more food. You can turn your card in at the end of your shopping trip and get any remaining cash balance back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Create a prepaid type store. The front doors are locked. there is a metro type kiosk at the front door. You have to prepay for a grocery "fare card". You enter the store with this card. You can buy the card with cash or credit. Food stamps would dispense a different card since the type of items you can buy using food stamps is regulated.

All food is in locked cabinets. To open them you have to swipe your card. If you decide you don't want an item, you have to return it to customer service in order to get the money back on your card. When your card is empty, you can't get any more food. You can turn your card in at the end of your shopping trip and get any remaining cash balance back.

I could see where supermarkets wouldn't want to open in a neighborhood so rife with crime that they have to have food locked in csbinets. The locking mechanism would break, people would have trouble and staffers would have to solve it, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you read the comments following the article, it looks like Safeway pretty much sucks in general.

Still better than having to buy food in an overpriced convenience store. I was at 7-11 yesterday (I needed an ice cream - it was an emergency!) and I was shocked at the prices. Easily double on many items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you read the comments following the article, it looks like Safeway pretty much sucks in general.

sucks + evil http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/664087.page

[Anonymous]

I was on my way to a housewarming over in Deanwood and stopped by the Safeway on Minnesota Ave. to get a card for my dear friend and witnessed a man stuffing a steak in his jacket.

I'm not sure if it's a "real" problem where they are loosing that much money, but I witnessed it with my own two eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want more supermarkets? How bout you tell the locals to stop stealing shit from these stores? Supermarkets operate on a very thin margin and at the end of the day they are NOT charities.

Please report back on how that is working out.

[Anonymous]

How many small convenience shops that do open in these poor neighborhoods get robbed?

They'll steal and rob from anything with an open sign.

Bunch of animals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you read the comments following the article, it looks like Safeway pretty much sucks in general.

Still better than having to buy food in an overpriced convenience store. I was at 7-11 yesterday (I needed an ice cream - it was an emergency!) and I was shocked at the prices. Easily double on many items.

Any day without ice cream is an emergency!

The prices are shocking at 7-11. Makes me very grateful to live in an area with so many grocery store options. I think we take for granted how fortunate we are.