Poverty and lack of supermarkets...

[Anonymous]

Interesting article in WaPo about Safeway's struggles in SE DC.

Poor conditions, the company struggles with losses due to high rates of shoplifting and inability to hire and keep reliable staff. And as a result everyone in the neighborhood suffers.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/the-search-for-a-better-safeway-supermarkets-in-se-may-not-improve-gray-says-after-meeting-store-execs/2017/08/24/6f5d6e72-88f9-11e7-a50f-e0d4e6ec070a_story.html

[Anonymous]

Any viable suggestions, OP, as a possible remedy?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

In some places, the liquor store is the only place to buy food. It is a terrible problem. And if they have a small market or grocery store, the mark up is enormous.

Some people are experimenting with a farmer's market type of thing where farmers set up (in parking lots or closed streets) in neighborhoods without grocery stores once a week. All people need fresh fruits and vegetables as well as reasonably priced groceries.

[Anonymous]

I think if they wanted to Safeway could improve things but they've decided there is no reason for them to do so.

[Anonymous]

And if Safeway vacates the locations? Any other stores willing to rent the site? http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=38a223ea1111497c84348dda487b2ad1&extent=-77.1937,38.7884,-76.8572,39.0014

If Safeway can't get reliable employees at a location what can they do?

[Anonymous]

It would be complex, but if some of the funds allocated to food stamps were redirected to subsidizing supermarkets that locate in poorer neighborhoods, it might attract new business without taking any food from the poorer people (since the reduction in food stamps would be offset with cheaper supermarket prices.)

[Anonymous]

There is no one else to blame but the very same people in that neighborhood.

People don't come from Bethesda or Arlington to shoplift at a grocery store in SE. Those are all locals doing that.


But racism! Derp.

[Anonymous]

I live in San Francisco, There's an area called Hunter's Point/Bayview, and there weren't any real grocery stores. Food desert. What eased the burden? Train line from there into an area with grocery stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in San Francisco, There's an area called Hunter's Point/Bayview, and there weren't any real grocery stores. Food desert. What eased the burden? Train line from there into an area with grocery stores.

Some people take the green line to the Safeway at Southwest Waterfront because it's better but having to travel to shop costs money too.

But ultimately the stores need help, and those communities need help to become more stable and reliable.

Speaking of the Safeway at Southwest Waterfront, they have shoplifting issues as well. The CVS nearby is often a focal point for neighborhood kids, there is often a large group of Jefferson students waiting outside their door every morning because they only let one or two kids in at a time to cut down on shoplifting. Often you will also see an MPD cruiser and several cops strategically placed there as well. We can't have kids growing up thinking it's OK to shoplift, but I don't think that message actually gets through.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a food desert in Baltimore. Most people bought enough for a day or two from convenience stores in the neighborhood. These foods were either pre-cooked or highly marked up. Either way, they were all junk food and typically not fresh. The store owners were all Korean and highly suspicious of shoplifting and robbery by the AA customers. No, they didn't seem capable or interested in telling us apart. So my mom refused to patronize them.
We didn't have a car so on Saturday, the trip from our neighborhood to one with a Giant took half the day. When my mom became very ill in my mid-teens, that became my responsibility. Time I could have spent studying or working was devoted to obtaining bread, milk, and other basic staples. I know it impacted me academically.
As an adult, I've insisted on decent grocery stores nearby as a non negotiable in selecting where to live. Very disappointed with Safeway even in the suburbs. Rotten food is commonly left on shelves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in San Francisco, There's an area called Hunter's Point/Bayview, and there weren't any real grocery stores. Food desert. What eased the burden? Train line from there into an area with grocery stores.

I live within walking distance of the Minnesota Ave Safeway. There is already a train line that gets you to the Harris Teeter on Potomac Ave (which is far better than the Safeway) but I am a healthy young man with disposable income. Many in my neighborhood are not so lucky. The problems for them are that they either:

A) Can't afford the extra $5-6 to ride the Metro every time they need groceries

B) Aren't strong or healthy enough to carry a week's worth of groceries with them on the Metro

C) Don't have time to take a train ride every time they need groceries

D) Any/all of the above.

Wards 7 and 8 need convenient, affordable, clean supermarkets, period. Taking the train to pick up a gallon of milk is not the solution.

[Anonymous]

The city should post police in the markets And then people should not scream about police when they arrest shoplifters. The fact of the matter is that super markets are businesses not charities. The city will have to be part of the solution.

[Anonymous]

Amazon food delivery

[Anonymous]

I don't know how Safeways stay in business. I have never been in one anywhere that wasn't disgusting, even in the suburbs.