Posted on 02/05/2014 8:52:18 AM PST by inkling
Trader Joe’s wanted to build a new store in Portland, Oregon. Instead of heading to a tony neighborhood downtown or towards the suburbs, the popular West Coast grocer chose a struggling area of Northeast Portland.
The company selected two acres along Martin Luther King Blvd. that had been vacant for decades. It seemed like the perfect place to create jobs, improve customer options and beautify the neighborhood. City officials, the business community, and residents all seemed thrilled with the plan. Then some community organizers caught wind of it.
The fact that most members of the Portland African-American Leadership Forum didn’t live in the neighborhood was beside the point. “This is a people’s movement for African-Americans and other communities, for self-determination,” member Avel Gordly said in a press conference. Even the NAACP piled on, railing against the project as a “case study in gentrification.” (The area is about 25 percent African-American.)
After a few months of racially tinged accusations and angry demands, Trader Joe’s decided it wasn’t worth the hassle. “We run neighborhood stores and our approach is simple,” a corporate statement said. “If a neighborhood does not want a Trader Joe's, we understand, and we won't open the store in question.”...
(Excerpt) Read more at ricochet.com ...
And who needs those jobs that might have been created, anyway? This way the residents of the ‘hood can keep their options open and be free agents.
What a bunch of REALLY DUMB PEOPLE.
Trader Joe’s is a great outlet for busy people on the go.
They will open a store in Portland but in a different section. They do in fact improve neighborhoods they operate in.
>>>There are even FReepers who believe in special “enterprise zones” and “opportunity zones”. Crazy<<<
I am one of them. I believe that America once was and is supposed to be one massive enterprise and opportunity zone; every square inch from sea to shining sea (and AK and HI as well).
When you think about it, Lefties pushing “enterprise zones” for certain low income, minority neighborhoods, proves conclusively, that even they know that low taxes and less government regulation stimulate the economy and jobs, while high taxes and burdensome government regulations destroy them.
Trader Joe’s 1
Communist Organizer 0
Pray America is Waking
Therein lies the problem. It is a description of decades of neglect by community organizers. In fact, their activities killed the dream that inspired MLK Blvds in every city in America. In my travels around the country, which have taken me to 49 states, I find every MLK Boulevard to be the most blighted part of a city.
“gentrification” means NICE and WHITE to BLA people, and they can’t have THAT!! Why do Blacks always need ORGANINZING and SPOKESMEN?? Decent black people should WAKE UP!!!
I agree, every square inch!
When you don’t pay the shake down fee racially tinged accusations ensue.
“In other words, Trader Joe’s didn’t want to pay up in order to do them a favor”
A couple of decades ago Jesse Jackson went after Bush Brewery. He wanted to sit on the board, he wanted his usual payments. He attacked them because they were rich and “all white.” So, Bush asked their president to go out and have a word with the press. Black as the Ace of Spades. Jackson retreated with his tail between his legs. It was awesome.
Any now we know why “food deserts” exist in inner cities.
I moved on to 3 acres last year. My #1 tool was a hoe whom I named Shaniequa.
“You bet!...Why hell...the name Trader Joe sounds racist!”
It is! All that’s missing is the word ‘slave’(likely an oversight) to make it Slave Trader Joe.
Good thing the ‘community organ grinders’ caught it before it was to late.
Back in the day the “community organizers” re-named Urban Renewal “N***er Removal”.
Opening a retail store in any city in America on Martin Luther King Blvd. is a mistake.
I love backing my 3/4 diesel into the spots near the entrance. When I open my door I can nearly use their prius’ hood for a step ladder. My wife likes their food. The self righteous people who shop there drive me nutz! I wouldn’t go if she didn’t make me. Other than that TFB for north Portland.
“Hey there now, we can’t have any ‘gentrification’ around here.
Gotta tie down our people on the plantation, doncha know?”
America needs to be one big enterprise and opportunity zone, extending from Alaska to Florida.
“The company selected two acres along Martin Luther King Blvd. that had been vacant for decades. It seemed like the perfect place . . .”
Ahhhh. . .they gotta be lefty-nut-burger liberals if they think going anywhere near a “MLK Blvd” is a good idea.
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