Posted on 02/01/2021 4:47:42 PM PST by Mark
Grocery company Kroger announced Monday it will be shuttering two of its stores in Long Beach — a Ralph’s location and a Food4Less store — in response to a city ordinance requiring a $4 “hero pay” salary boost for some workers.
“As a result of the city of Long Beach’s decision to pass an ordinance mandating extra pay for grocery workers, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close long-struggling store locations in Long Beach,” according to a company statement. “This misguided action by the Long Beach City Council oversteps the traditional bargaining process and applies to some, but not all, grocery workers in the city.
“The irreparable harm that will come to employees and local citizens as a direct result of the city of Long Beach’s attempt to pick winners and losers, is deeply unfortunate. We are truly saddened that our associates and customers will ultimately be the real victims of the city council’s actions.”
There was no was no immediate response to a request for comment from the city. Mayor Robert Garcia was a major proponent of the ordinance. Before signing the measure, he wrote on Twitter that grocery workers “have been on the front lines of this pandemic and deserve this support.”
According to Kroger, the Ralphs store at 3380 N. Los Coyotes Diagonal and the Food4Less store at 2185 E. South St. will close on April 17.
The Long Beach City Council last month gave initial approval to a law requiring large grocers to pay its workers an extra $4 an hour in “hero pay” for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law applies to companies with 300 or more workers overall and more than 15 employees per location in Long Beach. Primis Player Placeholder
The California Grocers Association was among those opposing the ordinance, saying it would not do anything to boost the safety of workers, but could actually lead to higher costs for consumers.
According to Kroger, the company has spent $1.3 billion “to both reward associates and to implement dozens of safety measures” during the pandemic.
I know where those 2 stores are located, if memory serves, they both in predominantly black/mexican neighborhoods.
Between the shoplifting and other crime, I imagine both stores were just looking for an excuse to close.
In ATL, my observation is Kroger is playing pretend. They don't enforce their "masks required" signage, don't offer masks at the door like Target. They aren't staffed like they were six or eight months ago and hours are longer so who knows when this "extra cleaning" is taking place. They're happy to pocket the extra money from those forced to cook at home in the covid era. Some competitors still offer covid bonuses while I think they eliminated theirs entirely.
You are describing the "food desert" phenomena
Minimum wage laws?
San Diego had an anti-competitive “big box” rule that Walmart figured out how to get around so they could sell groceries.
a quick search online shows Kroger’s net profit margin at 2.29% but it’s fluctuated between 1.2% and 6%
Are you going to pay for all the stolen shopping carts that the folks who have to walk your .8 mile (for all intents and purposes a mile) are going to take home then donate to the homeless?
Stater Foods is going to recoup that loss one way or the other, probably YOUR GROCERY BILL!
You are right. There are two Ralph’s on Los Coyotes diagonal, one at the traffic circle and one further north. My response was based on the Traffic Circle location, so that is my bad. That one is actually a Lakewood blvd address. The Vons I referred to is near the traffic circle location.
They adapt. That is what change is all about. I bet they’ll
find ways to find groceries. Heck there may be a Grocery
on wheels chain forming.
We have them here in NJ.
“walk your .8 mile”
MY eighth mile? If you’re looking for someone to blame, try the competition.
Yes, indeed...Ralphs markets, in general, are cleaner than Food for Less...Ralphs markets have check-out machines...Food for Less markets do not have check-out machines...
Snoop Dogg did attend Poly High School in Long Beach...Cameron Diaz also attended Poly High School...
Food for Less is located on South Street in North Long Beach...It is near Jordan High School...Area near Jordan High School is not very nice...
Ralphs is located near Millikan High School...Area around Millikan High School is OK...I would not call that area a "ghetto"...
There is also a Costco store in Lakewood...Near Lakewood Mall...
Walmart on Atlantic closed many years ago...However, there are other locations in Long Beach...Including the one near the 605 Freeway...
Consider allowing a run-away local government holding you hostage and you allowing it for the convenience of others. I applaud Kroger's decision - this is on the city and not the store.
Its CA, I’d be willing to be at least 75% of those laid off vote democrat 100% of the time...
....embrace the suck, you own it.
What is perplexing? Cities like Toronto and Vancouver can do all sorts of mischief with zoning, public housing, and lax policing practices. But there would do much more evil if they had the power to tax income and sales, and fix wage rates. Canadian municipalities exist only through provincial legislation, and their powers can be curtailed if necessary (for example, the Ontario government’s slashing of the number it Toronto city councillors). Our system is not perfect, but it could be much worse.
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