Posted on 08/12/2024 5:51:09 PM PDT by grundle
CHICAGO — Nearly a year after Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration floated the possibility of opening a municipally owned grocery store to help improve food access on the South and West sides, a feasibility study created for the city describes a municipal grocery model as “necessary, feasible, and implementable.”
The study recommends the city pursue some version of a municipally owned store or stores — and finds such stores could even turn a profit. It also suggests the city not attempt to operate a supermarket itself, but rather partner with a for-profit operator, a non-profit operator or a co-op.
Private grocers have shuttered a number of supermarkets on the South and West sides in recent years, leaving many residents with significantly diminished access to fresh groceries.
In an interview with the Tribune, city policy chief S. Mayumi “Umi” Grigsby said internal and external working groups will now work on finalizing a proposal for a store or stores. The city would then be ready to apply for funding for such a project, including from a new $20 million state grocery initiative.
“We truly believe that public options can increase access, affordability and services in areas where government really should be leaning in and leading the way,” Grigsby said.
The report says that “decades of structural racism, segregation, and disinvestment have led to diminished resident density, disposable income, and community infrastructure,” which makes it difficult to attract and retain grocery stores in certain city neighborhoods.
“Grocers are typically unwilling to take the market risk that these neighborhoods present. In the absence of private sector action or commitment to provide sustainable grocery options, it is necessary for the City to play a role in creating and sustaining grocery services in neighborhoods that lack grocery access,” the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...
What could possibly go wrong? How corrupt could it possibly become?
In private stores the police don't stop shoplifting. Will a government owned store allow shoplifting or will they prosecute?
The worst case scenario—totally possible in Chicago—is that the city creates phony agreements with nonexistent suppliers and city insiders just steal all the money and no groceries ever appear in the store at all.
Bingo! This is the prototype of the federally owned government store that in the not-so-distant future, will be the only source for buying food. Food that they will control the production and distribution of.
That should fix everything since there’s no way that city residents would steal from themselves.
One of the most creative employee theft schemes I ever saw was in a Cops show...
The store had cameras by all the doors but that did not deter the determined female employee thief.
She loaded up with merchandise and then walked out a second story window to get on to the adjacent connected roof. Then she dropped the merchandise off the roof on to a waiting pickup truck of her boy-friend.
She kept doing this day after day until some other employee saw her walking out the window with a bunch of merchandise...told a manager...a camera was installed on the roof...and finally she was caught on camera.
She then announced she was running for Congress (just kidding)...
A toilet. An absolute toilet...
Food deserts!
“I wouldn’t give a City owned grocery in Chicago six months before theft and mismanagement forces it out of business”
The phrase “forces it out of business” is not applicable. This is not a business (profit/loss). This is just spending taxpayer money. If “losses” occur the city just spends more taxpayer money to fill in the shrinkage. If mismanagement occurs... Well, they aren’t competing against anyone anyway and the quality of service doesn’t matter so just promote the next DEI candidate and limp on...
Chicago could save a lot of money by putting groceries in the back of liquor stores... they’ve got stores selling alcohol on every block.
Three quarters of the food will never make it to the shelves.
It's simply justification for controlling the food supply.
Great way for the government to train people to get used to depending on them for food and necessitates.
Show trials, ‘show’ primaries, and now state run grocery stores. Yeah, that’s the old USSR.
Chicago’ a hellhole.
Maybe if the mayor faced up to the truth it would help - lots of black citizens in Chicago in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s weren’t hooked on stealing. When Michelle Obama was growing up on the South Side - her mom could walk to a grocery store. They had stores in the black communities in Chicago years ago.
Rather than teaching sexual kink in Chicago schools maybe teachers should try teaching “basic decency 101”...
Its gonna be hilarious to watch
after a year or two, there will be enough material for a TV sitcom
LOL! Do it. 😂😂😂
NEEDS TO BE A BILLBOARD
Get the pop corn ready.
“and finds such stores could even turn a profit.”
Long ago The Mustang Ranch, a brothel in Nevada, was taken over by the Federal government for owing back taxes. In less than a year it was run into bankruptcy.
Soon after I believe it was a Senator who said “the US government is the only entity that could go broke selling p**** and beer.” This enterprise will suffer the same fate. And for the same reasons.
L
My grandfather owned and independent grocery store in a small town until retiring in 1966. Rest in peace he would be interested in how times swing back and forth.
Well, since it's "govt.-owned" anyway, the shoplifters would be, in essence, stealing from themselves, wouldn't they?
/sarcasm
Regards,
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