Posted on 02/05/2014 8:52:18 AM PST by inkling
Trader Joes 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 didnt live in the neighborhood was beside the point. This is a peoples 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 Joes decided it wasnt 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 ...
The crazy thing about this story is that the neighborhood is a mix of races and incomes (only 25% black). But the local NAACP guys — who don’t even live there — push their way in and make demands. I’m glad that the neighborhood is mad at them and that Trader Joe’s didn’t fall to their shakedown.
Is this part of that “nutritional desert” thing? I thought they were against that...
That was a mistake to go into that part of town anyway. Who advised TJ’s to do such a stupid thing? When’s the last time you saw any profitable business or industry on MLK Blvd anywhere in the US?
This was an attempt at PC BS by TJ’s. I have one near me and they constantly yammer about how many trees it takes to make one grocery bag,(so they sell organic hemp bags) cartoon images on Woodrow Wilson are up promoting different TJ products. Half the staff is gay. Most are covered in tattoos and wear pencil pants. It’s a freak show.
But...the prices are amazing so we go there.
Or maybe Baracks Bargain Barn
“Anybody that introduces themselves as a community organizer should get a punch in the mouth right off the bat.”
—
Yep,makes my blood boil. They are right up there with the “social justice” crowd.
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Likely some of the “community organizers” wanted a pay-out to their organizations ala Al Sharpton.
When Trader Joe’s said no, they resorted to union/mafia tactics
How about Trader Trayvon
Trayvon Joe’s
I bet these same organizers complain that the area is a “food desert”.
And then they complain about alleged “food deserts” and demand Federal regulations and funding to fix them.
We think alike and you beat me by one second. :)
But for flash-mob looting of one.
There are even FReepers who believe in special “enterprise zones” and “opportunity zones”. Crazy
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.
The other comment I considered was: remember when gentrification was called urban renewal and was a good thing?
Yes it was an attempt at PC BS. However, maybe a liberal just got a been mugged lesson.
Also note Trader Joes has no made in China products by request of the customers.
On March 13, there was a map by the USDA.
"This sobering map shows you all of Americas food deserts."
was the title in Grist, apparently a leftist mag.
Search by, "food deserts in America".
Funny thing is, in New Hampshire, the White Mountains National Forest is considered a "food desert". Nobody lives there.
community organizer. A little person that wants to be a big person, who while not elected or appointed by anyone tries to run the lives of the people in the community and make a living or profit at it.
If they continued to try to open a store, they would be oppressing the brothers and trying to keep them down.
Since they have decided not to, they are trying to create a ‘food desert’.
If they had ignored the area entirely, they would be unresponsive to the needs of the black community.
No matter what they do, they lose.
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