Black residents reject Trader Joe’s because it would attract too many white people

BizPac Review ^ | February 8, 2014 | Cheryl Carpenter Klimek

[2ndDivisionVet]

The Trader Joe’s grocery chain has withdrawn plans to build a store in the heart of a predominantly black neighborhood after a black leadership group fought the move.

The Portland Development Commission was set to give the grocer a large discount on property that had been vacant for years, pricing it at just over $500,000, down from an appraised value of $2.9 million, according to The Oregonian.

The Portland African American Leadership Forum sent a scathing letter in December to city leaders, saying the plan would price residents out of the area and the group“remains opposed to any development in North/Northeast Portland that does not primarily benefit the black community.”

Trader Joe’s would increase displacement of low-income residents and “increase the desirability of the neighborhood,” for “non-oppressed populations,” PAALF wrote.

“[This decision] reflects the city’s overall track record of implementing policies that serve to uproot, displace and disempower our most vulnerable community members,” the letter said.

Trader Joe’s bowed out amid the controversy.

“We run neighborhood stores, and our approach is simple: If a neighborhood does not want a Trader Joe’s, we understand, and we won’t open the store in question,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to The Oregonian.

But not everyone is happy about the outcome.

“There are no winners today,” Adam Milne, owner of Old Town Brewing Co., told The Oregonian. “Only missed tax revenue, lost jobs, less foot traffic, an empty lot and a boulevard still struggling to support its local small businesses.”

[the OlLine Rebel]

I just heard about this today on Rush.

Insane! Absurd!

Schadenfreude!

It’s OK to be racist if you are black.

BTW, ironic/schadenfreude on Trader Joe’s. Another “feel-good” do-gooder environmental/organic/health nutcase place. I can’t blame blacks for wanting to avoid THAT crowd.... ;-D

[logi_cal869]

Thanks for some needed insights.

Thanks. Just trying to offer a bit of clarity on a very, very complicated local issue gamed by local Progressive power-brokers via infested City government.

Addendum: I neglected the link to the NYT piece, "Racial Shift in a Progressive City Spurs Talks", where I referenced

...and here's a pre-PAALF article on Portland's 'gentrification' (barf alert...NYT & lots of 'Progressive-relative discussion, but important if you care to understand what the Trader Joe's controversy is all about).

discussing the 'gentrification' which, again, is only a very small part of it. Only <7% of Portland is Black...the 'land-game' is a City-wide problem. The race issue is a distraction, and the ironic thing is that Portland still doesn't have enough $$ to fix potholes, but Million$$ to build Bioswales & anti-car HDH-subsidized developments...

[itssme]

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me. Blacks and other liberals like to “label” those they don't like. Let these aholes know their words don't affect you, you're going to do what you think best. And to hell with their “opinion” of you. We have to organize and remember to throw this crap term “racist” back in their faces and dismiss them, and do what we know is right.

[itssme]

Good for you, Trader Joe! These punks need to understand that we woun’t pay “donation” money. Remember ole Rev Jessie Jackazz Jackson, and how he thugged his way to a beer distributorship for his son. These aholes are good at shuckin’ and jivin’ their way into graft and corruption...be just as smart and tell them the hell no!

[Mears]

Freddie’s Fashion Mart I assume

.

[ForAmerica]

That’s say and funny at the same time! I wouldn’t want extra crime in my neighborhood by inviting the extra brothers.

[ladyjane]

I knew a CEO of a large corporation in Illinois. If you even mentioned the name Jesse Jackson you’d see steam coming out of his ears. Jesse and his buddies came around frequently with their hands out. The threat of allegations and a boycott were always there if you didn’t give enough to satisfy them.

[ForAmerica]

Their own worst enemies

This would create jobs

[GOPJ]

That’s the most amazing showing of white guilt I’ve seen in ages... I’m speechless...

Again - thanks for the insights and background...

From your link:

***************************************************************************

Last month, Joan Laufer, who is white and who moved into a house in Northeast in 2006, stood up to express gratitude to a black minister for describing how hard it was for blacks to get home improvement loans and for addressing some sensitive stereotypes.

“I’ve learned two things about all you guys already — why the houses aren’t fixed up and why you guys are riding around in all these big flashy cars,” Ms. Laufer, 55, a nurse practitioner, said.

At one point, she also asked blacks what she should call them — blacks or African-Americans.

An older black woman in the front replied, “People.”

[driftless2]

I'm in my sixties, and pretty much immune from guilt trips from these clowns. I've been pretty much aware of all the racial turmoil since the sixties. I think most non-black Americans are totally fed up with the whining and complaining from black America. It's one thing if black Americans were just a financial drag on the country....which they are to a stupendous extent.

But the extraordinary levels of violence of black males is something that has to be dealt with. Black gang bangers and assorted thugs don't just assault and kill each other...they commit staggering amounts of violent acts against other Americans. This can't go on.

[central_va]

What, doesn’t Trader Joe’s have fried chicken and watermelon?

[is_is]

they don’t want to better themselves.....

[itssme]

Many blacks on the south side of Chicago think Jesse is a brown load of crap, too.