I’m old enough to remember when Democrats were very upset about food deserts and complained that there weren’t enough grocery stores in underprivileged areas, that minorities were unable to access healthy, affordable food. But that’s so last decade.
Now Democrats are all about “criminal justice reform,” and this seems to mean letting criminals run wild, committing their crimes with impunity. For some reason known only to themselves, Democrats are fine with the results of their going all-in on lawlessness and rampant crime, including the seemingly intentional creation of “food deserts.”
Concerns are growing in Washington, D.C. about some major grocery stores being able to keep their doors open due to shoplifting.During a news conference Friday, D.C. Councilman Trayon White said he spoke to the regional management of a popular Giant Food store on Alabama Avenue Southeast.“We had the opportunity to meet with some of the leadership of this Giant,” White said. “Some of the regional leadership at this Giant, what we heard was disheartening. We learned that this Giant has lost over $500,000 in product loss, which is about 20% of the sales. We know it’s tough times and we know the price of food has skyrocketed in the last three years. But we cannot afford to hurt ourselves by constantly taking it from the store. It means that everybody is going to be without a place to eat. And enough is enough.”. . . . It’s one of only four major grocery store locations east of the Anacostia River. And if this store closes its doors, White warned the impacts would be devastating and create a food desert for some D.C. residents.. . . . “We also learn that Giant’s leadership has spent over $300,000 in security,” said White. “But that did not derail the people from stealing. In fact, the regional manager told us that people will have stuff in their carts walking straight through the door — straight through the door! With grocery carts full. We have to build bridges for people. But taking from this store is taking from yourself. We are home to seniors and elders who have to eat at this store.”
It doesn’t sound like DC’s mayor, Muriel Bowser, has any plans to make this store more secure or to arrest shoplifters and get them off the streets.
WJLA continues:
Since then, 7News asked Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD what they are doing to help with the shoplifting issues at grocery stores.”Mayor Bowser continues to lead conversations with a variety of stakeholders across our city to discuss public safety, and more specifically to ask the question of how we can partner to reduce crime and increase conditions so that everyone in our city can thrive,” the mayor’s office told 7News in a statement. “The District is committed to ensuring every resident has safe access to fresh, healthy and affordable food.”
Leading conversations and asking questions. That’ll work.
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