Chicago considers government-owned grocery store as retailers leave city.
Chicago Considers City-Run Grocery Store as Retailers Abandon the City
In the face of retailers fleeing the city, Chicago is exploring the creation of a city-run grocery store to fill the void.
Last year, Whole Foods and Aldi closed locations in the city. Aldi said that after 13 years, “repeated burglaries” meant enough was enough, according to the Daily Mail.
Thefts in Chicago are up 25% and robberies are up 11%, Chicago police said, according to the New York Post.
Walmart closed four stores this past spring. A statement cited losses but did not delve into the reasons for the losses.
“The simplest explanation is that collectively our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago – these stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years,” Walmart said in a statement, according to Fox Business.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Democrat, said in a press release he wants to study whether the city can fill the void.
The release did not mention crime.
Instead, the release said that “Historic disinvestment has led to inequitable access to food retail across Chicago, and these existing inequities have been exacerbated as at least six grocery stores closed on the South and West sides over the past two years.
‘The Economic Security Project, a national non-profit dedicated to building economic power for all Americans, will provide technical assistance in determining a pathway to the first municipally owned grocery store in Chicago,” the release said, adding that it was part of Johnson’s mission of “repairing past harms that have contributed to purposeful disinvestment and exclusion and lack of food access in historically underserved communities.”
“Exploring innovative initiatives to support food retail is part of the Johnson administration’s broader commitment to correcting systems and practices that have created these inequities,” the release said.
Critics Raise Concerns
Critics, however, are not convinced about the viability of a government-run grocery store.
“Take all the problems private chains face in low-income areas, then add in amateur management by a bureaucracy, Chicago-style political corruption in hiring and contracting, and a limited range of products,” Steve Boulton, chairman of the Chicago Republican Party, said, according to the Post.
“Private chains should just pull out of all the neighborhoods, because the city stores will have better police protection and lower prices subsidized by the long-suffering Chicago taxpayer.”
In a New York Post Op-Ed, Isaac Schorr criticizes the idea of state-run grocery stores in Chicago.
“Rampant crime both inside and around those locations renders their continued operation a costly risk with a practically unrealizable upside,” Schorr wrote.
“If you suspect a government-run grocery-store chain in the Windy City might not thrive, that’s probably only because you have eyes to see and ears to hear. When you’re straining to walk and chew gum at the same time, it’s inadvisable to try to add juggling to the mix,” Schorr wrote.
“What’s ultimately to blame for this doomed, ‘innovative’ (Google the Soviet Union, Brandon!), whole-of-bad-government approach besides terrible economic theory is an unwillingness to confront the anchors tied around a great American city’s ankles.
“Johnson and his ilk have it backwards — it’s the lawlessness that’s the cause of the food deserts, not the other way around. Until he — or more plausibly his constituents — comes to grips with this truth, Chicago’s other half will have to settle for preposterously insufficient Band-Aids,” Schorr wrote.
The post Chicago Mulls Government-Owned Grocery Store As Retailers Bolt City appeared first on The Western Journal.
What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of a city-run grocery store in addressing the issue of food deserts in Chicago?
Etail selection determined by government bureaucracy and you get the picture,” wrote RedState contributor Bonchie.
Government-run grocery stores have not had a successful track record in the past. The Washington Post reported that a government-run grocery store in Washington, D.C. was “overpriced and understocked” and ultimately closed down after only two years of operation.
Additionally, opponents argue that the government should not be in the business of competing with private retailers. They argue that a city-run grocery store would be unfair competition for small businesses and could potentially drive them out of business, further exacerbating the issue of food access in underserved communities.
A Potential Solution?
Proponents of the city-run grocery store argue that it could be a solution to the problem of food deserts in Chicago. Food deserts are areas where residents have limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
According to The Chicago Reporter, approximately 1.2 million Chicagoans live in food deserts, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.
A city-run grocery store could potentially provide affordable and healthy food options in these underserved areas, helping to improve the health and well-being of residents.
In addition to providing access to food, a city-run grocery store could also create jobs and stimulate economic development in these communities.
Conclusion
The proposal for a city-run grocery store in Chicago comes in response to the exodus of retailers from the city, leaving many neighborhoods without access to affordable and nutritious food options. While critics raise concerns about the viability and potential negative impacts of a government-run grocery store, proponents argue that it could be a solution to the problem of food deserts in the city. As the city explores this potential solution, it is important to consider the potential benefits and drawbacks, and to prioritize the well-being and equitable access to food for all residents of Chicago.
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