{"id":2032848,"date":"2023-09-15T05:55:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T09:55:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-mayor-wants-government-owned-grocery-store\/"},"modified":"2023-09-15T06:04:55","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T10:04:55","slug":"chicago-mayor-wants-government-owned-grocery-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-mayor-wants-government-owned-grocery-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Mayor Calls for Publicly-Owned Grocery Store"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fchicago-mayor-wants-government-owned-grocery-store%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2032848&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Addressing Food Inequity: Chicago&#8217;s Plan for \u2063a Municipally-Owned Grocery Store<\/h2>\n<p>As crime soars\u200b in large cities, businesses are fleeing,\u200b and Chicago is no exception. \u200dOver the past two years, at least six grocery stores have closed in \u2064the South \u2062and West sides of the \u200dcity, \u200cleaving \u2064residents with\u200c limited\u2064 access to \u200cfresh food and essential supplies.<\/p>\n<p>In response \u2063to this crisis, Mayor Brandon Johnson has announced an exciting partnership with the Economic Security\u2063 Project. Their goal? To\u200b pave the way for the opening of \u200da municipally-owned grocery store in Chicago. This groundbreaking initiative aims to\u200b tackle\u200b food inequity head-on and provide a\u200c sustainable solution for underserved communities.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2064 Economic Security Project, a national nonprofit with an \u200d$8 million\u2063 budget, is known for advocating for a universal \u200cbasic income for\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usda-increases-food-stamps-program-with-covid-relief-bill-funding\/\" title=\"USDA Increases Food Stamps Program With COVID Relief Bill Funding\">low-income individuals<\/a>. In \u2062this \u200ccollaboration, they will provide technical assistance\u200c and expertise to define\u200b the \u200dpathway\u200d towards establishing \u200cChicago&#8217;s first municipally-owned grocery\u2064 store.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/basic-groceries-up-20-to-95-percent-amid-cost-of-living-crisis-research-5490007\">Basic\u2063 Groceries Up\u2062 20 to 95 \u200dPercent Amid Cost of Living Crisis: Research<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/12\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/world\/basic-groceries-up-20-to-95-percent-amid-cost-of-living-crisis-research-5490007\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/food-stamp-spending-expansion-blamed-for-15-percent-grocery-price-inflation-5480058\">Food \u200bStamp\u2063 Spending Expansion Blamed for 15 Percent Grocery\u2062 Price Inflation<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/24\/2023<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/article\/food-stamp-spending-expansion-blamed-for-15-percent-grocery-price-inflation-5480058\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This collaboration marks a significant step towards <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-says-native-adoptions-can-be-given-priority-to-tribal-families\/\" title=\"Supreme Court prioritizes tribal families for Native adoptions.\">rectifying past injustices<\/a> that have led to disinvestment and\u200d limited food access in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-homeland-security-department-illegal-immigrants-should-get-vaccine\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Homeland Security Department: Illegal Immigrants Should Get Vaccine\">historically underserved communities<\/a>.\u2062 The city acknowledges \u2063the existing inequities caused by historic \u2062disinvestment, which have been further exacerbated in \u200brecent times.<\/p>\n<p>According\u200d to the U.S. \u2063Department of Agriculture,\u2062 a staggering \u200d64 percent of\u200c residents\u200b in West Englewood and 52 percent in East Garfield Park live more \u200cthan \u200dhalf a mile away from \u200dtheir nearest grocery \u2062store. \u2063In stark contrast, less than 1 percent of residents\u200b in West Town face this barrier to\u2063 food access.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">&#8220;The City of Chicago is \u2064reimagining the role government can play in our lives by exploring a public option for grocery stores\u2062 via a\u200c municipally owned grocery store and\u2064 market,&#8221; explains\u2064 Ameya Pawar, senior \u200cadviser at the Economic \u2062Security Project. &#8220;Similar to libraries or the postal service, a\u2064 public option \u2064empowers communities with economic choice and power.\u2064 A city-owned grocery store in \u2064the South or West side of Chicago \u2063would\u200d be \u200ba\u200c viable way to restore access to healthy food in areas\u200b that \u2062have suffered from historic \u200band systemic disinvestment.&#8221;<\/div>\n<div class=\"shortcode post-related-videos\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"lazyload-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/aldi-chicago-closing-near-me-76th-street\/11984542\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ABC7 Chicago<\/a> reported in June \u20642022\u200d that an Aldi grocery store closed due to &#8220;repeated\u2062 burglaries and declining\u200d sales.&#8221; The company stated that keeping \u200dthe store open \u2063was no longer \u2064sustainable, considering the safety of their\u2063 employees and customers.<\/div>\n<p>In \u200cMay, a Save A \u2063Lot grocery store in Chicago also closed its doors after experiencing multiple break-ins. However, the mayor&#8217;s office chooses to focus on race-related inequities as \u200cthe primary reason for the limited food shopping options. Their statement emphasizes that a \u2062government-owned grocery store\u2063 is part \u2064of\u200c the Johnson administration&#8217;s commitment to correcting the systems and practices that \u2062have perpetuated these inequities.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Food\u200d access and security are directly linked to environmental and\u200c racial justice,&#8221; the statement asserts. It highlights the alarming statistics that 37 percent of black residents and 29 percent of Hispanic residents face food \u200cinsecurity,\u2063 compared\u2062 to 19 percent of the overall population.<\/p>\n<p>To \u200dshape their emerging food retail strategy, the Johnson\u2062 administration plans to conduct a feasibility\u200b study. This study will involve input\u2063 from experts, community \u2063leaders, and Chicago&#8217;s Food Equity\u200c Council. Additionally, the\u200d Illinois Grocery Initiative has pledged $20 million in grants and technical assistance to support\u200b grocery \u200cstores \u2064across the \u200bstate.<\/p>\n<p>If successful, Chicago will become the\u200c first major city \u200cin the United States to implement a\u2062 municipally-owned grocery store, setting a precedent for addressing food inequity nationwide. \u200dMayor Johnson passionately states, &#8220;All \u2063Chicagoans deserve to live near convenient, affordable, healthy grocery options. We recognize the challenges many residents face, especially on the South and West sides. Our administration is committed to innovative, whole-of-government approaches to\u200d tackle these inequities and create a better, stronger, and safer future for our youth and\u2063 communities.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the \u200dclosure \u200bof the Aldi grocery store in\u2064 the Austin neighborhood highlight the food inequity crisis in Chicago?<\/h2>\n<p><span> <\/a>  recently reported \u2062on the\u200d closure of an \u2063Aldi grocery store in the Austin neighborhood on\u200c the West Side\u200b of Chicago. This closure serves as \u200ba \u200cstark reminder of the urgent need for action to address \u2064the food inequity crisis in the \u200ccity.<\/div>\n<p>A municipally-owned grocery store has the potential \u200bto \u200cbe a game-changer for Chicago&#8217;s underserved communities. By taking control \u200cof the distribution\u200b of fresh food and essential supplies, the city can ensure that its residents have access to the nutritious options they need to lead healthy lives.<\/p>\n<p>One\u200d of the key advantages of a municipally-owned grocery store is its ability to prioritize the needs of the \u2064community over profit\u200c margins. Unlike private businesses that may prioritize high-income areas\u200b for investment, a public option can take into account the specific needs and preferences of the \u200bsurrounding community. This means that the store can stock a\u2063 wide variety of culturally-relevant foods and cater to dietary restrictions or preferences that may\u200c be overlooked by mainstream \u200dgrocery\u200c chains.<\/p>\n<p>Moreover, a municipally-owned grocery store can serve as a\u200d catalyst for economic development\u2062 in underserved neighborhoods. By creating jobs \u200dand sourcing products\u200c locally, the store can contribute to the \u2063revitalization of the community and foster a sense of pride and ownership among its residents.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 Economic Security Project&#8217;s involvement\u2062 in this initiative brings a wealth of expertise\u2062 and resources to the table.\u2062 Their experience in advocating \u2063for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/elon-musk-i-got-a-covid-test-four-times-in-one-day-two-came-back-negative-two-came-back-positive-the-daily-wire\/\" title=\"Elon Musk: I Got A COVID Test Four Times In One Day. \u2018Two Came Back Negative, Two Came Back Positive.\u2019 | The Daily Wire\">universal basic income<\/a> and their commitment to economic justice make them a natural partner for this endeavor. With their technical \u2064assistance, the city\u2063 can navigate the complexities of \u2064establishing \u2064and operating a\u200b <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/chicago-mayor-wants-government-owned-grocery-store\/\" title=\"Chicago Mayor Calls for Publicly-Owned Grocery Store\">municipally-owned \u200cgrocery\u200b store effectively<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>While the path ahead may be challenging, \u200dthe potential rewards of this initiative are immense. \u2062By addressing food inequity \u2062head-on, Chicago can begin to dismantle the systems of disinvestment and neglect that have perpetuated these disparities for far too long. The opening of a\u200c municipally-owned grocery store would not only be \u200ba practical solution to the immediate problem of limited food access, but it would also send a powerful message of equity \u200cand justice to the city&#8217;s most vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n<p>As Mayor Johnson \u200cand \u200cthe Economic Security Project embark on this groundbreaking partnership, they have\u200d the opportunity to set a new standard for addressing food\u2062 inequity in urban areas. By leveraging the power of government, \u200cthe expertise of nonprofit organizations, and the input of\u2063 local communities, Chicago \u2062can create \u2063a model that other cities can\u2062 replicate to ensure that all residents have access to the basic \u200bnecessities of life.<\/p>\n<p>It is crucial that we support \u2064and amplify this initiative \u200cto address\u2064 food inequity in Chicago. The success of\u2062 this municipally-owned grocery store has the potential to transform not \u200bonly\u200d the lives of its residents \u2062but also the broader conversation around poverty, race, and economic justice in \u2063our society. Let us come together to\u200c ensure that no\u2063 community is left behind and \u2064that \u200beveryone has the opportunity to thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As crime surges in big cities, businesses flee. Chicago witnessed six grocery stores shutting down in the South and West sides in the last two years. Mayor Brandon Johnson has now joined forces with the Economic Security Project to initiate a pathway towards addressing this issue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2032849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2032848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2032848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2032848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2032849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2032848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2032848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2032848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}