Why pay someone to do a job you can do yourself? Or at least that’s what leaders in Chicago think.
Announced September 13th by Mayor and Democratic bastard man-child Brandon Johnson via a press release, he sees just how badly the city has failed its residents. As grocery stores and other shops flee the violence and corruption, he wants to see the city step up and fill that void.
“All Chicagoans deserve to live near convenient, affordable, healthy grocery options. We know access to grocery stores is already a challenge for many residents, especially on the South and West sides. A better, stronger, safer future is one where our youth and our communities have access to the tools and resources they need to thrive. My administration is committed to advancing innovative, whole-of-government approaches to address these inequities. I am proud to work alongside partners to take this step in envisioning what a municipally owned grocery store in Chicago could look like.”
As they went on to detail at least six grocery stores in the South and West sides of the city have closed down just within the past year. They also played the race card expertly. “Moreover, food access and security link directly to environmental and racial justice. 37% of Black residents and 29% of Latine/x residents are food insecure, compared to 19% of residents overall. 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.”
Their idea is that being further from real food and not convenience store “food” makes people more disposed to crime. Unfortunately for that statistic, rural people can certainly tell you that mileage doesn’t make a difference.
If the city of Chicago thinks they can do a better job, let them. Given their policy on ticket and release, they should put a police desk right next to the checkout stand. This way the their they occasionally find can get booked before walking out the door.
