Democrat-led cities of Chicago and San Francisco are facing skyrocketing crime, homelessness, and drug use, among other problems.
As a result, many businesses are fleeing the city. Customers simply refuse to put themselves in harm’s way, which causes sales to plummet.
This ultimately results in employees losing their jobs as businesses are forced to close. Ken Griffin, who was the richest man in Illinois at $29 billion, moved his multi-billionaire hedge fund Citadel from Illinois to Florida.
Chicago exploring creation of city-owned grocery store for food deserts. https://t.co/olzRs11EmQ pic.twitter.com/aJCLhYfMbF
— Eric Horng (@EricHorngABC7) September 14, 2023
Walgreens and Aldi have also shut down stores in Chicago. The Democrats’ refusal to confront crime and appropriately fund law enforcement has ultimately destroyed the city.
Chicago Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson says he wants to open “taxpayer-funded, city-owned grocery stores” in order to deal with the problem of businesses shutting down.
The plan is reminiscent of a socialist or communist agenda, in which the government runs businesses using taxpayer dollars as opposed to the free market.
While the city claims this service is similar to “the public library or post office,” many Americans believe it is an alarming move for the government to run local grocery stores.
“All Chicagoans deserve to live near convenient, affordable, healthy grocery options,” Johnson said.
“We know access to grocery stores is already a challenge for many residents, especially on the South and West sides,” he continued.
“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,” Johnson added.
Nobel intention but not a good idea. This groceries stores will be operating in the red and loosing tax payers money.
Control crime and business will come. https://t.co/hWi5jitCto— Sam Sanchez (@samsamco) September 13, 2023
The plan is called “the Economic Security Project,” which is looking into the possibility of opening city-owned grocery stores.
Economic Security Project senior adviser Ameya Pawar compared the plan to how “the library or the postal service operates.”
“The city of Chicago is reimagining the role government can play in our lives by exploring a public option for grocery stores via a municipally owned grocery store and market,” Pawar said.
“Not dissimilar from the way a library or the postal service operates, a public option offers economic choice and power to communities.”
“All of our stores are closing, and so now we have to go outside our neighborhoods to purchase food,” one South Side Chicago resident told CBS News. “I think that’s a good idea that Mayor Johnson is picking up the slack where these big store chains are leaving.”
