General Discussion

CrawlingChaos

(1,893 posts)

87. God, is that ever true

Tue Feb 11, 2014, 07:56 PM

Feb 2014

I am (was) a lifelong Bay Area native. When I was young, I felt lucky to live there. I went into the city constantly, exploring all the colorful neighborhoods. As an artist, I participated in many exhibits there and it was an exciting, vibrant place. Now it has become a private enclave for the rich - a shrine to grotesque displays of conspicuous consumption. What the rich new inhabitants of the city fail to realize is that all the people who made the city interesting - artists, musicians, writers, activists, etc. - tend to be broke and have been squeezed out, by and large. As a result, the city has lost so much of it's luster. I recently moved and currently have no desire to go back. Frankly, I have little interest in watching an entitled rich kid try to park their Tesla. The thrill is gone.

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Trader Joes booted out of NE Portland by activists. [View all] Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 OP

I understand the African American communities' concerns about gentrification but this empty lot is OregonBlue Feb 2014 #1

Not to mention one of the food issues is acessibility to fresh goods. What are the activists working jwirr Feb 2014 #23

Obviously not for food security Aerows Feb 2014 #65

Not to mention that Tr. Joe's is the best grocery deal going. Cleita Feb 2014 #39

HEY HEY ---2 Buck Chuck warrant46 Feb 2014 #78

I lived on the unfashionable side of Beacon Hill in Boston Warpy Feb 2014 #54

What about the people that can't afford to move or don't want to move? Aerows Feb 2014 #66

What a mess. I get the impression that maybe the most vocal opponents didn't speak for the majority NYC_SKP Feb 2014 #2

If they don't want it there MurrayDelph Feb 2014 #10

I don't blame them either Aerows Feb 2014 #68

Must End Gentrification to Advance Economic Equity Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #3

San Francisco Bay Area is all about the One Percent. truedelphi Feb 2014 #53

God, is that ever true CrawlingChaos Feb 2014 #87

A tiny minority of the residents got their way. former9thward Feb 2014 #4

Have you ever been to this neighborhood? Coyotl Feb 2014 #11

Yes. former9thward Feb 2014 #14

What a mistake frazzled Feb 2014 #5

Perhaps Trader Joe's had too much of a white face on its attempted entry. ananda Feb 2014 #6

The activist didn't know who they were negotiating with Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #8

You should explain that comment. bravenak Feb 2014 #56

I had to google map it PowerToThePeople Feb 2014 #7

Well... linuxman Feb 2014 #9

The problem is that it is close-in to downtown. Used to be in racist Oregon Coyotl Feb 2014 #12

Here is an interesting quote... Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #16

Paved with the best of intentions Retrograde Feb 2014 #20

Precisely. Trader Joe's? Gentrification? Gimme a fuckin' break! NT Adrahil Feb 2014 #18

I know, right? If it was Whole Paycheck, I mean Whole Foods, that would make sense Beaverhausen Feb 2014 #21

A pickup with a freezer full of meats, available on EBT FrodosPet Feb 2014 #25

It would be interesting to know....... WillowTree Feb 2014 #13

The activist is not always right. nt TheMathieu Feb 2014 #15

TJ's response here is the best: You don't want a TJ's? Thegonagle Feb 2014 #17

TJ pays well; living wage. Springslips Feb 2014 #19

I wish they would come to Savannah n/t n2doc Feb 2014 #22

The whole picture is kinda buried in the article- or, at least $2.4 million worth of a picture. MissB Feb 2014 #24

I would argue the land wasn't worth 2.4 million. Travis_0004 Feb 2014 #31

Steve Duin had a good, balanced piece on the matter: Warren DeMontague Feb 2014 #26

Interesting article...This is more about people vs. corporations. Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #29

This was a huge mistake on the part of the "protesters" Renew Deal Feb 2014 #27

Yup nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #34

An employee said to me in no uncertain terms that Trader Joe's is in no way a health food store. ancianita Feb 2014 #28

Fresh fruit and vegetables, coffee, tea, milk, orange juice, other fruit juices... DonViejo Feb 2014 #35

Sorry for the late response. I understand that people have different standards, and that mine might ancianita Feb 2014 #47

Maybe it is what your TJs carries nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #58

I understand variations within a chain. It's marketing. I just think that this neighborhood wants ancianita Feb 2014 #61

No HFCS products in TJs, tons of fresh fruits and veg, fresh meats, no perservatives in the Bluenorthwest Feb 2014 #80

You win for now. I'll look more closely at the labels and get back on this. nt ancianita Feb 2014 #89

They have their fair share of recalls. Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #36

Before gluten free became a "fad" it was one of the few places nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #37

I love their soup and it's so good. n/t Cleita Feb 2014 #41

Winn Dixie, much closer to me, and much cheaper, has all this. Most food chains do, now. ancianita Feb 2014 #49

Key word: *NOW* nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #52

I get the historical bona fides of Trader Joe's. The class of people who made them famous are not ancianita Feb 2014 #60

It is about local conditions nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #63

I wish I knew more about Portland. Only spent a week there once. But the complexities of food ancianita Feb 2014 #70

I live in San Diego nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #72

You can unite a lot of media driven differences behind food politics. It gets votes out. nt ancianita Feb 2014 #74

You are so lucky to live in San Diego. I used to live in Encinitas. Paradise, I miss you. Vattel Feb 2014 #83

As healthy as any other grocery store chain Retrograde Feb 2014 #38

I thought so, too, until I took a closer look at their shelves. I am selective. ancianita Feb 2014 #48

I get plenty of fresh and it's affordable. Cleita Feb 2014 #40

depends on what you get, there are healthy options that are more affordable JI7 Feb 2014 #44

Let me get this strait, defacto7 Feb 2014 #30

Almost right. Jesus Malverde Feb 2014 #32

Thanks. defacto7 Feb 2014 #33

Trader Joes can come to my neighborhood tonight ... just spent my $100 yesterday ... MindMover Feb 2014 #42

It is and it is not nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #43

No Trader Joe's in Alaska, Blue_In_AK Feb 2014 #51

Me too. bravenak Feb 2014 #57

Hey, Quinoa is not weird... and it is a full protein!!! nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #59

If I knew how to make it then it might taste good. bravenak Feb 2014 #64

Can you find fresh cilantro? nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #67

That actually sounds good, especially the stew. bravenak Feb 2014 #69

Hubby does not know he's eaten the stuff nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #71

That's funny! bravenak Feb 2014 #77

Oh and a little goes a long way nadinbrzezinski Feb 2014 #73

I was going to suggest something similar to what Nadin is suggesting Blue_In_AK Feb 2014 #85

It's non-union, just like Whole Foods. I'd drive, and that's me, out of my way to shop at a union demosincebirth Feb 2014 #45

When the business pays living wages, union is unnecessary ... MindMover Feb 2014 #46

Until that business stops paying a living wage. GoneOffShore Feb 2014 #50

It's nice to have a car ... JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 2014 #75

Good call, the TJ's back home just offed a friend after 11 years, and two other longtermers same day reddread Feb 2014 #79

Some don't care, as long as it's convenient for them, they'll say anything to justify where they demosincebirth Feb 2014 #88

you can't really understand this confrontation... grasswire Feb 2014 #55

So leave the vacant lot vacant. former9thward Feb 2014 #62

I was bummed about this. dilby Feb 2014 #76

Not exactly a food desert FarCenter Feb 2014 #81

Have you ever shopped at a Fred Meyers or Safeway? dilby Feb 2014 #82

Per Google, Safeway gets 2 stars -- which is why I'd think they would oppose TJ's plans. FarCenter Feb 2014 #84

Well I can't bad mouth the safeway, I did date a girl that works in the Starbucks there. dilby Feb 2014 #86