Posts
Here we go again for another episode of "Progressive Pipe Dreams Crash Into Reality." This time, we've got New York City's resident democratic communist and anti-Semite, Zohran Mamdani, peddling a plan so brilliant it could only come from someone who's never run a lemonade stand, let alone a business.
His big idea if he becomes NYC mayor is to open five publicly owned grocery stores. Because nothing screams "efficiency" like the government trying to stock shelves with kale and kombucha.
But before we all start singing "Kumbaya" over this utopian vision, let's take a quick road trip to Kansas City, Missouri, where a publicly funded grocery store just gave us a masterclass in why this idea is dumber than a bag of progressives. Sun Fresh Market, a shining beacon of the city's 2018 revitalization project, slammed its doors shut this week, leaving customers staring at a sad little note taped to the glass.
"Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances [unforeseen only by leftists] beyond our control, we are no longer, at this time, able to serve the residents of this community," the sign sadly said. "It has always been our dream and passion to provide quality products and services in a safe, family environment. At this time, unfortunately, we are unable to do that."
But before we all start singing "Kumbaya" over this utopian vision, let's take a quick road trip to Kansas City, Missouri, where a publicly funded grocery store just gave us a masterclass in why this idea is dumber than a bag of progressives. Sun Fresh Market, a shining beacon of the city's 2018 revitalization project, slammed its doors shut this week, leaving customers staring at a sad little note taped to the glass.
"Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances [unforeseen only by leftists] beyond our control, we are no longer, at this time, able to serve the residents of this community," the sign sadly said. "It has always been our dream and passion to provide quality products and services in a safe, family environment. At this time, unfortunately, we are unable to do that."
Translation: We tried to play store with taxpayer money, and it went about as well as you would expect.
Local media, namely KSHB 41's Alyssa Jackson, had already sounded the alarm last month when she reported on the store's descent into dystopian vibes. Picture this: bare shelves, empty coolers, and a meat and deli department so deserted it could double as a set for The Walking Dead. Oh, and let's not forget the rancid odor wafting through the aisles, because nothing says "shop local" like the faint whiff of despair reminiscent of dead meat.
Jannine Owens, a loyal customer since the store's grand opening, summed it up nicely for Jackson: "We need answers because at the end of the day, that don’t make sense." What doesn't make sense? Human nature?
Here's the kicker: Kansas City owns the shopping center, and this grocery store was part of a Community Improvement District, funded in part by a 1% retail sales tax to keep the dream alive. The whole shebang at Linwood Shopping Center was a $15 million public/private boondoggle, complete with tens of thousands spent on security to fend off "persistent crime problems." Because apparently, even the shoplifters knew this place was a hot mess.
The store itself was run by Midtown Grocers, LLC, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), which brags on its website about securing $225 million for urban renewal since 1991. Clearly, they're experts at renewing things right into the ground, because Sun Fresh Market is now a case study in what happens when bureaucrats play grocery store, Karl Marx style.
So, back to Mamdani and his grand plan to turn NYC into the land of government-run produce aisles. Critics are already pointing to Kansas City's failure as a preview of what's to come if this 33-year-old delusional loser gets his way.
Local media, namely KSHB 41's Alyssa Jackson, had already sounded the alarm last month when she reported on the store's descent into dystopian vibes. Picture this: bare shelves, empty coolers, and a meat and deli department so deserted it could double as a set for The Walking Dead. Oh, and let's not forget the rancid odor wafting through the aisles, because nothing says "shop local" like the faint whiff of despair reminiscent of dead meat.
Jannine Owens, a loyal customer since the store's grand opening, summed it up nicely for Jackson: "We need answers because at the end of the day, that don’t make sense." What doesn't make sense? Human nature?
Here's the kicker: Kansas City owns the shopping center, and this grocery store was part of a Community Improvement District, funded in part by a 1% retail sales tax to keep the dream alive. The whole shebang at Linwood Shopping Center was a $15 million public/private boondoggle, complete with tens of thousands spent on security to fend off "persistent crime problems." Because apparently, even the shoplifters knew this place was a hot mess.
 |
| Sun Fresh Meat? |
The store itself was run by Midtown Grocers, LLC, a subsidiary of the nonprofit Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), which brags on its website about securing $225 million for urban renewal since 1991. Clearly, they're experts at renewing things right into the ground, because Sun Fresh Market is now a case study in what happens when bureaucrats play grocery store, Karl Marx style.
So, back to Mamdani and his grand plan to turn NYC into the land of government-run produce aisles. Critics are already pointing to Kansas City's failure as a preview of what's to come if this 33-year-old delusional loser gets his way.
And honestly, who can blame them? If you can’t keep a single store stocked with meat and free of funky smells, maybe running five of them in the Big Apple isn't the slam-dunk you think it is. But sure, Zohran, tell us more about your bold vision for state-controlled corn. We're all ears.
Hey guys, if you enjoy Brain Flushings, I hope you'll consider supporting my work with a small donation to Buy Me a Coffee. It fuels my late-night writing sessions with fresh ideas. No pressure.
Tweet
No comments:
Post a Comment