Whose Foods? Fliers Ripped Down!

Walking along Centre Street yesterday with another Whose Foods? volunteer, passing out fliers for our family-friendly demonstration this evening in front of the new JP Whole Foods store, I noticed something--almost of the fliers I helped to post on street poles this past Wednesday evening were mysteriously missing.  Our fliers promoted Whole Foods with our neighborhood.  In recent months, the JPNC voted to begin the negotiating process with Whole Foods; the first meeting resulted in a weak statement from Whole Foods, essentially that they would not commit to anything more than the usual.  Well, Jamaica Plain is an unusual neighborhood and the location of the store is especially problematic--we deserve more than the usual treatment.

Guessing at the fate of the fliers, we thought "It's probably the rain."  But that wouldn't explain why several of them remained perfectly intact.  Or why there was no trace of tape... "Perhaps Whole Foods (under)paid someone!" we laughed.

Another Whose Foods? volunteer reported that a neighbor who strongly supports Whole Foods was spotted ripping them down early in the morning.  To me, that is undemocratic.  I would highly encourage someone opposing the rally to post their own sign right next to ours explaining their viewpoints.  Removing the flier takes away someone's opportunity to learn about the issue and decide for themselves.

You might argue that the fliers shouldn't technically have been up there in the first place.  That's reasonable, if you'll also argue that we should fund many more community message boards up and down the main drags.

What I really don't get is the opposition to a simple Community Benefits Agreement (CBA)! There is precedent with Stop & Shop and other stores in Boston.  Multi-billion dollar Whole Foods won't even notice the small funds JP is seeking, while it will make a large difference to our neighborhood.

Whole Foods supporters have their Whole Foods store; their campaign should long be over.  We are still fighting to prevent the displacement of many of our lower-income neighbors due to projected rent increases--to keep Jamaica Plain "for all".  A fund created through CBA would be used for programs targeted at keeping vulnerable people in their homes.  How is that controversial, unless Whole Foods supporters really just wanted their lower-income neighbors to be forced out? 

The CBA could also call for living wages for their employees.  Remember, when a corporation underpays their employees, it's taxpayers that pick up the gap in covering living expenses through government assistance programs. It's literally a subsidy to Whole Foods, that no elected official voted on.  Even conservatives should be able to see that low wages necessitate big government. 

I'll be out there this evening with the CEO John Mackey corporate vampire puppet, hopefully I'll see many neighbors out there for this (barely controversial), fun demonstration.