I'm so glad Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is taking steps to eliminate Baltimore's "food deserts," areas where there's not a single vendor of fresh produce within walking distance ("Baltimore's food deserts," June 15). We live in a country with an abundance of good food at affordable prices. Other places are not so lucky. So now the mayor needs to ask why this is.
As a former New Yorker, I remember the wonderful Korean grocery stores that seemed to sprout up everywhere. Those mom and pop operations pioneered the salad bar concept and weren't afraid to open in marginal areas. Sadly, exactly this kind of merchant was targeted during our recent riots. Right now, the mayor should also acknowledge the targeting of Asian merchants throughout the city.
Another point the mayor failed to mention was the loss these small grocery stores suffer because of shoplifting. This crime is always "swept under the rug" and rarely prosecuted. Any grocery store opening in Baltimore can expect inventory shrinkage due to theft. And it's time something is done about it.
So often the city looks upon retailers as "cash cows." Remember the minor privilege fees? Also, the plastic shopping bag legislation the City Council tried to push on us was another example of harassment. Sure, I get the ecological meaning but we can't afford to alienate our bricks and mortar outlets. A plastic bag tax or outright ban on shopping bags would have been a major hassle and expense for every Baltimore retailer.
I live in downtown Baltimore and have access to an expensive supermarket and several farmers markets. Believe me, I appreciate them. But in recent years our community has seen one excellent supermarket close and another burn down. These places are missed. I feel sorry for anyone living in a food desert so let's hope the mayor will do something.
Rosalind Heid, Baltimore