I'm very against the idea of putting a Cub on Central for several reasons.
* It would definitely damage the "main street" feeling that has really been lifting central ave. * There are already a number of other medium to large groceries around the area, we don't really need another one. If I'm not mistaken, one went out of business not too long ago a ways up University or 2nd? Personally, I use Sentyrz or the one in Eastgate and occasionally head down to down to Seward or the Wedge to get specialty items (3 or 4 miles), but people who would prefer to visit homogenized big box stores with questionable food (irradiated beef - yecch) can always hit the Rainbows. * I'd much prefer to encourage small to medium "corner groceries" for specialty items and quick trips. I'm really looking forward to the Eastside coop as a closer supply of better (and more varied) produce as well as certain dry goods. We've got a number of nice little delis with various goods like Europol Evas, Emily's, Kramarczuk, Surdyks, and Holy Land. There are a few (not enough) little corner markets around as well like that place on the corner of 16th and Washington and Delmonicos. There are others I haven't been to yet that show up in listings like Patel, Galapagos, Asia Import, B-Line, Central Foods, etc. I'd like to see more small groceries around the area - personally, I'd like to see people able to get basic goods within about 1/4 mile of their home. Big box stores tend to reduce, not increase, the number of options out there which ends up meaning you have to travel further to take care of every little errand and the competition is generally reduced. For these reasons and more, the city should not spend any time or money assisting Cub Foods in establishing a store on Central Avenue. CM Ostrow and aide are paid by the city and should not be acting as lobbyists for this project. Let the developer pay for its own lobbyists. Due to how many properties would need to be purchased, there was an implication that eminent domain may be used to acquire the land. I was not at the meeting, so I'm unsure whether if this is actually being suggested, but if this IS the case, then it is an outrage. The city should NOT use its weight and power to assist a private corporation in this manner. - - - Cost concerns or "but co-ops are expensive and cub is cheap" Yeah, on some stuff. If you buy pre-packaged meals, the "organic, whole food" types also tend to be more expensive due to better ingredients and small scale distribution. If, however, buy ingredients for a meal, it is the same price or cheaper. Bulk rice, noodles, oils, etc., at a coop tend to be as cheap or cheaper than the same product at other places due to lack of packaging and less advertising. When I was a truly broke college student (supplementing my diet with food from dumpsters), I found I could survive on far less money buying bulk ingredients for chili and spaghetti as well as bulk peanut butter and jelly at a local co-op. The only thing I was paying a slightly higher price for was my bread, but that was because I'd found that the mid-priced wheats were cost less per gram of protein and carbohydrates than the lower cost breads. My diet was based on how much protein and carbohydrates I could get per penny. Ramen might have been cheaper to fill my belly with, but co-op based "from scratch" spaghetti and chili effectively fueled me to work 80 hours a week and bicycle 20+ miles a day. Cooking from scratch takes a little more time, but I'd make a couple gallons on the weekend and freeze most of it in 1 quart containers. Even if I'd spent the same amount of money on ramen and mac'n'cheese (standard "I'm broke" fare) I wouldn't have been adequately fueled. So, yes, co-ops are more expensive if you buy "Neuman's Own" spaghetti sauce, 12 year old basalmic vinegar and 1st pressing extra virgin olive oil, and the fancy spaghetti noodles, but it's easy enough to shop a LOT cheaper. I'd recommend the Moosewood cookbook for a lot of nutritious but inexpensive recipes. I'm not a vegetarian, but I've found that I can get by a lot cheaper eating like one. - Jason Goray, Sheridan, NE __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New DSL Internet Access from SBC & Yahoo! http://sbc.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
