Michael Davis Verified

^ Some people just don't get it... but hey that's your opinion. I live what Dr. Berg is talking about.

Fear of crime is just an excuse. It's a perception question and the fact that we must bring the executives to southern Dallas to make change happen.

The companies that have supermarkets in southern Dallas know they do a ton of business.

And as far as your theory about which grocery stores have crime, a couple of facts:

*The Kroger next to Mockingbird station has 94 crimes listed year-to-date (Jan 1-Nov 21st).

*The Minyards in South Dallas next to Fair Park: 52 crimes year-to-date.

9 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Rawlins Gilliland Verified

Regarding areas of Dallas where so-called 'minorities' live, (like mine and Davis') perception passes for fact with those unfamiliar with alternative realities. Meaning anything outside midstream white America.

But ignorance is not bliss when it brands an area as being 'high crime' and 'dangerous' and thus unprofitable from the start simply because the faces are not white. Many times it's just dumb and dumber.

FACT: I lived in my neighborhood for two decades before Fiesta brought a breath of fresh food air two blocks away. Prior to that I drove several miles to a 'better' part of town where that Tom Thumb ultimately closed because of criminal elements. Meanwhile my home owners association fought tooth and nail to prevent Fiesta from building because of 'traffic' issues but I knew it was racial...unpure and simple. That Fiesta store has been a gold mine and a huge adjacent building wave followed; small businesses all making money, honey.

Michael Davis' factoids tell the tale; my area has a lower crime rate by FAR than Uptown. But they see a black face and a brown family, and the rest becomes pulp fiction.

9 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Miller Verified

I realize the part of Oak Cliff I live in is not technically "South Dallas" but it is within the southern sector of the city. A friend from the suburbs of Denver who recently visited us was amazed at the wide variety and outstanding quality of (non-corporate chain) food we pretty much take for granted every day. And yes- as for groceries, if the Fiesta on Hampton a couple miles south of here doesn't have it, you can find it for a slightly higher price at the newly remodeled Tom Thumb just down the road.

9 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

JW Richard Verified

Scott, sounds like we live in the same neighborhood, and I will say that both Minyards and Tom Thumb are offering more variety, the latter even offering organic brands.

Now, let's get to the real deal. Who's gonna pass up a KFC $1.99 dinner to choose so-called healthy alternative at the grocery store? I'm not talking residents like us commenting here on this newsblog that are (like me) choosing to come into the southern Dallas neighborhoods while the prices are lower. I'm talking about the parents and grandparents who've been here. Food is a cultural experience and if you're not accustomed to eating certain foods, then they won't get eaten no matter how good it is supposed to be for us.

We have two to four fast-food places on every corner and TV commercials talking about, "I know what good is!", and even a blind man knows they ain't talkin' about organic pasta. This just makes fast-food the cheapest bet and when money's tight and transportation isn't available when or where you want it, that can make the difference between eating or not.

9 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Michael Davis Verified

Let's clear something up:

I addressed the fact that that flawed statement about "grocery store crime" written by a couple of people of this blog does not bear out in the stats. A couple of people on here got called on a statement that is not proven by the numbers. Again, I talked about grocery store crime and not overall neighborhood crime. Don't make off the cuff statements without knowing the facts. Moving on...

I don't have to guilt trip anyone. We decided to talk to the store executives as City officials and get it done ourselves. As a result, in the District I represent on the City Plan Commission (District Four) we will soon be announcing a neighborhood grocery that is investing millions to open a new storefront. Why? They've done the research and know they'll make a ton of profit. You'll hear about it in the next 1-2 months.

Other stores are also being actively recruited.

JW makes some interesting comments. But JW, those type of varied food choices (pre-cooked vs. fast food) must be offered to attract more income-diverse group of residents. What often happens is that the people that would like likely stay in southern Dallas often move to be near those types of choices. A lot of the people that can't afford to move also want grocery/food choice. We must bring the services to retain those residents and grow the income base. Less fast food, and more like Ann's Supermarket (on Zang) that sells health food in the hood and does a good amount of business.

9 months, 1 week ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )