With so Many Residents on Food Stamps, why are there food deserts in New York City?

[martybegan]

Because there is bougie food places that charge a zillion dollars for an apple that wealthy people dont bat an eye at. Ever been to NYC?

And around the corner is the bodega that sells loosies and BEC sandwiches.

I've lived here my entire life. You went to the supermarket a mile or so away for big shopping, and you did corner grocery for in between stuff. Of course the corner grocery was a bit more expensive, they didn't have economies of scale, and they dealt with 3rd party suppliers, not the internal supplier of said supermarket.

Plus every neighborhood has the in between shops.

They have to pretend it's a "food desert" because they can't complain about poor people's shit choices when it comes to what they want to eat, nor can they complain about bodegas having to charge higher prices due to the above mentioned 3rd party suppliers and the usual losses due to theft and having to stock some items that people expect but have low turnover.

 

[sparky]

Isn't it obvious when those who seek 'feel good' socialist responses to their policy failures here?

~S~

 

[EvilCat Breath]

If Walmart wanted to open a "Neighborhood Market" (like a regular Walmart with with less general merchandice, like toys and clothes), in the worst food desert in New York City, would it be welcomed by the city, and provided incentives?

It would be robbed out of existence in a week. Not only would the store be robbed but the employees would robbed. Customers, of course would be robbed. If they are shopping they must have money.

 

[citygator]

And around the corner is the bodega that sells loosies and BEC sandwiches.

I've lived here my entire life. You went to the supermarket a mile or so away for big shopping, and you did corner grocery for in between stuff. Of course the corner grocery was a bit more expensive, they didn't have economies of scale, and they dealt with 3rd party suppliers, not the internal supplier of said supermarket.

Plus every neighborhood has the in between shops.

They have to pretend it's a "food desert" because they can't complain about poor people's shit choices when it comes to what they want to eat, nor can they complain about bodegas having to charge higher prices due to the above mentioned 3rd party suppliers and the usual losses due to theft and having to stock some items that people expect but have low turnover.

By food desert they mean “affordable” groceries. They dont mean you can’t get food if you are not on a budget.

 

[citygator]

It would be robbed out of existence in a week. Not only would the store be robbed but the employees would robbed. Customers, of course would be robbed. If they are shopping they must have money.

The property crime rate in Oklahoma City is 50% higher than NYC.

 

[Tyrion234]

He seems to forget places like Bodegas can't benefit from economies of scale like supermarkets, and you pay for the convenience of being able to get a bacon egg and cheese sandwich and a six pack of bud at 4AM.

Not to mention the cost to the bodegas are astronomically higher than what the larger companies pay to buy in bulk. At my friends convenience store he literally pays more to stock his shelves with things than if he went to Walmart and stocked his shelves with the same things

 

[Leo123]

At least that is the claim of the future mayor who wants to open government run food stores.

Mamdani proposes a network of city-owned grocery stores that do not pay rent or property taxes, which will allow them to keep food prices low. They are designed “to lower prices, not price gouging,” Mamdani explains in a video

Twenty percent of New York city residents receive snap benefits almost thirty percent in the Bronx receive them.

Emergency Food in NYC - Data Team Emergency Food in NYC

Millions of tax dollars are spent providing these snap benefits, and then more millions are spent on government programs.
To revitalize so called "food deserts."

Why would there be areas in which junk food, but no healthy food is available, when the whole idea of the snap program is to allow the poor to buy healthy food?

New York's $10 Million Initiative to Combat Food Deserts and Promote Healthy Eating - NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College) New York's $10 Million Initiative to Combat Food Deserts and Promote Healthy Eating - NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College)

Two obvious answers readily occur to me. But I would like to hear input from others before I give my take on that.

There's no such thing as a 'food desert' anywhere in America. You got hoodwinked by Marxist/Socialist propaganda.

 

[citygator]

There's no such thing as a 'food desert' anywhere in America. You got hoodwinked by Marxist/Socialist propaganda.

It has a definition and can be supported. You can quibble with whether it is an issue or not but the facts are as follows:

Food deserts are declared if they meet low-income and low-access thresholds:

• Low-income: a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater, or a median family income at or below 80 percent of the statewide or metropolitan area median family income;
• Low-access: at least 500 persons and/or at least 33 percent of the population lives more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (10 miles, in the case of rural census tracts).

 

[1srelluc]

Before you know it Grubhub will be taking EBT and delivering to the "desert".....In a commie armored car.

 

[Seymour Flops]

It has a definition and can be supported. You can quibble with whether it is an issue or not but the facts are as follows:

Food deserts are declared if they meet low-income and low-access thresholds:

• Low-income: a poverty rate of 20 percent or greater, or a median family income at or below 80 percent of the statewide or metropolitan area median family income;
• Low-access: at least 500 persons and/or at least 33 percent of the population lives more than 1 mile from a supermarket or large grocery store (10 miles, in the case of rural census tracts).

Since Walmart and Amazon both deliver groceries, and since low-income people get SNAP benefits, why would those be food deserts?

The poor in those neighborhoods should have pantries and fridges full of food.

 

[martybegan]

By food desert they mean “affordable” groceries. They dont mean you can’t get food if you are not on a budget.

Affordable is a relative term. Like most socialists they hate profit, but they also don't want to piss off the bodega owners who are usually liked by the community.

Do you think larger companies don't want to sell in these places? Companies like to make money.

If there was an actual "desert" they would be lining up to fill the demand.

How do they plan on forcing people to buy what the hoi poli think they should be buying and eating?

 

[martybegan]

The property crime rate in Oklahoma City is 50% higher than NYC.

At this point many stores in NYC don't even bother to report most thefts.

Have you seen the vaults they use in pharmacies to protect things like razors and hair products?

 

[Seymour Flops]

Here is one clue to the mystery:

AI Overview

No, New York City does not have any Walmart stores. While Walmart has a significant presence in New York State, with numerous stores, particularly upstate and in the surrounding areas, none are located within the five boroughs of New York City, according to multiple sources.

Several factors contribute to the absence of Walmart in NYC:

• Zoning and Space:
  The high cost of real estate and the specific zoning requirements for large retail spaces in the city make it challenging to find suitable locations for Walmart stores.
• Community Opposition:
  Many community boards in the city have expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of a Walmart on local businesses, traffic, and the overall character of their neighborhoods.
• Competition:
  The city already has a robust retail landscape with numerous established stores, including Target and other large retailers, making it difficult for Walmart to gain a foothold.
• Unionization:
  Some have cited Walmart's lack of unionization as a factor in its exclusion from certain areas.

While Walmart has attempted to enter the NYC market, including smaller-scale stores, these efforts have faced significant obstacles.

NYC should be encouraging Walmart to open in their city, not making it all but impossible.

 

[martybegan]

Not to mention the cost to the bodegas are astronomically higher than what the larger companies pay to buy in bulk. At my friends convenience store he literally pays more to stock his shelves with things than if he went to Walmart and stocked his shelves with the same things

That's the economies of scale I was talking about.

 

[DukeU]

Why are so many poor people living in an area with such high land prices?

Because the leaders of these areas constantly talk about and give out "free stuff", like the OP.

 

[martybegan]

Here is one clue to the mystery:

AI Overview

No, New York City does not have any Walmart stores. While Walmart has a significant presence in New York State, with numerous stores, particularly upstate and in the surrounding areas, none are located within the five boroughs of New York City, according to multiple sources.

Several factors contribute to the absence of Walmart in NYC:

• Zoning and Space:
  The high cost of real estate and the specific zoning requirements for large retail spaces in the city make it challenging to find suitable locations for Walmart stores.
• Community Opposition:
  Many community boards in the city have expressed concerns about the potential negative impacts of a Walmart on local businesses, traffic, and the overall character of their neighborhoods.
• Competition:
  The city already has a robust retail landscape with numerous established stores, including Target and other large retailers, making it difficult for Walmart to gain a foothold.
• Unionization:
  Some have cited Walmart's lack of unionization as a factor in its exclusion from certain areas.

While Walmart has attempted to enter the NYC market, including smaller-scale stores, these efforts have faced significant obstacles.

NYC should be encouraging Walmart to open in their city, not making it all but impossible.

We had K-Marts.

We have Targets, and they have food sections.

We also have BJ's and Costcos.


The thing with BJ's and costcos is you need to plan your trips there.

 

[sparky]

This is how far NYC has fallen.......~S~

 

[Tyrion234]

That's the economies of scale I was talking about.

Yeah but you’re using big words

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

it is risky going to the grocery store in NYC.

 

[Seymour Flops]

We had K-Marts.

We have Targets, and they have food sections.

We also have BJ's and Costcos.


The thing with BJ's and costcos is you need to plan your trips there.

So, no food deserts in NYC?