San Fran Proposes New Requirements For Stores Closing Their Doors
San Francisco has been facing a crisis of businesses leaving the city due to rising crime and homelessness. In an effort to address this issue, Board of Supervisors member Dean Preston has introduced the “Grocery Protection Act.” The proposed act requires grocery store owners to give a written six-month notice of their intent to close to the Board of Supervisors and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). They would also be required to work with neighborhood residents and the OEWD to find ways to keep their business open or find a replacement. Failure to comply could result in legal action.
There are several exceptions to the proposed regulations, such as if the store is forced to close due to unforeseen circumstances, a natural disaster or emergency, actively seeking financial means to stay open, or if giving a closing notice would impact their chances of getting funding. While this proposal aims to keep businesses in the city, it could also be seen as punishing struggling store owners and placing an extra burden on them in an already challenging situation.
As San Francisco spirals and businesses exit, the city’s lawmakers are focusing their efforts on punishing property owners and empowering homeless squatters. https://t.co/HFALSkXNXQ
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) April 1, 2024
In recent years, several major retailers, including L’Occitane and Sephora, have left San Francisco due to flash mobs and smash-and-grab robberies that have become increasingly common in the city. This trend has also affected long-standing businesses like Macy’s, which recently announced its closure after 95 years of operation. This has raised concerns about the safety and economic viability of the city.
The city has attempted to downplay the crime problem, claiming that it is actually decreasing. According to statistics from January to March, car break-ins are down by 51%, gun violence by 38%, and rape by 29%. However, these figures may not be reflective of the reality on the ground, as evident by the numerous incidents of crime and the exodus of businesses.
Deal with retail theft? Nah, we’ll just force the businesses to stay open. Right, San Francisco? #retailtheft #SanFrancisco #progressive https://t.co/MaGrtcDuqH
— CivilityCentral23 (@CivilityCentral) April 8, 2024
Residents of San Francisco have also taken matters into their own hands by voting to change the policy for police to engage in chases of criminals for less serious crimes. This could be seen as a sign of residents having had enough of the rampant crime in the city. However, for neighborhood grocery stores that cannot sustain their business due to high crime, the new regulations could seem like a punishment, as they are expected to find their own replacement while also dealing with the effects of the crime.
After driving grocery stores out of business with leftist crime-coddling policies, Democrats now want to sue the bereft owners whose lives they’ve destroyed. https://t.co/u1pDvyb8Lr
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) April 8, 2024
Even larger stores like Whole Foods have fallen victim to the rising crime in the city. One of their locations reported a staggering 568 emergency calls in 13 months and 14 arrests were made for crimes committed by vagrants, ranging from disturbance to throwing food. This highlights the impact of crime on businesses and the challenges they face in maintaining a safe and profitable operation in San Francisco.