Indeed, in 2023, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson did propose opening such grocery stores, in response to the closing of many supermarkets in poor areas of the city, and he did commission a feasibility study to examine the question. That study has not been made public, however, and Mayor Johnson has backed off his plan, even though the state of Illinois established a “Grocery Initiative” to provide municipalities with up to $2.4 million to open grocery stores. Chicago has not applied for any of this money.
Perhaps Johnson is afraid of the, er, black eye from the resulting publicity when the store for the people is looted and robbed into oblivion, thus confirming why food deserts exist in CHI and other large, blue, liberal cities. It seems to be beyond their comprehension that a store has to make money to stay in business.
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Perhaps Johnson is afraid of the, er, black eye from the resulting publicity when the store for the people is looted and robbed into oblivion, thus confirming why food deserts exist in CHI and other large, blue, liberal cities. It seems to be beyond their comprehension that a store has to make money to stay in business.