Never trust the corporations excuses.
PS: I wasn’t sure if this was a good fit for this community, but I couldn’t think of another. Any suggestions?
As an outsider I fail to understand why the reason to close shops is so critical. Can’t they just say « fuck it we’re done here » at any point in time? What’s the point on pinning the closure on fictional crime level?
They are generating political action on an issue that is undeserving of resources. It is also about covering bad choices so investors don’t lose faith.
My friend just wrote this article for The Needling.
The consequence I can see it happening and being concerning. The investors thingy I don’t think it’s sound ; as an investor I would be all in for closing underperforming stores. No need to cover it for them they surely don’t give a shit beyond « money would be better invested elsewhere ».
I would agree on this point, generally businesses lie to the public for political reasons, to gin up political favor for their desired outcomes.
Most rich CEOs are out of touch and think crime just comes from “undesirables” and the only way to fix it is to massively increase police presence. In other words, they’re authoritarians. This has more to do with creating a narrative about crime and intent to get political support for further instituting a police state and taking the required effort for security off the businesses. It’s really about passing the bill for keeping their stores “secure” onto the taxpayer, so they can rely more on local police and on private security less.
The article in question even covers how there are already attempts to write bills targeting this problem at the Federal level. (A bipartisan bill, I might add.)
They are usually pretty honest with their investors. I would expect their investor presentations are a lot more honest, but because that’s “economics news” it usually gets fewer headlines or people reporting on it. It would be interesting to contrast Target’s investor calls compared to what they’re saying publicly. Same with other businesses like Walgreens leaning on the same story.
They would have to spend time analyzing why they failed to make sure investors knew they wouldn’t do this again. Cheaper and easier to blame the poors.
The Ballard Target is such a pile of shit. I never went to the u-district one and haven’t visited the City Target downtown in years.
Why the fuck go to any of them with Fred Myer just a few blocks away?
The downtown Target was literally 100 feet from Pike Place. Why would they even try to stock produce 😑
Because the immediate thought from the plebs is “the blacks shut down my favorite store by robbing it all the time” and they go vote GOP harder so that Target gets lower corporate/wealth taxes etc.
I know this because I live in a red state and anytime the locals hear about a store closing “due to theft” a sea of slurs gets echoed at full force.
It’s kinda like waking up late for work because you didn’t set your alarm, then telling your boss and everyone who will listen that the reason you’re late is because there was a shooting on your street.