Promises, promises, promises… are something that every politician makes. Especially, in the year of election. It’s the bloodline of any campaign. But when it comes to making good on these promises…well that’s when it becomes a matter of… politics and promises have a tendency to lose out.
At least Tina Johnson seems to think so ” Politics as usual.”
She’s the founder of the Chester Community Grocery Co-op. She knows first hand what it means to hear promises, promises and more promises. She has been trying desperately to gain both the public and financial support of Chester’s political leaders but still has yet to see them effectively do so.
Over a year ago Tina approached the Chester City Council.
“City council said ‘we will consider this proposal and let you know what we think and get back to you on it’… They never got back to us.”
She also tried the state level… “Thaddeus Kirkland said that he would work with our co-op… to make sure that the co-op has access to resources on a state level… we’re not getting any assistance at all.”
The need for a fresh food outlet didn’t just pop up out of the blue. Chester, like many urban communities, has serious health issues that are directly connected to fresh food access.
Currently, development is taking place all over Chester City. Due to the “revitalization” of the city we now have a casino and will soon have a soccer stadium in this basketball town. Housing developments are springing up all over the city so what’s the big deal with supporting the Grocery co-op. Is it the money?
“Through negotiations I was able to secure 4 million dollars.” That’s State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland. And according to him it’s not the money. “It started off at 1 million or 2 million dollars but we were able to secure 4 million dollars.”
The question is who will this 4 million go to so that Chester City is finally able to have fresh food access?
“We’re now in conversation with operators, different operators… hopefully by next week we’ll have one secured.”- Rep.Kirkland
Apparently the “operators” would like to have their shovels in the ground by the end of November. Who these “operators” are and what they will bring was not offered by the State Rep. How big the market will be, how many jobs it will supply still isn’t clear. All the while, the Chester Community Grocery Co-op, which already exists, will have to wait on financial support, despite previous promises.
“And when you’re not supporting those who are trying to… create opportunities through all of these means, whether its food access or job creation and you can’t stand up and say we support this…this is our contribution to this effort than the question is what are you doing as a politician?” - Johnson
Despite this election year Kirkland says that he does have the coop in mind and sees no conflict with bypassing his promises to the coop in order to see to it that another food source is given financial support.
” By bringing in a market it reinforces… it helps reinforce the conversations with the coop. I think that it’s important that the supermarket and the coop co-exist.”-Rep.Kirkland
It’s still unclear as to when the co-op will receive credible support from any of the city officials. Until then a few weak promises will have to suffice but in the meantime… “…again we’re in conversation so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.”, says Rep.Kirkland That’s right… in the meantime we’re keeping our fingers crossed. I promise.
ORIGINAL STORY: www.ghettoprint.com
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