South San Francisco, CA September 21, 2023
The past few years we have witnessed prices going up on everything, in part due to the cost of fuel and moving goods across the country to our stores. We also are dealing with inflation, which also speaks to the gas prices going up. But our basic needs for food are really hitting all-time highs making this problem even more painful for those on a fixed income – and truth be told, we all are pretty much on a ‘fixed income’, no matter how much we make. But it is felt more intensely by lower-wage earners who cannot even afford the basics and our Second Harvest and other food banks are seeing a high increase in need. In addition, the freebies the government has been giving out aren’t free after all and we are now paying for them with more taxes, fees and fines on just about everything. NPR reports ” The federal government’s deficit nearly tripled in the first nine months of the fiscal year, a surge that’s bound to raise concerns about the country’s rising debt levels.” Far too many people have been following this example and using plastic and increasing their credit card debt, at a time when interest rates continue to climb higher.
It’s unsustainable.
But there are those who refuse to let it bother them, they get what they need or want, or even what they don’t need and want, simply because they can. Theft has increased tremendously and we all are paying for that as well. Not a day goes by we don’t hear or see retail places being ransacked while thieves run out with thousands of dollars of merchandise.
Often they sell these goods to others, some who might be aware of the thievery, and others maybe not. But we all pay for this will higher prices required to absorb the loss. And we all pay with our time when we have to wait for a clerk to unlock shelves of everyday things we need, but are targeted by thiefs. We further pay when the stores close for good, leaving us with fewer choices, or a longer drive to get to the items we need.
Clerks and security guards are instructed to do nothing. Customers often will video tape the carnage left in the wake of thugs who steal while they wait in line to pay for their groceries and other items. This has been a growing problem the past few years, and getting worse each week.
There is no bite in the law to deter them either, thanks in part to CA Prop 47 which was passed by voters in 2014, that reduced many crimes from a felony to a misdeamer. {Click here to read more about Prop 14}
This past week clerks at our local Safeway store had to stand by and watch as two women, with carts filled, walked right through the check out lane and out of the store. As many other stores are doing, items that are now locked must be requested by a clerk who brings the purchases to the counter. And as we’ve witnessed in the City, many stores are simply closing their doors, for good.
It appears ** EDIT LUCKY’S (not Safeway) in Millbrae is closing for good in November and if the stealing trends continue, we may never see the return of our Spruce Avenue Safeway, which has once again been derailed due to financial issues. 
Have you witnessed people stealing in stores? What has been your experience?
What solutions would you put into place if you had the power?
It’s Lucky in Millbrae that is closing Nov. 3.
Thanks for the catch Heidi.
-ED
Keep voting in the same Jack asses ,that’s what bayou get 👏👏👏
Dear Editor,
Your information letter to our community is “Spot On”. What is happening in California and in our United States is no accident. This is something that has been planned for many years. I would encourage everyone to read the book, “The Democratic Party Hates America”. You can get it on Amazon and it was written by Mark Levin. He is a historian and he takes you back in history so you understand why we are in such a mess today.
I would like to ask everyone to stop for a moment, and ask yourself, “Was I better off four years ago? Or am I better off now?” Four years ago we were energy independent. Food was 25% to 50% less than what it is now. Gas was $2.50 a gal. and now it’s over $5.00 a gal. Our border was secure and now we have over 10,000 people a day coming in illegally from all over the world. To put this in perspective, the USA usually lets in one million people a year, and since Biden took office (2½ years ago) we have had close to eight million people cross illegally to our country. Our tax payer dollars have been paying for their food, housing, medical care and education for their children. Now, I don’t blame them for wanting a better life, but we simply can’t handle that many people at once. And when we are spending this money on them, we are not able to take care of the services we need. Not all of these are good people. Many are criminal’s that think nothing of killing our people and bringing in drugs.
Joe Biden took an oath to protect and defend the people of this country. Do you feel protected?
So what would I do to protect and defend the people of California and the United States?
I would close the boarder and finish the wall so all the electronic features could be installed on it, and I would hire more Border Patrol Agents.
I would open the Keystone Pipeline to allow gas and fossil fuels to bring down the cost of gas and make us energy independent.
I would remove all the mandates and regulations. We have been told we can’t have gas stoves, gas washers and dryers, gas waters, gas ovens and gas cars, and much more. To you, as a voting person, has anyone asked you how you feel about this? Did you get to vote for all this? NO!
I would refund the police, and make prosecuting attorneys follow the laws instead of changing felonies to misdemeanors. If you do the crime…you do the time.
I would insist our Constitution be followed. Which means Free Speech, Freedom of Religion etc. Have you noticed how if your opinion is different than someone else you are called a “Raciest”? What has happened to an honest discussion?
AND, I would drain the Swamp! And so much more!
And now, in California the Assembly and the Senate have passed two bills. Please remember these, ACA-1 and ACA-13. They are trying to take away the protection of Prop 13. So what is Prop 13? As the price of houses began to rise years ago, Prop 13 was voted into place to protect older homeowner from their property taxes rising too fast. For people that bought their home at that time, like your parents or grandparents, this would mean their property tax would jump so high, they would have to sell their home to pay the property tax. For example, someone who is paying 2,000.00 a year in property tax, if this passes would have to pay $15,000.00 a year property tax!
So, to the Editor, I hope I have sufficiently answered your question as to what solutions I have to improve our current situation.
Sincerely,
LM