Starbucks, in their yearning to be politically correct, has probably irrevocably degraded their brand, at least in the urban markets. The policy of restricting restroom use to paying customers is standard procedure in large urban areas. A white middle class woman told me that she was denied use of the restroom for not being a paying patron at the same Philadelphia Starbucks at the center of the controversy.
Apparently, it is a Starbucks CEO tradition to let PC race ahead of common sense. Last year they promised to hire 8,000 immigrants. While nobody is waiting for the immigrants before they buy their latte, the homeless will start availing themselves of the restrooms. While my liberal readers, all six of them, will welcome the better restroom facilities for the homeless, their tune may change next time they use the bathroom in a Philadelphia Starbucks.
If Starbucks' corporate reaction to the incident wasn't enough, now the Philadelphia Police Commissioner is walking back his previous support of the arresting officers. He has apologized to the two men arrested, who refused to leave as instructed by the responding officers. While only reinforcing victim mentality, I don't see anything productive in these reactions.
photocredit: Bryant/Philadelphia Inquirer
If Starbucks' corporate reaction to the incident wasn't enough, now the Philadelphia Police Commissioner is walking back his previous support of the arresting officers. He has apologized to the two men arrested, who refused to leave as instructed by the responding officers. While only reinforcing victim mentality, I don't see anything productive in these reactions.
photocredit: Bryant/Philadelphia Inquirer
above reprinted from April of 2018
ADDENDUM JULY 14, 2022: Starbucks has announced the closure of numerous inner-city shops, including a Philadelphia location. My prediction that their political correctness would come back to bite them was apparently accurate.
ReplyDeleteAt a community meeting on the west end recently and as usual a member of the APD was there to give us a round up of police activity. From this report it seems clear the police have abandoned enforcement of our quality of life ordinances law on quality of life issues in order to be mentors and buddies with those who make life in the city a real challenge. They are also now giving the homeless mentally ill and addicted people loitering in our parks, urinating here and there, screaming profanities to the wind, and countless other troublesome behaviors "The Respect They deserve". Long story short, these clearly disturbed and deeply troubled can do as they please, when they please, and where they please. The police person said this was the right thing to do as there aren't enough police to handle all the calls so they must "prioritize". Frankly I don't buy that. My guess is, the police here, like many other urban areas are afraid to enforce quality of life crimes so they make excuses for not doing it.
So this is where we are. Those who disturb the quality of life of the ordinary resident may do so, so they do, and clearly others seeing this are joining in. It's not just quality of life issues that are no longer enforced, have you seen a traffic stop in the city recently. My guess is the cops have decided these just aren't worth the trouble. The results are what they are, careless, reckless, and brazen disregard of our traffic laws. Let's see it the way the police see it, too often the men in Blue are prosecuted and their live destroyed by anti police elements within and without our local government when something goes wrong with a traffic stop. The police take orders from the mayor and it seems clear, we have elected people who would rather appease those who cause trouble and disorder than enforce the laws that make urban life tolerable for the law abiding majority.
Soon after Dominos started, They Refused service to Cumberland Gardens
DeleteLeft leaning reader here, I appreciate your insight on local politics and of course the Allentown history. I think the fact you stopped supporting trump when you saw him for what he really is gives you credibility and should earn you readership from both / all political sides.
ReplyDeleteThe problem has been exasperated by conservative courts that have decried laws permitting the mentally ill to be confined to institutions, under the guise of "governmental over reach" until ready to be released. This has created a flood gate of such homeless individuals released onto the streets with no where to go. In the past, many were confined until or unless they achieved competency.
ReplyDeleteOne of the foremost constitutional theorists of the founding generation, John Adams, observed, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”1 He wasn't the only Founding Father to hold this view
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