$110 billion annually in shoplifting? Not really a problem, sez some social justice college professor . . .

[as seen on tv]

One retailer, at least, appears to be scaling back:

Target says it will close nine stores in major cities, citing violence and theft

Target says it will close nine stores, citing violence and theft (cnbc.com)

los angeles and san francisco are at the top of the list for store closures. apparently seattle is trying to pass NYC for 3rd place.

 

[as seen on tv]

That linked piece does not contain any quotes from the dude justifying what you said in your screed. Same with your screed itself. But you have your agenda. I get it.

CNN reported it as fact

 

[Zam-Zam]

if he teaches at "brooklyn college", the closest gated community would be sing-sing prison

Homes for Sale in Brooklyn, NY with Gated Community | realtor.com®

Not quite right I'm afraid.

Great quip, however.

 

[Bugsy McGurk]

CNN reported it as fact

Again, no quotes from the dude supporting your premise.

You sure do love your sophistry.

 

[Dawg]

Professor Tries To Downplay Impact Of Shoplifting Despite Retailers Losing $110B To Theft - Analyzing America

for the lazy

It's laughable when leftist know they're in Ignore and continue to TROLL as if begging for attention

 

[Bugsy McGurk]

Professor Tries To Downplay Impact Of Shoplifting Despite Retailers Losing $110B To Theft - Analyzing America

for the lazy

An atrociously dishonest piece designed to further mislead morons. The headline references one professor’s supposed view but the article contains quotes from numerous people. All to advance the agenda of racist hate one can see on Fox Noise nightly. You seem not to even know you’ve been duped again.

 

[middleview]

This seems simple to me.

1) Shoplifting, aka stealing, is wrong.

2) There should be consequences for those who do what is wrong.



We can over-analyze the issue so that some college professor can indulge his/her ego, but I 'll just stick with stealing is wrong, and go from there.

What did Vitale actually say?

“Historically, shoplifting has always had this outsized impact on public discourse,” said Alex Vitale, a professor of sociology at Brooklyn College and the author of “The End of Policing.”

 

[Bugsy McGurk]

What did Vitale actually say?

“Historically, shoplifting has always had this outsized impact on public discourse,” said Alex Vitale, a professor of sociology at Brooklyn College and the author of “The End of Policing.”

This thread (and the linked article) provide a sterling example of how right wingers simply concoct things to advance their agenda.

Fox Noise does it constantly. The best example might be their annual pieces on the non-existent “War on Christmas.” If some sales clerk doesn’t say “Merry Christmas” they run a story on “how the left is trying to do away with Christmas.”

Crazy stuff.

 

[BackAlive]

if you had bothered to read the post, you would have seen that cold medicines were prominently featured.

thanks for participating.

Nah , you tried to push this off as some "inner city" only problem..FYI I'd never bother reading your non sense

 

[Dawg]

Nah , you tried to push this off as some "inner city" only problem..FYI I'd never bother reading your non sense

yet you did bother to read it

 

[PhilFish]

View attachment 76754
​

Photo above - abandoned, empty supermarket. If you are the last person to leave, would you please turn off the lights?

Do you shoplift for a living? If so, Alex Vitale – founder of the “Social Justice Project” at Brooklyn college - has your back. Professor Vitale says we're getting all worked up over nothing. That despite what we see in the news, shoplifting is normal human behavior, and should be decriminalized. See link at bottom.

First of all, I want to apologize for introducing the economic theories of some New York sociology professor into this forum. You'd expect someone with a PhD in wishful thinking to be clueless, and Alex Vitale does not disappoint on that score. But to be fair, the professor IS simply trying to make a buck hawking his latest book, “The End of Policing”. He's FOR less policing, not against it, in case you couldn't guess. But I'm sure Professor Vitale does NOT want you to shoplift his book. Perhaps you should buy it online through Amazon, and check your front stoop on delivery day and get to it before any porch pirates do. Better yet, purchase and read his book online, to avoid contributing to shoplifting - which shouldn't even be a crime in the first place. Physical bookstores are so 20th century, anyway.

How much is $110 billion in shoplifting (excluding Amazon porch pirates)? About $1,000 for each American family - in higher prices to cover the cost of goods stolen. Whoa . . . when you put it that way, maybe shoplifting actually IS a problem. That's jacking up my grocery bill A LOT, professor!

Professor Vitale began his career in 1990 lobbying for the decriminalization of homelessness, graffiti, drug use, and prostitution. Buidling on his success in these areas, he's now advocating legalized retail theft. I have a question at this point, Professor: do you personally live in a building covered by graffiti, surrounded by meth/fentanyl users in tents, and streetwalkers 24/7? Be honest . . .

I'm guessing Professor Vitale's apartment looks pretty normal. If it is something out of a dystopian horror movie, I apologize. But I doubt that. If someone lives in a safe place, it's always easier to tell everyone else to suck it up. What's the adage? . . . “A conservative is a liberal who just got mugged!” (originator – mayor Frank Rizzo). Evidently $1,000 a year in higher prices due to shoplifting is okay, as long as nobody gets mugged. Wait . . . can we be sure the shoplifters aren't also muggers? Or street level drug dealers? Do shoplifters have a moral code, and confine themselves to pocketing cold medicine, liquor, and jumbo frozen shrimp?

Okay snowflakes – you've waited patiently for my outrageous snark, and here it is: Why are things like steak, shrimp, liquor, iPhones, Nikes, and meth precursors the main targets of shoplifters? Are we to conclude that the Food Stamp program is falling short of basic human needs? Maybe if we implement universal basic income, people will stop shoplifting, dealing drugs, and muggings? Okay – I had to get that one out of my system.

Professor Vitale evidently doesn't think store closures – creating food deserts in urban areas – will be a problem for residents who live there. Maybe if we stop arresting shoplifters, we should also make it illegal for those stores to flee, or go bankrupt? If they do go bankrupt, maybe the government should build a grocery store of its own there? Chicago has a new program to experiment with this - city run supermarkets. Because, you know, the city of Chicago is doing so well with public schools, affordable housing, and crime that they have extra resources to try their luck at milk, eggs, and bread?

I wish Chicago good luck with their grocery store adventure - honestly. I only ask that the Mayor and City Council contact Professor Vitale before they have their grand opening. Ask the professor if he wants the city to look the other way if shelves are stripped bare by decriminalized shoplifters. If that starts to happen, then store prices paid by anyone NOT shoplifting are going to need a re-think.

I'm just sayin' . . .

What America’s shoplifting panic is really about | CNN Business

If only criminals would avail themselves of his possessions... repeatedly.

 

[TBLee]

Nah , you tried to push this off as some "inner city" only problem..FYI I'd never bother reading your non sense

You got caught with your BS and now you are trying desperately to back track…hilarious. What a huge fail on your part.

 

[Spamature]

los angeles and san francisco are at the top of the list for store closures. apparently seattle is trying to pass NYC for 3rd place.

Stores are not closing because of shoplifting.
They are closing because buying habits have changed since the pandemic.
People are doing much more shopping online than they were before.

More than 2,800 stores are closing across the US in 2023. Here's the full list.

Rite Aid plans to close 154 drugstores, and at least 20 major retail chains, including its rival CVS, are shutting locations in 2023.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[PhilFish]

Stores are not closing because of shoplifting.
They are closing because buying habits have changed since the pandemic.
People are doing much more shopping online than they were before.

More than 2,800 stores are closing across the US in 2023. Here's the full list.

Rite Aid plans to close 154 drugstores, and at least 20 major retail chains, including its rival CVS, are shutting locations in 2023.

www.businessinsider.com

As retailers close stores due to shoplifting, are the concerns real or overblown?

Target announced this week that it is planning to close several stores, citing retail theft and organized retail crime as major problems. It’s raising concerns and questions about whether retail theft is worsening and what can be done about it. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gabrielle...

www.google.com

Sure they are....in certain areas

 

[TBLee]

Stores are not closing because of shoplifting.
They are closing because buying habits have changed since the pandemic.
People are doing much more shopping online than they were before.

More than 2,800 stores are closing across the US in 2023. Here's the full list.

Rite Aid plans to close 154 drugstores, and at least 20 major retail chains, including its rival CVS, are shutting locations in 2023.

www.businessinsider.com

Stop your silliness…..

 

[RickWA]

As retailers close stores due to shoplifting, are the concerns real or overblown?

Target announced this week that it is planning to close several stores, citing retail theft and organized retail crime as major problems. It’s raising concerns and questions about whether retail theft is worsening and what can be done about it. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Gabrielle...

www.google.com

Sure they are....in certain areas

Hostage to agenda and associated supporting narratives. Sad stuff.

 

[PhilFish]

Hostage to agenda and associated supporting narratives. Sad stuff.

Yep. Online is as much a factor as is location as is theft ...

 

[PhilFish]

Hostage to agenda and associated supporting narratives. Sad stuff.

..let's also remember the rise in porch robberies, and delivery drivers getting jumped

 

[RickWA]

..let's also remember the rise in porch robberies, and delivery drivers getting jumped

There’s an ongoing societal collapse/abandonment of standard norms and values. Dudes are chicks, chicks are dudes, theft is ok, etc. Make swiss cheese of civil foundation…enjoy a liquid fondue of the prevailing order.

 

[PhilFish]

There’s an ongoing societal collapse/abandonment of standard norms and values. Dudes are chicks, chicks are dudes, theft is ok, etc. Make swiss cheese of civil foundation…enjoy a liquid fondue of the prevailing order.

Well..I think proponents ought open their doors and welcome theft.... that'd end the discussion