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Weekly Feature: Are you kidding me with this!
by 15211Advocate ~ January 29th, 2008. Filed under: Blight, Crime.We have decided to create some weekly features on 15211.org. This is our first stab at it.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH …
The lights in the Foodland Parking lot. Or should I say THE LIGHT.
I noticed the other day that the Foodland Parking lot is very, very dark. After looking up to see why I was walking into shopping carts, I noticed that only ONE light was actually working. This is unacceptable.
At the CDC meetings, people are always complaining about the RiteAid parking lot being a haven for drug dealers and heathens. I think they got the parking lot wrong. It’s really the Foodland Parking Lot that has the drug dealers and scumbags in it (I’m guessing, since I can’t see).
So like the American flag on Grandview Avenue issue I’m calling out the managers of Foodland to get these lights replaced immediately. It will make that place appear more inviting and not so back-alleyish.
The number to the Foodland is 412-431-1566. Please call and demand that they live up to their responsibility as citizens of Mt. Washington.
January 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
This is a great idea… I appreciate the effort that you put into making our neighborhood a better place to live. Thank you!
January 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I called the phone number you so kindly listed and spoke with the front-end manager, Tom. He advised me that the lights are out because there is a short somewhere underground and the parking lot has to be dug up to find out where it is occurring.
The underground line goes the entire length of the parking lot. He did say they were expecting it to be fixed this spring.
He was not familiar with this blog.
January 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
Thanks circusvue.
And maybe now he’ll visit 15211.org!
MG
January 30th, 2008 at 10:01 am
that’s great that they are aware of the problem, but don’t you think they have a responsibility to light up that parking lot somehow? I know they have portable flood lights and things of that nature that could take the place of the “shorted out” lights.
I think waiting until spring is just not a good enough answer. I wonder what Foodland Corporate would say about it??
January 30th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Foodland locations are individual franchises and this particular one was just purchased by the managers of over 20 years. I know they are committed to this community and enhancing this store to benefit its customers and attract new ones. Perhaps as a business owner there may be someway they can temporarily accomodate these lighting concerns before weather conditions allow for a permanent solution. However, before we find a new target for a witch hunt up here lets remember that this location employs over 80 people (many of them Mt. Washington residents) and any time they are asked to donate something for a community activity or cause they always agree.
I hope anyone contacting this business with a legitimate concern will do so with a helpful spirit…perhaps even help research resouces that may be available to assist businesses with unforseen expenses, such as tearing up a parking lot, and repaving it (which was done last summer) just to get a light fixture operational.
We are all in this together. To merely sit at the sidelines and fire shots isnt helping anyone. Lets continue supporting this store while the situation gets resolved so that this expense is justified. Remeber this business can always choose to close down and move to the suburbs and then we could end up with a large white elephant that could be vacant for a long time in this economy.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Well i don’t think that fixing a few light will send Foodland into bankruptcy.
I think our readers will agree this is not a witch hunt but more a way to make some people (the managers) realize that they have an obligation for the safety of their patrons. I’m sure they would agree.
I patronize Foodland every day, sometimes twice a day. I also think they do a fine business and can afford to take care of this.
Would it better for them to get sued by some opportunistic low life that fakes a slip disk after busting their butt in the dark parking lot.. that would really puts them out of business.
They need to fix these lights sooner than later, oh and obviously we’re not just sitting on the sidelines. We’re like Barack baby.. Making a Change!!
January 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I am surprised that Foodland hasn’t put up temporary lighting…I would think they would be required to provide adequate lighting in a parking area in order to meeting the requirements for insurance purposes or their business permit(s). I wonder if this lighting issue would put them at risk to incur some fines?
Issues like inadequate lighting place a business owner in a vulnerable position to be liable for any accidents or crime that may occur on their premises. I would think it would be in their best interest to secure the appropriate lighting in order to protect themselves.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
uh….in case no one noticed, Foodland has a huge monoply up here on Mt. W. There is no place for miles to get groceries…I hardly think that a few peeps asking for some parking lot lights are going to drive them to teh suburbs, where they’d have to lower their prices to compete with Giant Eagle. it’s all business…
January 30th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
CG:
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, can we please discontinue this business of separating people into two camps ala GW Bush (”you’re either with us or against us”)? Patronizing Foodland and asking the manager to address a potential hazard in his/her parking lot are not mutually exclusive.
I appreciate the fact that the manager has a long-term plan in place to address this problem. How though was anyone to know that if the topic hadn’t been broached on this site? In the short-term, I think floodlights or motion lights (Home Depot, approx $50) would suffice.
MG
February 7th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
hey city guy, Have you ever compaired prices between our Foodland and lets say Giant Eagle at Parkway Ctr. Mall. Its a shame for the older folk who have no choice but to pay top prices at the Mt. Washington Foodland. We have to continue to call and complain about the lighting. Whats that saying about the squeaky wheel?
February 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
[…] of lighting in the Foodland parking lot. […]
February 13th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I’m a member of the Mt. Washington crime watch group and live across the street from Rite Aid. Believe me when I tell you that there is major drug activity in their parking lot. I’m talking about large black trash bags exchanging hands. I have taken photos and videos which have been turned over to the police. Risky but necessary. I’ve talked to the manager, regional manager and corporate management about the problem. Their response last summer was we’ll put a chain across the parking lot after closing and security cameras outdoors. To date, they installed a chain, which is usually not up, and because “money is tight”, they can’t afford cameras which would aid the police greatly in identifying the criminals. Their mission statement claims that they are a community oriented company. Really?
There is drug activity in Foodland’s parking lot as well as Co Gos. In fact, I have a video taken last fall of drug activity involving Co Gos’ employees.
My suggestion is that if you see drug activity, call 911 immediately. If you really care about crime in our area join one of the crime watch groups.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
[…] was new ownership and management and someone taking pride in their business up here in the 15211. If you recall, 15211.org readers contacted the then-manager and now current owner about the lighting in the […]