There is a whole socioeconomic side to retail that is touched on here... You have different classes of retail, from the high dollar to the deep discount. Go to the "cheap" part of town and see how many high dollar supermarkets are there VS the local, ethnnic, or discount grocers. Then reverse that test - how many truly deep discount grocers do you see in affluent neighborhoods?

The rub is this - if an "economically higher" market goes into an "economically lower" neighborhood, it brings the property value and prosperity of the area up. For a "community leaderdhip group" like the aforementioned PAALF this is a disaster, because their opressed soldiers in their war are not as opressed, and their power to control "their group" is diminished.

PAALF's statement once again illustrates Michael Savage's potent phrase, "Liberalism is a mental disorder." Anyone who buys such convoluted thinking is as crazy as their reasoning is.

One of the best written articles I have ever seen. I couldnt figure out who the author was. Maybe he is in hiding. The whole situation would be laughable if it wasnt so sad.

Following the argument wouldn't it be best to tear down all of the business in the area and this would completely alleviate the oppression of the poor?

This is one of the dumbest things I have ever seen a group do. It reinforces my thinking that to vote one must pay taxes.

No doubt another community will successfully host Trader Joe's. Subsequently, socialists will be back to collect money from the successful community to distribute to this poor community to cover for a bad decision they made...no doubt another in a long series of bad decisions, and perhaps a small amount of starting out with little to work up from...wait a minute, I did that too!

I live east of Portland and know well the area in question. Nike has an outlet store, built new. No one brought up these complaints when Nike came to this very same neighborhood. Hmmm. Nike does not drive up realty values? How odd. Also, no complaints forthcoming about Popeye's Chicken or other national retailers coming to town. Trader Joes does not fit their criteria as a useful retailer. Susanne's comments regarding the socioeconomic side to this argument are exactly right. But, being slightly singed, Joe's is not now in any hurry to investigate the offers to "come on down" from the mayors of neighboring cities, Wood Village and Gresham, which are only marginally better suited to fit their customer base, both cities being made up of approximately 50% illegals. I did not reference any one ethnic group, so stay off that bandwagon, please either to agree or excoriate. I am adding my viewpoint only because I do live in the area.

So, Trader Joe's stood on principle and PAALF lost out on some economic activity and improvements. Serves them right and unfortunately keeps some of citizens in poverty without that economic enhancement. I truly hope that the community stands up to these "leaders" and tells them where to go.

They are using the same successful tactic that has worked for the PLO for over half a century -- keep their proletariat members in abject poverty in the "refugee camps" (ghettos) while themselves enjoying all the trappings of royalty. These are domestic terrorists and, obviously, they use terrorist tactics.

Maybe they would be happier with a pawn shop and taxpayer subsidized housing.

You can bet that all of the legally binding contracts and documents would be one sided. The community organizers get the loot, the companies get screwed and the people are poorer in spirit and money because the businesses pass on the extortion they have to pay to the organizers.
A legal question. Isn't what was described as happening a form of extortion? pay me or you can't do business here?

So, tell me again, where does bigotry in exist in America?

The spin doctors did a whoo - hoo:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index...
" Director Cyreena Boston Ashby said PAALF's consistent goal has been to bring attention to what it views as the real problem: the development commission's lack of transparency in projects that affect the black community."
...
When did free people need to get permission?
My mistake, we're in the People's Democratic Socialist Republic of America.

"Brother, you asked for it."

This could be an Agenda 21 maneuver to redevelop the area. Based on Rosa Koire's book "Behind The Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21", areas are condemned so that Federal Funds can be gotten for a "blighted area". This way, the redevelopment is in the hands of the government, not the non-Agenda 21 developer.

More can be found in Rosa Koire's lecture at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoMaYJwLy...

good for them. they are expensive but offer unique choices which I like. Also, you can get good deals on wine

Excellent article. It's all about control after all.

And P.A.A.L.F. still goes to their neighborhood bank with their check raised in one hand pronouncing "We one again". As mccannon01 wrote check Detroit or as the people around call it "Little Beirut".

Lies are running over the Truth, but no matter how harse the collision...they will perish and it will prevail. What worries me is the victims, why so many?

I love Trader Joe's and I am so glad that they chose to make this business decision :-) Great post and so in tune with Ayn Rand and her philosophy.

There's a Trader Joe's about 30 minutes away from me. I think I'll get over there more often!

Bringing more economic development to a poor area makes it poorer? What non-logic is this? The disadvantaged are more so if you bring the possible advantages of more development to the area? Well perhaps so if you are determined to keep them disadvantaged to keep your own position as their spokesperson.