Follow-Ups

I don't know what compels some people to stick their noses into things that don't concern them and places where they don't belong, but we'd all be better off if they would just mind their own business.

A couple of days ago I posted something about community organizers forcing Trader Joe's to abandon plans to build a new grocery store in a disadvantaged neighborhood. Residents were excited by the prospect, but self-appointed self-righteous busybodies from the Portland African-American Leadership Forum got involved, made all sorts of outlandish demands, and eventually drove Trader Joe's away.

Community Organizers - 1
Community - 0

There's a similar story being played out a little closer to home.

HEB is the South Texas version of Trader Joe's - a regional grocery store that has a tradition of community involvement and charitable giving.

One of HEB's earliest stores was built in 1945 on the west side of San Antonio. Today, it's a small, cramped place that doesn't meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. However, as the area became more developed, the store became landlocked. HEB would like to remodel and expand it, but there's not enough room on the lot. So the company came up with a creative solution. Since it can't go out, it's going to go up. It has proposed converting the existing building into a two story structure.

However...

...historic-preservation advocates appear ready to protest the proposal, despite support among the store's neighbors and community leaders.

H-E-B opened the Nogalitos store in 1945 and made small renovations over the next seven decades.

The store takes up 26,000 square feet — about a third the size of an average H-E-B. Company spokeswoman Dya Campos said it was impractical to try to retain the existing footprint.

“Really, the only way to expand the store and create a better shopping experience is to go vertical,” she said. The current building “physically is not designed for that.”

H-E-B hopes to start the demolition work in May, with a grand re-opening by this time next year.

Reaction from the neighborhood has been positive.

“Neighbors have been appealing to H-E-B for a long time to improve that store,” said Patti Radle, who previously represented District 5 on the City Council. “Ask the community how they feel about history vs. practicality. This is a basic need to feed families.”

Longtime resident Jovanna Lopez recalled frequent visits to the Nogalitos store as a child but now avoids it as an adult.

“My boyfriend and I don't shop at this H-E-B because it doesn't have everything we like,” Lopez said. “We drive across town to Trader Joe's.”

A member and vice president of the Collins Garden Neighborhood Association, she said she looked forward to the expanded fish, produce and organic sections that H-E-B plans to add to the new store.

“This neighborhood deserves so much more than it has right now,” Lopez added...

Not if the preservation advocates have anything to say about it.


I also posted about recent events regarding the Second Amendment. There's a new local story related to that topic as well.

Rising Democratic star and gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis has joined her top Republican rival in supporting a proposed "open carry" law. It would allow people with concealed handgun licenses to wear a pistol on their hip, in full view, while in public.

There must be a new law requiring every story about Wendy Davis to refer to her as a 'rising democratic star.' Anyway...

Davis has said she supports expanding gun rights in Texas ... in a statement to The Associated Press, she said that includes open-carry -- a position that puts her at odds with her own party but could keep her from alienating gun rights advocates in a deeply conservative a state where the Second Amendment is sacrosanct.

The problem with Davis' statement is that most Texans see it for what it is - a shameless, brazen, and hypocritical attempt to pick up votes. Her supporters, who for the most part are anti-Second Amendment, will still vote for her. What she's trying to do is swing some moderates and undecideds to her side. I'd like to think that Texans are smart enough to see through her BS. After all, her past actions speak much louder than her recent words.

Texas State Rifle Association spokeswoman Alice Tripp noted Davis' previous calls for more restrictions on gun show sales and past votes against allowing concealed license holders to carry their guns in classrooms and buildings on college campuses.

"Wendy Davis has a very bad record as far as gun owners go," Tripp said, calling Davis an "opportunist."

She's also a liar who has spun fables about her past life.

I guess telling lies, being a hypocrite, and being an opportunist are what make her a 'rising democratic star.'