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# A Gift from the Heavens for Neighborhood Councils
August 13 2012
Written by Greg Nelson.
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EMPOWERMENT REPORT - I get a certain joy from reading the daily newspapers because there’s always at least one idea in each edition that neighborhood councils can pursue.
In last Friday’s business section of the Los Angeles Times, [**columnist David Lazarus wrote about something**](http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20120810,0,2211922.column#tugs_story_display) he was alerted to by a reader.
Little did any of us know that when we leave behind a bag of groceries at a market, the market keeps the bag for a short period and then puts the items back on the shelf for sale a second time.
Aside from the fact that customers using a store’s membership code could be called but aren’t, Lazarus and his reader wondered why the stores couldn’t donate unclaimed products to food banks.
The spokespeople for some of the major supermarket chains (Ralphs, Vons, and Whole Foods) were caught flatfooted, and wouldn’t or couldn’t commit one way or the other.
It just makes so much sense.
Neighborhood councils could benefit the hungry in their communities, and get major karma points, if they could broker the deal.
Speaking to a well-intentioned manager at chain supermarket might not accomplish the goal if a corporate bureaucracy is involved.
But neighborhood councils could begin by a local market, or markets, to launch a program like this, and setting an example for the supermarkets.
It’s not easy for neighborhood councils, or anyone for that matter, to get publicity on “good news” stories because they aren’t exciting enough for most readers or viewers.
Absent a way to combine this idea with a car chase, this may be one of the best opportunities for neighborhood councils to do something that’s a win for everyone.
It’s either this, or risk being defined publicly by the occasional misdeeds.
*(Greg Nelson is a former general manager of the Department of Neighborhood Empowerment, was instrumental in the creation of the LA Neighborhood Council System, served as chief of staff for former LA City Councilman Joel Wachs … and occasionally writes for CityWatch. He can be reached at gregn213@cox.net)*
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 65
Pub: Aug 14, 2012
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