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Petition to end the security guards at the Davis Food Co-op

By Roberta Millstein

The Davis Food Co-op now has security guards. 

How those security guards are dressed and armed and why they are there is the subject of some dispute — anyone interested in the variety of opinions on this subject can read the hundreds of comments I accidentally generated when I shared a picture of some sidewalk chalk concerning the guards (the first I had heard of it) on NextDoor.  There you can also read a variety of opinions about whether the guards are a good idea or not, count the number of reactions, etc.  Let's just say it was a classic NextDoor post.  Trying to look at the positives, it at least provided a platform for people to share their opinions and impressions.

But that is not the point of this post.  The point of this post is to share a petition about the security guards, located here: https://www.change.org/p/end-the-militarized-security-presence-at-our-davis-food-co-op.  I have no involvement in creation of the petition, but whoever wrote it did a beautiful job.  It is well-written and thoughtful.

I have signed, and I urge others to sign as well. Importantly, the petition not only calls for eliminating the security guards (and explains why) but also calls for the Management and Board of Directors of the Co-op to work creatively with the community — as member-owners of the Co-op — to find alternatives to deal with the recent challenges that the Co-op has had. 

It is, after all, supposed to be a Co-op and not a just another business, just another grocery store.

One thing that quickly became clear is how badly the Co-op bungled this.  At a minimum, it should have used its email newsletter to let people know about the problems and how they were thinking of handling them.  That would have saved a lot of fear, anger, and frustration on all sides. In fact, they still haven't sent out an email like this, instead putting up a sandwich board in front of the entrance with a relatively brief explanation.

Davis Food Co-op, let's work together.  Community, let's urge them to do so.  Again, the petition is here.

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Roberta Millstein

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Comments

12 responses to “Petition to end the security guards at the Davis Food Co-op”

  1. Nora Oldwin

    Thank you, Roberta! I signed. I agree with your assessment of the petition and why it’s important to our community- I urge others to sign too.

    Reply
  2. Ron O

    Don’t know why they decided that this is needed, but I’m not going to second-guess them. The petition does not, in fact, provide a reason.
    I have noticed quite a few individuals who appear to be homeless outside of the store/parking area, on the dead-end street between the Co-Op and Hibbert’s site. Don’t know if that’s the reason.
    But in reference to that petition, I do find it odd that a “Chairman of Local Indigenous Tribes” (whatever that means) apparently thinks he/she can speak on behalf of all people with Indigenous heritage.

    Reply
  3. Roberta L. Millstein

    Ron says, “The petition does not, in fact, provide a reason.”
    That’s part of the problem. The communication from the Co-op, explaining why the security guards have been added, has been minimal at best. As I stated above, there has been no email, just the sign in the front of the store that refer vaguely to “several staff members” who have “expressed concern about safety and the increase of theft incidents in the store.” And it says that “Many Members have also expressed their concerns.” I’m not denying that there have been incidents, but just saying that it’s not clear what has most motivated the change, which makes it hard to know if the solution really fits the problem(s).
    And even if they have listened to “several staff members” and “many Members,” they have not sought out a conversation with all members, and we have no idea what other solutions they might have considered as a way to deal with the problem(s). That is what the petition is asking for — talking with members, considering other solutions.
    Ron also says, “I’m not going to second-guess them.”
    Again, I would say that the Co-op isn’t just any other store. It is supposed to be, well, a co-op. As in, a cooperative. With member-owners who should have a say in major policy decisions like this.

    Reply
  4. Ron O

    Roberta: I found your NextDoor posting, and it seemed like most of the comments were in support of having guards, there. Or at least, not automatically rejecting it.
    I think they could come out with a simple statement regarding the reason they choose to do this. (I see some comments on your NextDoor page that there’s been both theft and violence in the store. That’s probably all they need to say.) I looked at the billboard (which a commenter posted on your Nextdoor account), and I think it could be improved. (But that’s pretty much all I’d suggest.)
    In a sense, the Co-Op is a “republic” (not a democracy) – just like the Sierra Club for example. Both have representatives which are supposed to reflect their members. (I’d argue that this is never a “perfect” representation.) In any case, both organizations have elections (and the choices themselves may not reflect the actual desires of their own members).
    In any case, I hope they don’t close the restrooms as a result of this. (That’s WAY more important to me, than having a guard in the store.)
    ACE already restricts access to their restrooms, and has been doing so for awhile.
    And I usually have to pee, if/when I go out for awhile.
    But getting back to my other point, I’ll go ahead and speak “on behalf of” the person whom I know pretty well, who has Indigenous heritage. There is no way she would have been able to function in her job, if she reacted as the “Chairman of Local Indigenous Tribes” stated.
    By the way, do tribal casinos have security staff? (Pretty sure I know the answer to that.)

    Reply
  5. Greg Rowe

    I completely concur with the concerns Roberta expressed on Nextdoor regarding the way in which some cities in the U.S.A. are becoming almost military encampments. That being said, as a Co-op shareholder, I support the action taken by the board of directors and management. There have been too many times during the past several years when I have witnessed retail thieves leaving CVS and Nugget, completely ignoring the requests by staff for them to return and pay for the merchandise they are stealing. It is uncomfortable to be in that situation. In addition, it must be recognized that retail theft increases the cost of the merchandise we buy.
    Shareholder organizations elect boards of directors to use their best judgment in guiding the policies, priorities and actions of the organization. As such, I don’t expect to be consulted on everything the Board does. I likewise don’t expect to be consulted by other organizations I belong to that have a board of directors (Davis Bike Club, Sierra Club, Pacific Crest Trail Association, etc). Again, that’s why we elect boards of directors- – to use their best judgment in acting in our behalf. If the Board of Directors does something with which the shareholders disagree, the shareholders have the option to elect new directors.
    A few days ago we visited the Co-op and thanked the security guard for being there. He seemed to really appreciate it, and we felt a lot more comfortable for him being there. Maybe if CVS and Nugget had security guards, retail theft and vagrancy might decline.

    Reply
  6. Roberta L. Millstein

    The co-op now has a blog post explaining its recent change in policy. I found it in a link at the end of their today’s weekly email newsletter.
    https://davisfood.coop/cooperative-security/?mc_cid=4db68720dd&mc_eid=adbe95e545

    Reply
  7. Keith

    I just read the co-op link and their reasons for hiring security seem very reasonable. Their employees have expressed concerns and if the co-op did not take action and god forbid someone got hurt I can’t imagine how big the lawsuit would be.

    Reply
  8. Greg Rowe

    Yes, I followed the link Roberta provided and found the Co-op’s rationale to be logical and compelling. There is no reason why employees should have to deal with thieves and misbehaving individuals. They don’t get paid enough to do that. I agree that unhoused members of our community deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion, but behavior that is threatening (or perceived to be threatening) to customers/Co-op members should not be tolerated.

    Reply
  9. Pablo

    As a member I am very concerned that a lot of you seem to be missing the bigger picture here. The Co-op didn’t just decide overnight to bring in security; it’s because staff and members were facing real safety concerns. Theft, harassment, and escalating incidents put people at risk, and ignoring that reality doesn’t make it go away.
    Before jumping to conclusions, folks need to educate themselves on what’s actually been happening and why safety has become a priority. Security isn’t there to intimidate anyone; they’re there to protect staff, customers, and the community space we all value. If people truly care about the Co-op’s future, they should recognize that a safe and welcoming environment is the foundation of everything else.

    Reply
  10. Ron O

    It would be interesting to know if (even) security guards detain anyone, these days. Pretty sure they still can, but that are very careful about doing so due to potential legal ramifications.
    If anyone does “test” them, maybe I’ll get a chance to witness what (actually) happens.
    If I recall correctly, guards didn’t help much at one of the Safeway stores in San Francisco. When I was young, the atmosphere in (and around) that store was much different than it is today. (And yet, you have to pay a lot more for the “privilege” of living in that worse environment, these days.) I believe there’s also now “exit gates” which supposedly deter shoplifting.
    Maybe they need to put shoplifters and other n’er-do-wells in jail and keep them there until they’re not repeatedly causing problems for everyone else.

    Reply
  11. donna lemongello

    according to an e-mail I did receive, they are NOT armed. And they do not take a vote on each thing they do.

    Reply
  12. Keith

    It’s beginning to look like the pushback against the Co-op for hiring guards is just one big overreaction. It’s not a militarized-security-presence and logical people are seeing through the hyperbole.

    Reply

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