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Supporting Sensible Security at the Davis Food Co-op (Counter Petition – sign it!)

COOP CopRoberta Millstein is correct that the COOP should have timely sent an email, perhaps with the text from the sign out in front of the store (see below). 

However, the text with the petition calling to remove the guards drifts into anti-cop and demilitarization rhetoric that is far-far-left even for the average COOP shopper.  The statement "Security personnel in military-style equipment . . . creates the perception of shopping as a criminal act and makes the store feel like a space under occupation." is extreme. 

Below is link to a counter-petition, thanking COOP management for their leadership on this matter.  Importantly, this petition refers to the guard as a guard (not a militarized occupation), this petition makes no list of demands, and this petition makes no threat of a boycott.  Choose the petition that fits your thoughts/opinion and sign one of them.  The link to the text and to sign the petition are here:

https://chng.it/jMmWXHDtdh

ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES
AT THE DAVIS FOOD CO-OP

As many of you have noticed, the retail environment has changed significantly in the past year. Several staff members have expressed concern about safety and the increase in theft incidents in the store. Management has stepped up to become mitigators and although we are grateful for their leadership, it is not sustainable and our priority is safety. Many Members have also expressed their concerns about the changing environment. The overall sentiment is that the Co-op is losing its welcoming and safe atmosphere.

We have done our best to mitigate the increased activity, however, it is becoming a bigger task than we have capacity and at times, training for.
Therefore, after careful consideration, a third-party security company will be engaged to enhance the safety and security of staff, customers, and assets.

This change may feel different to some members who may not be aware of the situations that have been discreetly addressed. However, this partnership will help create a more secure environment for everyone.

The selected company is highly recommended by Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op. Additionally, the owner is a member of SNFC and is committed to incorporating the Davis Food Co-op's policies and values into how their team will engage with the community and handle situations involving theft or disturbances.

This measure is essential to ensure that the Co-op remains a safe and welcoming space for all members, staff, and shoppers. We appreciate your understanding and support as this important change is implemented.

Cooperatively,
Laura Sanchez, General Manager

Posted by

Alan C. Miller

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Comments

12 responses to “Supporting Sensible Security at the Davis Food Co-op (Counter Petition – sign it!)”

  1. Alan C. Miller

    I am not on social media, so appreciate if like-minded folks could sign and post the link to NextDoor, Facebook, etc.

    Reply
  2. South of Davis

    Alan there are 251 Comments on this issue on NextDoor including this one:
    Roberta Millstein Author 5d Central Davis
    Margaret
    I heard the concern was about theft. Are there reports of violence toward children at the Co-op as well? Does having security there really make it safer for children (including children of color?) Is the security even hired to protect people, or just merchandise?
    I was just talking to another friend who is like me and hates politics (and virtue signaling) and he challenged me to see if I could talk to a left of friend center for 5 minutes without them mentioning Trump, Race or Climate Change.

    Reply
  3. Ron O

    Signed it.
    Honestly, it seems like this issue is more of a sign of a somewhat dysfunctional city in/near the downtown area. Though truth be told, I’ve never felt particularly-unsafe in the area.
    I do believe that the city has changed over the years, and not for the better in some ways. Can’t help but wonder if the “Davis Do-Gooders” have something to do with that (in regard to the homeless population).
    I don’t recall seeing any guards at The Nugget, and it doesn’t have the same “run-down” feel as the area around the Co-Op.
    I probably won’t be shopping as much at the Co-Op in the future anyway, after Hibbert’s is torn down (and a massive apartment complex is built in its place). Pretty sure that’s going to create parking challenges in regard to shopping trips at Co-Op.

    Reply
  4. Alan C. Miller

    SOD quoted someone named Margaret, “Are there reports of violence toward children at the Co-op as well? Does having security there really make it safer for children (including children of color?)”
    Huh? Don’t children include children of color – automatically? I usually understand what people are implying even if I disagree – but . . .
    RO say, “Can’t help but wonder if the “Davis Do-Gooders” have something to do with that (in regard to the homeless population).”
    BINGO!

    Reply
  5. Tuvia ben Olam

    This is what I want in my email box etc. as soon as possible:
    Dear OWNERS,
    In democratic, holistic, hopeful, robust and transparent response to recent events concerning security and social safety at the Co-op, the Board has convened in an extraordinary session and decided to, as soon as possible, convene a public meeting process facilitated by a professional company which has no previous connection with Davis.
    We will contact you all as soon as possible with details.
    As an interim measure we will direct contracted security personnel to remain or next to a vehicle in the parking lot at some distance from the entrance and patio, with the main purpose to be available in an emergency, but to remain mostly out of sight.
    Sincerely, the general manager

    Reply
  6. South of Davis

    Ron wrote:

    Can’t help but wonder if the “Davis Do-Gooders” have something
    to do with that (in regard to the homeless population).
    Davis built the new “Homeless Hang out Spot” on G Street just next to the parking lot in front of the old (vacant for years now) ACE home store where they get a steady flow of cars to seal from. The CoOp has a food donation area near the Upper Crust patio. I think the city is hoping that the crazy homeless people will scare enough customers away so Upper Crust will close and the mall will go back to mostly vacant like it has been for decades. If anyone looked at the way Davis is run for decades they can’t say anythign but “The city of Davis loves the homeless and hates small business”…

    Reply
  7. Alan C. Miller

    “The city of Davis loves the homeless and hates small business”…
    Truer words were never spoken. I don’t think anyone at the City actually thinks “I hate small business”, it’s just they don’t seem to get it that the City’s job should be to make small business thrive “by any means necessary” (as the far-far-left likes to say), and that includes not having visible street people in downtown. This is doable (see Dixon, Winters), it just requires ignoring extremist “Homeless Advocates” and “Homeless Advocate Lawyers” who like to say “I feel safe downtown” just to spite the many small businesses who clearly do not feel safe.

    Reply
  8. Toni

    Signed it. It’s reasonable to have a security guard to protect the employees and the public who shop at the grocery store, coop or not. It sells food, we need food, and it has by far the best fresh produce, bar none in this town. We also need the store to stay in business! Just let us all have the opportunity to shop there and the staff who work there to be free from harassment and violence. I heard about one incident and I’m so glad I wasn’t in the store when it happened.

    Reply
  9. Naomi

    I am somewhat certain that Davis’s Nugget north has undercover guards confronting suspected shoplifters…can anyone else address this with evidence?
    But, of course, they are privately owned and can make decisions as they please.

    Reply
  10. South of Davis

    Alan, I really do think that every single person who works for the City of Davis hates small business just like they hate every single citizen in Davis who asks them to actually do anything bothering them as they spend their days doing as little as possible until they can retire younger than most of us with big pensions. There may be one person working for the city that does not hate small business, but I have yet to meet them (or heard about them). City workers like the homeless since they do not bother them and give them an excuse to expand programs and funnel cash to their friends. I don’t think that the city has any obligation to help any business “thrive” but they have an obligation to enforce laws on the books and they rarely enforce laws when the person breaking them is “homeless”. If a taxpaying business owner went down to city hall with an unlicensed pit bull and took a dump on the front steps while smoking crystal meth he would be arrested, but the city would not care if a homeless guy did it. If a business owner made a small change to an outside seating area without a permit there would be hell to pay, but nobody at the city cares that the homeless build structures without permits all over town with stolen pallets and lumber.

    Reply
  11. Pablo

    It is absolutely absurd that people are making such a huge deal out of having professional security at a high end organic grocery store like the Co Op. The reality is that security is there to protect employees and shoppers, yet the same people speaking out are acting irrational and unprofessional, ignoring facts and instead being overly dramatic.
    My wife and I have personally gone to the Co Op and met the security guards on multiple days. This is a very professional company. As a disabled man with a wife who often shops alone, I can tell you firsthand I feel much better knowing she has an added layer of safety at the store, even in Davis. Let us not forget that women have been sexually assaulted and attacked. It is insane that some would rather oppose protection than prioritize safety.
    At the end of the day, security is not about intimidation. It is about prevention, peace of mind, and ensuring the community feels safe while shopping.

    Reply
  12. Jacob B

    Hey so fyi the davis food coop uses a policy governance model. The board isn’t involved with operational decisions like this. All of the authority for decisions like this falls entirely on the GM.
    They have policies that mandate the GM ensure staff are protected from danger. Do I think they look like cops? Yes, and I don’t like it. However, I do think that this isn’t happening due to the profit motive, but out of response to staff complaint.
    https://davisfood.coop/board/

    Reply

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