Regarding shopping cart retrieval, grocery stores are negligent in allowing their shopping carts to be easily removed from their property, not victims. It is not “onerous” to require them to be responsible. It is no different than a person leaving their car unlocked and being surprised to find it stolen. It is just common sense.

Stores in other regions and other countries have been using shopping cart theft prevention techniques for decades. If our local Santa Cruz Market can and does have a theft removal system, I’m quite sure all the big stores and smaller stores can figure it out. It’s not as if this is a new phenomenon that has never been encountered before.

Prevention is the key. In addition to stores taking responsibility to prevent the unlawful removal of carts in the first place, why not create a discounted personal cart program that would allow low-income residents to get their own fold-up cart that they can keep at home and reuse as needed? Shopping cart pick-up services are a Band-Aid approach that is wasteful of fossil fuels, creates needless air pollution and traffic, all for eye sores that have already been created. We are tired of shopping carts junking up our neighborhoods. Please deal with it now!

Login

Please note this login is to submit events or press releases. Use this page here to login for your Independent subscription

Not a member? Sign up here.