Trader Joe’s Finally is Coming To Town

There was a time, I would have greeted this news with great enthusiasm. But two separate and frankly unrelated events have caused my enthusiasm to wane for Trader Joe’s.

It all started when Trader Joe’s determined that the only location in Davis where they would move would be the University Mall on the corner of Sycamore and Russell.

Now it turns out there were a few problems with that location. One was that there was another business already there–Radiological Associates of Sacramento (RAS).

The Davis City Council two years ago approved zoning to allow Centro (the owners of the mall who do not live in Davis) to negotiate with RAS to allow Trader Joe’s to move in. RAS refused and Centro sued them. The judge dismissed the suit. Eventually of course Trader Joe’s and Centro got its way and RAS is moving to a location on Covell Blvd.

So the big company gets its way, this was precisely the type of company that I had hoped Trader Joe’s was not. More on that in a second.

Second problem with that location is that they need to tear down the existing building and put in a new building.

Third problem with that location is parking which is virtually non-existent.

Fourth problem with that location is traffic congestion. Already the one-block area between Sycamore and Anderson on Russell is the most congested area in town. Now you are going to add a major new business that figures to be a huge draw. Do not drive by on Russell during the first few weeks of Trader Joe’s.

Fifth problem is one few have discussed–the crows. If you walk around the University Mall during fall and winter you would think you are in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. Look at the asphault, it is soaked in bird dropping. When it gets wet, the place is absolutely punget. You want to put a major business there?

And as if all this were not enough, it turns out that Trader Joe’s is not the progressive socially responsible business everyone has been… well crowing about.

As we’ve been reporting for a month now, there was a tragic death of 17-year-old farm worker who was pregnant, young Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez. Maria Isabel died from heat exposure after working long hours during the mid-May heat wave in the central valley. As importantly she died because the supervisor failed to get her proper medical attention. By the time she was seen by a doctor she had a core body temperature of 108 and slipped into a coma and then died.

The United Farm Workers report that Charles Shaw wines is the great supplier of the famed “Two Buck Chuck.”

Now Trader Joe’s is claiming there is no connection.

“Maria Jimenez was employed by an independent contractor, working in an independent vineyard. The vineyard supplies many wineries, but was not supplying grapes for Charles Shaw.”

However according to the United Farm Workers this is untrue.

“Trader Joe’s prides itself on serving the most progressive, health conscious consumers in our society. They should not evade the issue by pointing to contractor arrangements made by the winery to insulate itself from responsibility for exploitation of the workers. Trader Joe’s needs to take moral responsibility and help end that exploitation.”

The UFW site continues:

“The facts in this case are clear: Maria Isabel Jimenez died a tragic death while working on a farm–West Coast Farms–co-owned by Fred Franzia. Mr. Franzia is also the owner of Bronco Winery, which produces Charles Shaw wines. It is widely reported that 5-13 million cases of Charles Shaw wine is sold at Trader Joe’s stores per year.

We are not denying that Maria was paid through a farm labor contractor. As attorney Robert Perez who is representing Maria’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit told the Sacramento Bee, “The reason why corporate farms hire labor contractors is not to have to deal with farmworkers themselves and to shield themselves from liability.”

So not only is Trader Joe’s involved with the contractor, but they are shirking responsibility. This is very disappointing.

This week the Associated Press reported that Cal-OSHA slapped the farm labor contractor with the largest fine ever.

“The employer of a pregnant teenager who died of heat stroke after pruning grapevines for nine hours in hot weather was hit Wednesday with the highest fine ever issued to a California farming operation.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health fined Merced Farm Labor $262,700 for violating eight workplace safety rules. The agency said some of the violations were intentional. A criminal investigation also is under way.

State authorities believe 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez died on May 14 because her supervisors denied her access to shade and water as she pruned white wine grapevines for more than nine hours in nearly triple-digit heat at a Central Valley vineyard.”

Len Welsh chief of Cal-OSHA told the AP:

“There was virtually a complete absence of shade or water, two of the very few tools that employers and employees have to fight the heat… It’s just too bad we can’t undo the consequences of those violations.”

Cal-OSHA faulted the Merced Farm Labor company for not only failed to provide water but deliberately neglected to train workers and managers on how to stay safe while working in punishing temperatures. The company also willfully skirted preparing for a medical emergency. These violations are the most serious and each carry a $70,000 penalty–the maximum under the law. There is also a criminal investigation underway as well as a wrongful death suit filed on behalf of the family.

Yet closer to home, the mood seems jubilant that Trader Joe’s is coming to town.

The Davis Enterprise quotes Davis City Councilmember Stephen Souza:

“It’s really a great day to finally see that come to fruition. It seems that everyone has finally been made whole, and Davis will see the doors open to Trader Joe’s. It is fantastic news for all the folks that love Trader Joe’s and all those that will come to love Trader Joe’s.”

There was a day when I would have been one of them. But the long drawn out battle over location, Trader Joe’s refusal to move into the empty shopping center in West Davis or East Davis and decision to push out RAS, and now their refusal to take responsibility for the actions of their vendor, really sour my mouth. I will stick with the co-op when I want something different to eat.

—Doug Paul Davis reporting

Author

  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

    View all posts

Categories:

Land Use/Open Space

212 comments

  1. …so now RAS will have to negotiate with the mall owners as should have happened from the beginning. I wonder if the judge also awarded Centro their legal costs since RAS’ case was apparently dismissed. As for the crow problem, all of the small trees in the parking lot can be removed without difficulty(or environmental loss) as they offer little shade. An alternative shade covering(with solar panels?) for the lot that is not a roost for crows is undoubtedly in the mall’s future as Trader Joes dramatically ratchets up the retail traffic and profitability of University mall.

  2. …so now RAS will have to negotiate with the mall owners as should have happened from the beginning. I wonder if the judge also awarded Centro their legal costs since RAS’ case was apparently dismissed. As for the crow problem, all of the small trees in the parking lot can be removed without difficulty(or environmental loss) as they offer little shade. An alternative shade covering(with solar panels?) for the lot that is not a roost for crows is undoubtedly in the mall’s future as Trader Joes dramatically ratchets up the retail traffic and profitability of University mall.

  3. …so now RAS will have to negotiate with the mall owners as should have happened from the beginning. I wonder if the judge also awarded Centro their legal costs since RAS’ case was apparently dismissed. As for the crow problem, all of the small trees in the parking lot can be removed without difficulty(or environmental loss) as they offer little shade. An alternative shade covering(with solar panels?) for the lot that is not a roost for crows is undoubtedly in the mall’s future as Trader Joes dramatically ratchets up the retail traffic and profitability of University mall.

  4. …so now RAS will have to negotiate with the mall owners as should have happened from the beginning. I wonder if the judge also awarded Centro their legal costs since RAS’ case was apparently dismissed. As for the crow problem, all of the small trees in the parking lot can be removed without difficulty(or environmental loss) as they offer little shade. An alternative shade covering(with solar panels?) for the lot that is not a roost for crows is undoubtedly in the mall’s future as Trader Joes dramatically ratchets up the retail traffic and profitability of University mall.

  5. Are you also going to cut down all of the large trees on Russell where the bulk of the birds roost and then flyover the parking lot, dropping their stuff?

  6. Are you also going to cut down all of the large trees on Russell where the bulk of the birds roost and then flyover the parking lot, dropping their stuff?

  7. Are you also going to cut down all of the large trees on Russell where the bulk of the birds roost and then flyover the parking lot, dropping their stuff?

  8. Are you also going to cut down all of the large trees on Russell where the bulk of the birds roost and then flyover the parking lot, dropping their stuff?

  9. My recollection is that the bird-droppings are very largely concentrated under the parking lot trees themselves. As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?

  10. My recollection is that the bird-droppings are very largely concentrated under the parking lot trees themselves. As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?

  11. My recollection is that the bird-droppings are very largely concentrated under the parking lot trees themselves. As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?

  12. My recollection is that the bird-droppings are very largely concentrated under the parking lot trees themselves. As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?

  13. Last time I was there and looked it, it was pretty much spread evenly across the parking lot. Maybe I’ll get some pictures later in the week.

  14. Last time I was there and looked it, it was pretty much spread evenly across the parking lot. Maybe I’ll get some pictures later in the week.

  15. Last time I was there and looked it, it was pretty much spread evenly across the parking lot. Maybe I’ll get some pictures later in the week.

  16. Last time I was there and looked it, it was pretty much spread evenly across the parking lot. Maybe I’ll get some pictures later in the week.

  17. “RAS refused and Centro sued them. The judge dismissed the suit.”

    If the judge dismisses Centro’s suit, then RAS’ refusal to negotiate was upheld. How does this force RAS to get out of University mall?

  18. “RAS refused and Centro sued them. The judge dismissed the suit.”

    If the judge dismisses Centro’s suit, then RAS’ refusal to negotiate was upheld. How does this force RAS to get out of University mall?

  19. “RAS refused and Centro sued them. The judge dismissed the suit.”

    If the judge dismisses Centro’s suit, then RAS’ refusal to negotiate was upheld. How does this force RAS to get out of University mall?

  20. “RAS refused and Centro sued them. The judge dismissed the suit.”

    If the judge dismisses Centro’s suit, then RAS’ refusal to negotiate was upheld. How does this force RAS to get out of University mall?

  21. Eventually their contract would have been up for the lease and they would have had to leave anyway. At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses. Still, I think if you ask RAS, they didn’t want to move, they had no choice though.

  22. Eventually their contract would have been up for the lease and they would have had to leave anyway. At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses. Still, I think if you ask RAS, they didn’t want to move, they had no choice though.

  23. Eventually their contract would have been up for the lease and they would have had to leave anyway. At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses. Still, I think if you ask RAS, they didn’t want to move, they had no choice though.

  24. Eventually their contract would have been up for the lease and they would have had to leave anyway. At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses. Still, I think if you ask RAS, they didn’t want to move, they had no choice though.

  25. “At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses….”

    Mark.. you hit the nail on the head. This was always about RAS trying to get the best deal out of Centro for their inevitable move.

  26. “At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses….”

    Mark.. you hit the nail on the head. This was always about RAS trying to get the best deal out of Centro for their inevitable move.

  27. “At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses….”

    Mark.. you hit the nail on the head. This was always about RAS trying to get the best deal out of Centro for their inevitable move.

  28. “At least this way, they will be reimbursed for their moving expenses….”

    Mark.. you hit the nail on the head. This was always about RAS trying to get the best deal out of Centro for their inevitable move.

  29. I’ll agree in as far as the writing was on the wall that they would have to move. They had investigated millions into facility upgrades, so they were not eager to move, once Centro made it clear they had to, the tactic shifted to them trying to get the best possible deal.

  30. I’ll agree in as far as the writing was on the wall that they would have to move. They had investigated millions into facility upgrades, so they were not eager to move, once Centro made it clear they had to, the tactic shifted to them trying to get the best possible deal.

  31. I’ll agree in as far as the writing was on the wall that they would have to move. They had investigated millions into facility upgrades, so they were not eager to move, once Centro made it clear they had to, the tactic shifted to them trying to get the best possible deal.

  32. I’ll agree in as far as the writing was on the wall that they would have to move. They had investigated millions into facility upgrades, so they were not eager to move, once Centro made it clear they had to, the tactic shifted to them trying to get the best possible deal.

  33. “You want to put a major business there?….”

    This is ACTUALLY a strong argument for RAS moving OUT of University mall. Bird droppings are notorious sources of pathogens and RAS patients with chronic illnesses and impaired immune systems are placed at greater potential risk when tramping around in the lot droppings.

  34. “You want to put a major business there?….”

    This is ACTUALLY a strong argument for RAS moving OUT of University mall. Bird droppings are notorious sources of pathogens and RAS patients with chronic illnesses and impaired immune systems are placed at greater potential risk when tramping around in the lot droppings.

  35. “You want to put a major business there?….”

    This is ACTUALLY a strong argument for RAS moving OUT of University mall. Bird droppings are notorious sources of pathogens and RAS patients with chronic illnesses and impaired immune systems are placed at greater potential risk when tramping around in the lot droppings.

  36. “You want to put a major business there?….”

    This is ACTUALLY a strong argument for RAS moving OUT of University mall. Bird droppings are notorious sources of pathogens and RAS patients with chronic illnesses and impaired immune systems are placed at greater potential risk when tramping around in the lot droppings.

  37. Its such a long road from the contractor to the grower to the winery to the retailer that it is hard to condemn the project in Davis because of the tragic death of Maria Vasquez. You are correct to argue that Trader Joe’s should demand better from their suppliers but to expect this to rain on the parade here in Davis when most people can’t even make the connection seems to be a stretch. I’m glad you raise the issue as an educational exercize but condemnation of local officials for it goes a little too far.

  38. Its such a long road from the contractor to the grower to the winery to the retailer that it is hard to condemn the project in Davis because of the tragic death of Maria Vasquez. You are correct to argue that Trader Joe’s should demand better from their suppliers but to expect this to rain on the parade here in Davis when most people can’t even make the connection seems to be a stretch. I’m glad you raise the issue as an educational exercize but condemnation of local officials for it goes a little too far.

  39. Its such a long road from the contractor to the grower to the winery to the retailer that it is hard to condemn the project in Davis because of the tragic death of Maria Vasquez. You are correct to argue that Trader Joe’s should demand better from their suppliers but to expect this to rain on the parade here in Davis when most people can’t even make the connection seems to be a stretch. I’m glad you raise the issue as an educational exercize but condemnation of local officials for it goes a little too far.

  40. Its such a long road from the contractor to the grower to the winery to the retailer that it is hard to condemn the project in Davis because of the tragic death of Maria Vasquez. You are correct to argue that Trader Joe’s should demand better from their suppliers but to expect this to rain on the parade here in Davis when most people can’t even make the connection seems to be a stretch. I’m glad you raise the issue as an educational exercize but condemnation of local officials for it goes a little too far.

  41. More and more land-use politics in Davis resembles a giant game of Monopoly, with real properties being moved about on the board with seemingly as much ease as little plastic hotels and houses. Except when it comes to real consequences, in the case of Trader Joe’s:
    *Not nearly enough available parking; unless Trader Joe’s has designs on the apartment house parking lots north of the alley behind University Mall. Heck, if the powers that be can move RAS, they can move pesky student housing at a stroke.
    *Massive crow droppings, not to mention their raucous choruses serenading Trade Joe’s shoppers.
    *Lack of grocery stores to serve other equally deserving neighborhoods.

  42. More and more land-use politics in Davis resembles a giant game of Monopoly, with real properties being moved about on the board with seemingly as much ease as little plastic hotels and houses. Except when it comes to real consequences, in the case of Trader Joe’s:
    *Not nearly enough available parking; unless Trader Joe’s has designs on the apartment house parking lots north of the alley behind University Mall. Heck, if the powers that be can move RAS, they can move pesky student housing at a stroke.
    *Massive crow droppings, not to mention their raucous choruses serenading Trade Joe’s shoppers.
    *Lack of grocery stores to serve other equally deserving neighborhoods.

  43. More and more land-use politics in Davis resembles a giant game of Monopoly, with real properties being moved about on the board with seemingly as much ease as little plastic hotels and houses. Except when it comes to real consequences, in the case of Trader Joe’s:
    *Not nearly enough available parking; unless Trader Joe’s has designs on the apartment house parking lots north of the alley behind University Mall. Heck, if the powers that be can move RAS, they can move pesky student housing at a stroke.
    *Massive crow droppings, not to mention their raucous choruses serenading Trade Joe’s shoppers.
    *Lack of grocery stores to serve other equally deserving neighborhoods.

  44. More and more land-use politics in Davis resembles a giant game of Monopoly, with real properties being moved about on the board with seemingly as much ease as little plastic hotels and houses. Except when it comes to real consequences, in the case of Trader Joe’s:
    *Not nearly enough available parking; unless Trader Joe’s has designs on the apartment house parking lots north of the alley behind University Mall. Heck, if the powers that be can move RAS, they can move pesky student housing at a stroke.
    *Massive crow droppings, not to mention their raucous choruses serenading Trade Joe’s shoppers.
    *Lack of grocery stores to serve other equally deserving neighborhoods.

  45. Trader Joe’s knows very well the appropriate location in a market for its stores. They don’t want to be in West Davis because it is not a viable location for a grocer like TJs – that is not an unreasonable position.

    Regardless of DPD’s complaints, I will be very glad to shop at TJs when they arrive in Davis, and I expect the store to be very successful.

  46. Trader Joe’s knows very well the appropriate location in a market for its stores. They don’t want to be in West Davis because it is not a viable location for a grocer like TJs – that is not an unreasonable position.

    Regardless of DPD’s complaints, I will be very glad to shop at TJs when they arrive in Davis, and I expect the store to be very successful.

  47. Trader Joe’s knows very well the appropriate location in a market for its stores. They don’t want to be in West Davis because it is not a viable location for a grocer like TJs – that is not an unreasonable position.

    Regardless of DPD’s complaints, I will be very glad to shop at TJs when they arrive in Davis, and I expect the store to be very successful.

  48. Trader Joe’s knows very well the appropriate location in a market for its stores. They don’t want to be in West Davis because it is not a viable location for a grocer like TJs – that is not an unreasonable position.

    Regardless of DPD’s complaints, I will be very glad to shop at TJs when they arrive in Davis, and I expect the store to be very successful.

  49. “Eventually of course Trader Joe’s and Centro got its way and RAS is moving to a location on Covell Blvd.”

    Regardless of how it came about, I think the Covell location, near Sutter Davis Hospital, near a lot more senior housing and near a lot of other medical offices is a far better spot for RAS than the University Mall site.

    I don’t think the impact from Trader Joe’s on Russell will be as great as you suggest. That mall had far more traffic when it had Long’s and Safeway.

    I think the big upside of bringing in a business like TJ’s to the U-Mall will be to help the prospects of Gottschalk’s and Cost Plus. I don’t shop at those stores, much, but when I’ve been in them, they didn’t appear to be doing very much business. If people from all around Davis are now drawn to Trader Joe’s, some of them will shop at the mall stores.

    Finally, regarding the crows: it’s a problem, but mostly it’s a problem late at night, well after most people are done shopping. I have seen a lot of cars with guano on them. However, I don’t know anyone who’s been sh*t on by them in that parking lot. Further, the Grad draws a large crowd in the evening, and the crows don’t seem to be harming their business.

  50. “Eventually of course Trader Joe’s and Centro got its way and RAS is moving to a location on Covell Blvd.”

    Regardless of how it came about, I think the Covell location, near Sutter Davis Hospital, near a lot more senior housing and near a lot of other medical offices is a far better spot for RAS than the University Mall site.

    I don’t think the impact from Trader Joe’s on Russell will be as great as you suggest. That mall had far more traffic when it had Long’s and Safeway.

    I think the big upside of bringing in a business like TJ’s to the U-Mall will be to help the prospects of Gottschalk’s and Cost Plus. I don’t shop at those stores, much, but when I’ve been in them, they didn’t appear to be doing very much business. If people from all around Davis are now drawn to Trader Joe’s, some of them will shop at the mall stores.

    Finally, regarding the crows: it’s a problem, but mostly it’s a problem late at night, well after most people are done shopping. I have seen a lot of cars with guano on them. However, I don’t know anyone who’s been sh*t on by them in that parking lot. Further, the Grad draws a large crowd in the evening, and the crows don’t seem to be harming their business.

  51. “Eventually of course Trader Joe’s and Centro got its way and RAS is moving to a location on Covell Blvd.”

    Regardless of how it came about, I think the Covell location, near Sutter Davis Hospital, near a lot more senior housing and near a lot of other medical offices is a far better spot for RAS than the University Mall site.

    I don’t think the impact from Trader Joe’s on Russell will be as great as you suggest. That mall had far more traffic when it had Long’s and Safeway.

    I think the big upside of bringing in a business like TJ’s to the U-Mall will be to help the prospects of Gottschalk’s and Cost Plus. I don’t shop at those stores, much, but when I’ve been in them, they didn’t appear to be doing very much business. If people from all around Davis are now drawn to Trader Joe’s, some of them will shop at the mall stores.

    Finally, regarding the crows: it’s a problem, but mostly it’s a problem late at night, well after most people are done shopping. I have seen a lot of cars with guano on them. However, I don’t know anyone who’s been sh*t on by them in that parking lot. Further, the Grad draws a large crowd in the evening, and the crows don’t seem to be harming their business.

  52. “Eventually of course Trader Joe’s and Centro got its way and RAS is moving to a location on Covell Blvd.”

    Regardless of how it came about, I think the Covell location, near Sutter Davis Hospital, near a lot more senior housing and near a lot of other medical offices is a far better spot for RAS than the University Mall site.

    I don’t think the impact from Trader Joe’s on Russell will be as great as you suggest. That mall had far more traffic when it had Long’s and Safeway.

    I think the big upside of bringing in a business like TJ’s to the U-Mall will be to help the prospects of Gottschalk’s and Cost Plus. I don’t shop at those stores, much, but when I’ve been in them, they didn’t appear to be doing very much business. If people from all around Davis are now drawn to Trader Joe’s, some of them will shop at the mall stores.

    Finally, regarding the crows: it’s a problem, but mostly it’s a problem late at night, well after most people are done shopping. I have seen a lot of cars with guano on them. However, I don’t know anyone who’s been sh*t on by them in that parking lot. Further, the Grad draws a large crowd in the evening, and the crows don’t seem to be harming their business.

  53. “*Not nearly enough available parking;….”

    Let’s not forget that the University mall location for Trader Joes was to maximize pedistrian shoppers and bicyclers from the neighborhood. Trader Joe shopping is directed towards volumes that can be carried by hand or in a bike basket rather than filling up ones car trunk with groceries.

  54. “*Not nearly enough available parking;….”

    Let’s not forget that the University mall location for Trader Joes was to maximize pedistrian shoppers and bicyclers from the neighborhood. Trader Joe shopping is directed towards volumes that can be carried by hand or in a bike basket rather than filling up ones car trunk with groceries.

  55. “*Not nearly enough available parking;….”

    Let’s not forget that the University mall location for Trader Joes was to maximize pedistrian shoppers and bicyclers from the neighborhood. Trader Joe shopping is directed towards volumes that can be carried by hand or in a bike basket rather than filling up ones car trunk with groceries.

  56. “*Not nearly enough available parking;….”

    Let’s not forget that the University mall location for Trader Joes was to maximize pedistrian shoppers and bicyclers from the neighborhood. Trader Joe shopping is directed towards volumes that can be carried by hand or in a bike basket rather than filling up ones car trunk with groceries.

  57. Personally, I've always thought that a shopping mall was an inappropriate spot for RAS. Ideally, it should be close to medical offices or the hospital. Would we put a department store out behind the hospital? Most likely not. As long as RAS isn't getting screwed over in the move, I'm OK with it. I'm looking forward to not having to drive to Fulton & Marconi in Sacramento for my "Two Buck Chuck" fix.

  58. Personally, I've always thought that a shopping mall was an inappropriate spot for RAS. Ideally, it should be close to medical offices or the hospital. Would we put a department store out behind the hospital? Most likely not. As long as RAS isn't getting screwed over in the move, I'm OK with it. I'm looking forward to not having to drive to Fulton & Marconi in Sacramento for my "Two Buck Chuck" fix.

  59. Personally, I've always thought that a shopping mall was an inappropriate spot for RAS. Ideally, it should be close to medical offices or the hospital. Would we put a department store out behind the hospital? Most likely not. As long as RAS isn't getting screwed over in the move, I'm OK with it. I'm looking forward to not having to drive to Fulton & Marconi in Sacramento for my "Two Buck Chuck" fix.

  60. Personally, I've always thought that a shopping mall was an inappropriate spot for RAS. Ideally, it should be close to medical offices or the hospital. Would we put a department store out behind the hospital? Most likely not. As long as RAS isn't getting screwed over in the move, I'm OK with it. I'm looking forward to not having to drive to Fulton & Marconi in Sacramento for my "Two Buck Chuck" fix.

  61. I have never been a fan of Trader Joes or their products. I don’t like the approach they have taken about coming to Davis and strongly disliked the whole ouster of RAS to get them here…

    That being said, if RAS has been compensated to move, and TJ wants to locate there, good luck to them both.

    The comment about Davis being a monopoly board is too true. But there is something reassuring about a finite number of spaces rather than being Elk Grove or Natomas where the board just extends forever!

  62. I have never been a fan of Trader Joes or their products. I don’t like the approach they have taken about coming to Davis and strongly disliked the whole ouster of RAS to get them here…

    That being said, if RAS has been compensated to move, and TJ wants to locate there, good luck to them both.

    The comment about Davis being a monopoly board is too true. But there is something reassuring about a finite number of spaces rather than being Elk Grove or Natomas where the board just extends forever!

  63. I have never been a fan of Trader Joes or their products. I don’t like the approach they have taken about coming to Davis and strongly disliked the whole ouster of RAS to get them here…

    That being said, if RAS has been compensated to move, and TJ wants to locate there, good luck to them both.

    The comment about Davis being a monopoly board is too true. But there is something reassuring about a finite number of spaces rather than being Elk Grove or Natomas where the board just extends forever!

  64. I have never been a fan of Trader Joes or their products. I don’t like the approach they have taken about coming to Davis and strongly disliked the whole ouster of RAS to get them here…

    That being said, if RAS has been compensated to move, and TJ wants to locate there, good luck to them both.

    The comment about Davis being a monopoly board is too true. But there is something reassuring about a finite number of spaces rather than being Elk Grove or Natomas where the board just extends forever!

  65. “As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?”

    They are crows.

    The huge numbers of crows and starlings in Davis (and now growing populations in LA and San Diego) is a reflection of the adaptability of these birds as opposed to other local, more specialized species that were unable to adapt to human development.

    The poop all over everything is annoying, but rather than seeing the Crow rush hour each day as an infestation, it may help some people whose sympathies lie towards animals to know that the huge clouds of crows in the sky actually are more reminiscent of California and the Sacramento River Valley before human interference than if those flocks were not there.

    Of course back then, the flocks were of all the cutesy little different species that you’d see in Audobon books, but, despite their ominous use as an image in many cultures, at least the presence of Crows does bring back some of the wildness that has been missing since those flocks were wiped out years ago.

    Also, if you read a bit about crows, they’re quite interesting! They have a sophisticated social structure very similar to wolves, they are omnivorous and eat much the same things as humans and wolves, they inherit territory from parents, they help parents raise younger siblings and defend the family territory, they find gathering food and reproducing simpler in urban areas but grow stronger, larger and healthier in the country.. the list goes on!

    Like dogs, their similarities to humans make them well suited to thrive around human-affected environments. If, way back when, crows had been taken in as pets rather than parrots (a group of species which are much more “prey” type and not as adaptable to human environments) I actually think they would have become one of the more common domesticated animals.

    Sorry to hijack the thread DPD!

  66. “As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?”

    They are crows.

    The huge numbers of crows and starlings in Davis (and now growing populations in LA and San Diego) is a reflection of the adaptability of these birds as opposed to other local, more specialized species that were unable to adapt to human development.

    The poop all over everything is annoying, but rather than seeing the Crow rush hour each day as an infestation, it may help some people whose sympathies lie towards animals to know that the huge clouds of crows in the sky actually are more reminiscent of California and the Sacramento River Valley before human interference than if those flocks were not there.

    Of course back then, the flocks were of all the cutesy little different species that you’d see in Audobon books, but, despite their ominous use as an image in many cultures, at least the presence of Crows does bring back some of the wildness that has been missing since those flocks were wiped out years ago.

    Also, if you read a bit about crows, they’re quite interesting! They have a sophisticated social structure very similar to wolves, they are omnivorous and eat much the same things as humans and wolves, they inherit territory from parents, they help parents raise younger siblings and defend the family territory, they find gathering food and reproducing simpler in urban areas but grow stronger, larger and healthier in the country.. the list goes on!

    Like dogs, their similarities to humans make them well suited to thrive around human-affected environments. If, way back when, crows had been taken in as pets rather than parrots (a group of species which are much more “prey” type and not as adaptable to human environments) I actually think they would have become one of the more common domesticated animals.

    Sorry to hijack the thread DPD!

  67. “As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?”

    They are crows.

    The huge numbers of crows and starlings in Davis (and now growing populations in LA and San Diego) is a reflection of the adaptability of these birds as opposed to other local, more specialized species that were unable to adapt to human development.

    The poop all over everything is annoying, but rather than seeing the Crow rush hour each day as an infestation, it may help some people whose sympathies lie towards animals to know that the huge clouds of crows in the sky actually are more reminiscent of California and the Sacramento River Valley before human interference than if those flocks were not there.

    Of course back then, the flocks were of all the cutesy little different species that you’d see in Audobon books, but, despite their ominous use as an image in many cultures, at least the presence of Crows does bring back some of the wildness that has been missing since those flocks were wiped out years ago.

    Also, if you read a bit about crows, they’re quite interesting! They have a sophisticated social structure very similar to wolves, they are omnivorous and eat much the same things as humans and wolves, they inherit territory from parents, they help parents raise younger siblings and defend the family territory, they find gathering food and reproducing simpler in urban areas but grow stronger, larger and healthier in the country.. the list goes on!

    Like dogs, their similarities to humans make them well suited to thrive around human-affected environments. If, way back when, crows had been taken in as pets rather than parrots (a group of species which are much more “prey” type and not as adaptable to human environments) I actually think they would have become one of the more common domesticated animals.

    Sorry to hijack the thread DPD!

  68. “As an aside, I don’t think that the culprits are crows which are large and would have some difficulty roosting in these smaller trees but rather starlings. Any ornithologists out there?”

    They are crows.

    The huge numbers of crows and starlings in Davis (and now growing populations in LA and San Diego) is a reflection of the adaptability of these birds as opposed to other local, more specialized species that were unable to adapt to human development.

    The poop all over everything is annoying, but rather than seeing the Crow rush hour each day as an infestation, it may help some people whose sympathies lie towards animals to know that the huge clouds of crows in the sky actually are more reminiscent of California and the Sacramento River Valley before human interference than if those flocks were not there.

    Of course back then, the flocks were of all the cutesy little different species that you’d see in Audobon books, but, despite their ominous use as an image in many cultures, at least the presence of Crows does bring back some of the wildness that has been missing since those flocks were wiped out years ago.

    Also, if you read a bit about crows, they’re quite interesting! They have a sophisticated social structure very similar to wolves, they are omnivorous and eat much the same things as humans and wolves, they inherit territory from parents, they help parents raise younger siblings and defend the family territory, they find gathering food and reproducing simpler in urban areas but grow stronger, larger and healthier in the country.. the list goes on!

    Like dogs, their similarities to humans make them well suited to thrive around human-affected environments. If, way back when, crows had been taken in as pets rather than parrots (a group of species which are much more “prey” type and not as adaptable to human environments) I actually think they would have become one of the more common domesticated animals.

    Sorry to hijack the thread DPD!

  69. Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day. When walking to the university from the Sycamore area I often took an umbrella or avoided walking through U mall altogether because of the terrible smell. I just avoid it except maybe once or twice per year.

    As for Trader Joe’s, I won’t shop there. I’m a member of the Co-op and would rather shop there than give my money to some corporate giant that will not take responsibility for it’s vendors. Four farmworkers have now did. I value their lives more than TJ’s bottle of Two Buck Chuck. Co-op sells wine, so does Nugget for that matter. Tj’s will not get my $$$.

  70. Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day. When walking to the university from the Sycamore area I often took an umbrella or avoided walking through U mall altogether because of the terrible smell. I just avoid it except maybe once or twice per year.

    As for Trader Joe’s, I won’t shop there. I’m a member of the Co-op and would rather shop there than give my money to some corporate giant that will not take responsibility for it’s vendors. Four farmworkers have now did. I value their lives more than TJ’s bottle of Two Buck Chuck. Co-op sells wine, so does Nugget for that matter. Tj’s will not get my $$$.

  71. Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day. When walking to the university from the Sycamore area I often took an umbrella or avoided walking through U mall altogether because of the terrible smell. I just avoid it except maybe once or twice per year.

    As for Trader Joe’s, I won’t shop there. I’m a member of the Co-op and would rather shop there than give my money to some corporate giant that will not take responsibility for it’s vendors. Four farmworkers have now did. I value their lives more than TJ’s bottle of Two Buck Chuck. Co-op sells wine, so does Nugget for that matter. Tj’s will not get my $$$.

  72. Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day. When walking to the university from the Sycamore area I often took an umbrella or avoided walking through U mall altogether because of the terrible smell. I just avoid it except maybe once or twice per year.

    As for Trader Joe’s, I won’t shop there. I’m a member of the Co-op and would rather shop there than give my money to some corporate giant that will not take responsibility for it’s vendors. Four farmworkers have now did. I value their lives more than TJ’s bottle of Two Buck Chuck. Co-op sells wine, so does Nugget for that matter. Tj’s will not get my $$$.

  73. Mr. greenwald,
    It is good to have a TJ's here in Davis. The CO-OP could use the competition. As for the Crows, they were here before you and will be here long after anyone reading this is gone.

    Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker. You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem.

    When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM . And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's.

  74. Mr. greenwald,
    It is good to have a TJ's here in Davis. The CO-OP could use the competition. As for the Crows, they were here before you and will be here long after anyone reading this is gone.

    Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker. You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem.

    When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM . And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's.

  75. Mr. greenwald,
    It is good to have a TJ's here in Davis. The CO-OP could use the competition. As for the Crows, they were here before you and will be here long after anyone reading this is gone.

    Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker. You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem.

    When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM . And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's.

  76. Mr. greenwald,
    It is good to have a TJ's here in Davis. The CO-OP could use the competition. As for the Crows, they were here before you and will be here long after anyone reading this is gone.

    Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker. You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem.

    When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM . And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's.

  77. Mr. Anonymous who likes to call Mr Greenwald but never identifies himself:

    I appreciate your comments.

    I think Trader Joe's has a moral responsibility to see that their products are not being produced by companies who exploit and abuse workers. Much as I have a problem with companies that sell clothing produced by third world child labor in sweat shop conditions.

    "Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker."

    Well see that's not true. They are perpetuating the problem by not responding when problems arise. They are in the position to stop it, and have it. These companies that practice this kind of business are enabled by companies like Trader Joe's that continue to purchase their products. These companies could not continue these practices if companies like Trader Joe's said stop or we will no longer do business with you. So yes, they have everything to do with the death of the farm laborer.

    "You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem."

    Nice language. Unfortunately in many cases a governing body or a large company are to blame. That is the case here.

    "When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM "

    When you start your own blog, you can petition for open carry laws. That's not an issue that I'm that interested in.

    "And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's."

    I have no doubt that many people will shop at Trader Joe's and that it will be very successful in Davis. However, burying your head in the sand does not make problems go away. I believe that the death of the 17 year old worker and the complete lack of response by that company to her critical health condition is one of the most appalling things I have seen in this country and I will be damned if I am not going to use the opening of Trader Joe's to attempt to educate the public about such atrocities in this country. Trader Joe's has every power that I do not have to stop it, and yet they have refused to do so. I think that is immoral. Why don't you?

  78. Mr. Anonymous who likes to call Mr Greenwald but never identifies himself:

    I appreciate your comments.

    I think Trader Joe's has a moral responsibility to see that their products are not being produced by companies who exploit and abuse workers. Much as I have a problem with companies that sell clothing produced by third world child labor in sweat shop conditions.

    "Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker."

    Well see that's not true. They are perpetuating the problem by not responding when problems arise. They are in the position to stop it, and have it. These companies that practice this kind of business are enabled by companies like Trader Joe's that continue to purchase their products. These companies could not continue these practices if companies like Trader Joe's said stop or we will no longer do business with you. So yes, they have everything to do with the death of the farm laborer.

    "You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem."

    Nice language. Unfortunately in many cases a governing body or a large company are to blame. That is the case here.

    "When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM "

    When you start your own blog, you can petition for open carry laws. That's not an issue that I'm that interested in.

    "And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's."

    I have no doubt that many people will shop at Trader Joe's and that it will be very successful in Davis. However, burying your head in the sand does not make problems go away. I believe that the death of the 17 year old worker and the complete lack of response by that company to her critical health condition is one of the most appalling things I have seen in this country and I will be damned if I am not going to use the opening of Trader Joe's to attempt to educate the public about such atrocities in this country. Trader Joe's has every power that I do not have to stop it, and yet they have refused to do so. I think that is immoral. Why don't you?

  79. Mr. Anonymous who likes to call Mr Greenwald but never identifies himself:

    I appreciate your comments.

    I think Trader Joe's has a moral responsibility to see that their products are not being produced by companies who exploit and abuse workers. Much as I have a problem with companies that sell clothing produced by third world child labor in sweat shop conditions.

    "Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker."

    Well see that's not true. They are perpetuating the problem by not responding when problems arise. They are in the position to stop it, and have it. These companies that practice this kind of business are enabled by companies like Trader Joe's that continue to purchase their products. These companies could not continue these practices if companies like Trader Joe's said stop or we will no longer do business with you. So yes, they have everything to do with the death of the farm laborer.

    "You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem."

    Nice language. Unfortunately in many cases a governing body or a large company are to blame. That is the case here.

    "When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM "

    When you start your own blog, you can petition for open carry laws. That's not an issue that I'm that interested in.

    "And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's."

    I have no doubt that many people will shop at Trader Joe's and that it will be very successful in Davis. However, burying your head in the sand does not make problems go away. I believe that the death of the 17 year old worker and the complete lack of response by that company to her critical health condition is one of the most appalling things I have seen in this country and I will be damned if I am not going to use the opening of Trader Joe's to attempt to educate the public about such atrocities in this country. Trader Joe's has every power that I do not have to stop it, and yet they have refused to do so. I think that is immoral. Why don't you?

  80. Mr. Anonymous who likes to call Mr Greenwald but never identifies himself:

    I appreciate your comments.

    I think Trader Joe's has a moral responsibility to see that their products are not being produced by companies who exploit and abuse workers. Much as I have a problem with companies that sell clothing produced by third world child labor in sweat shop conditions.

    "Trader Joe's had nothing to do with the death of any farm worker."

    Well see that's not true. They are perpetuating the problem by not responding when problems arise. They are in the position to stop it, and have it. These companies that practice this kind of business are enabled by companies like Trader Joe's that continue to purchase their products. These companies could not continue these practices if companies like Trader Joe's said stop or we will no longer do business with you. So yes, they have everything to do with the death of the farm laborer.

    "You and some of the @#$%&'s that read and write here always want to blame some governing body or large company for a problem."

    Nice language. Unfortunately in many cases a governing body or a large company are to blame. That is the case here.

    "When you get through reading this look up a real problem at, OPENCARRY.COM "

    When you start your own blog, you can petition for open carry laws. That's not an issue that I'm that interested in.

    "And if you have'nt guessed already, myself and a whole bunch of other people will be shopping at TJ's."

    I have no doubt that many people will shop at Trader Joe's and that it will be very successful in Davis. However, burying your head in the sand does not make problems go away. I believe that the death of the 17 year old worker and the complete lack of response by that company to her critical health condition is one of the most appalling things I have seen in this country and I will be damned if I am not going to use the opening of Trader Joe's to attempt to educate the public about such atrocities in this country. Trader Joe's has every power that I do not have to stop it, and yet they have refused to do so. I think that is immoral. Why don't you?

  81. DPD,

    I don’t and won’t shop at Traitor Joe’s either. The bird poop droppings all over University Mall doesn’t appeal to me or my friends, and like you, we don’t like the business practices of TJ’s. I don’t shop at the Gap for the same reasons.

    I shop at the Co-op and will continue to do so. I know where the food and wine come from at the Co-op and will encourage others to shop there and not at TJ’s. Thank you for writing this article. I’m glad to see that some media outlet around here has some sense of right and wrong.

    It seems like Davis is becoming like another Anytown, USA. I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?

  82. DPD,

    I don’t and won’t shop at Traitor Joe’s either. The bird poop droppings all over University Mall doesn’t appeal to me or my friends, and like you, we don’t like the business practices of TJ’s. I don’t shop at the Gap for the same reasons.

    I shop at the Co-op and will continue to do so. I know where the food and wine come from at the Co-op and will encourage others to shop there and not at TJ’s. Thank you for writing this article. I’m glad to see that some media outlet around here has some sense of right and wrong.

    It seems like Davis is becoming like another Anytown, USA. I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?

  83. DPD,

    I don’t and won’t shop at Traitor Joe’s either. The bird poop droppings all over University Mall doesn’t appeal to me or my friends, and like you, we don’t like the business practices of TJ’s. I don’t shop at the Gap for the same reasons.

    I shop at the Co-op and will continue to do so. I know where the food and wine come from at the Co-op and will encourage others to shop there and not at TJ’s. Thank you for writing this article. I’m glad to see that some media outlet around here has some sense of right and wrong.

    It seems like Davis is becoming like another Anytown, USA. I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?

  84. DPD,

    I don’t and won’t shop at Traitor Joe’s either. The bird poop droppings all over University Mall doesn’t appeal to me or my friends, and like you, we don’t like the business practices of TJ’s. I don’t shop at the Gap for the same reasons.

    I shop at the Co-op and will continue to do so. I know where the food and wine come from at the Co-op and will encourage others to shop there and not at TJ’s. Thank you for writing this article. I’m glad to see that some media outlet around here has some sense of right and wrong.

    It seems like Davis is becoming like another Anytown, USA. I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?

  85. Hey David – I think it’s hillarious that these critics of yours are these nuts that just can’t stay away from your blog. They like to attack you intead of debating the issues, but they just can’t resist logging on and commenting.

    It says a lot about your good work. Keep it up David!

  86. Hey David – I think it’s hillarious that these critics of yours are these nuts that just can’t stay away from your blog. They like to attack you intead of debating the issues, but they just can’t resist logging on and commenting.

    It says a lot about your good work. Keep it up David!

  87. Hey David – I think it’s hillarious that these critics of yours are these nuts that just can’t stay away from your blog. They like to attack you intead of debating the issues, but they just can’t resist logging on and commenting.

    It says a lot about your good work. Keep it up David!

  88. Hey David – I think it’s hillarious that these critics of yours are these nuts that just can’t stay away from your blog. They like to attack you intead of debating the issues, but they just can’t resist logging on and commenting.

    It says a lot about your good work. Keep it up David!

  89. If your really concerned about the available parking for automobiles. I say there is plenty of parking. Just kick out all the illegal overflow parking at the North lot that has for decades come from nearby apartment residents etc. And while your at it take the panhandler dude with you to the CO-OP.

  90. If your really concerned about the available parking for automobiles. I say there is plenty of parking. Just kick out all the illegal overflow parking at the North lot that has for decades come from nearby apartment residents etc. And while your at it take the panhandler dude with you to the CO-OP.

  91. If your really concerned about the available parking for automobiles. I say there is plenty of parking. Just kick out all the illegal overflow parking at the North lot that has for decades come from nearby apartment residents etc. And while your at it take the panhandler dude with you to the CO-OP.

  92. If your really concerned about the available parking for automobiles. I say there is plenty of parking. Just kick out all the illegal overflow parking at the North lot that has for decades come from nearby apartment residents etc. And while your at it take the panhandler dude with you to the CO-OP.

  93. Is there really a lot of overflow, because whenever I have parked at the lot for what was perceived as too long, I got a nasty note from private security company warning me this was for customers only?

  94. Is there really a lot of overflow, because whenever I have parked at the lot for what was perceived as too long, I got a nasty note from private security company warning me this was for customers only?

  95. Is there really a lot of overflow, because whenever I have parked at the lot for what was perceived as too long, I got a nasty note from private security company warning me this was for customers only?

  96. Is there really a lot of overflow, because whenever I have parked at the lot for what was perceived as too long, I got a nasty note from private security company warning me this was for customers only?

  97. “I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?”
    Well, in 2007 there was speculation that Wal-Mart was going to buy…Gottschalks!

  98. “I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?”
    Well, in 2007 there was speculation that Wal-Mart was going to buy…Gottschalks!

  99. “I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?”
    Well, in 2007 there was speculation that Wal-Mart was going to buy…Gottschalks!

  100. “I wonder how long before WalMart shows up in town?”
    Well, in 2007 there was speculation that Wal-Mart was going to buy…Gottschalks!

  101. Well, I’m really going to tick off bloggers here, and tell you I have not shopped at Davis Co-op for years, because of the unsavory tactics they tried to use against having a grocery store in Westgate Plaza when it first came into being. Nor do I shop at Avid Reader, because of their nasty campaign against Border’s Books. For similar reasons I will not be shopping at Traitor Joe’s. I don’t believe in supporting businesses that I know used underhanded tactics to destroy competition or oust a competitor.

    To add insult to injury, the location of Traitor Joe’s is going to be a traffic nightmare. That location has to be the worst possible choice FOR DAVISITES. Color me disgusted.

  102. Well, I’m really going to tick off bloggers here, and tell you I have not shopped at Davis Co-op for years, because of the unsavory tactics they tried to use against having a grocery store in Westgate Plaza when it first came into being. Nor do I shop at Avid Reader, because of their nasty campaign against Border’s Books. For similar reasons I will not be shopping at Traitor Joe’s. I don’t believe in supporting businesses that I know used underhanded tactics to destroy competition or oust a competitor.

    To add insult to injury, the location of Traitor Joe’s is going to be a traffic nightmare. That location has to be the worst possible choice FOR DAVISITES. Color me disgusted.

  103. Well, I’m really going to tick off bloggers here, and tell you I have not shopped at Davis Co-op for years, because of the unsavory tactics they tried to use against having a grocery store in Westgate Plaza when it first came into being. Nor do I shop at Avid Reader, because of their nasty campaign against Border’s Books. For similar reasons I will not be shopping at Traitor Joe’s. I don’t believe in supporting businesses that I know used underhanded tactics to destroy competition or oust a competitor.

    To add insult to injury, the location of Traitor Joe’s is going to be a traffic nightmare. That location has to be the worst possible choice FOR DAVISITES. Color me disgusted.

  104. Well, I’m really going to tick off bloggers here, and tell you I have not shopped at Davis Co-op for years, because of the unsavory tactics they tried to use against having a grocery store in Westgate Plaza when it first came into being. Nor do I shop at Avid Reader, because of their nasty campaign against Border’s Books. For similar reasons I will not be shopping at Traitor Joe’s. I don’t believe in supporting businesses that I know used underhanded tactics to destroy competition or oust a competitor.

    To add insult to injury, the location of Traitor Joe’s is going to be a traffic nightmare. That location has to be the worst possible choice FOR DAVISITES. Color me disgusted.

  105. Maybe if they sold 3 buck chuck they wouldn’t need to push such poor working conditions all the way down the chain. Some of you apologists remind me of the Dylan song “Who killed Davy Moore.” ‘
    where the promoter, sports writer, referee and others explain why they are not responsible for the boxer’s death.

    While Trader Joe’s is not directly responsible for the death of that young farmworker and her fetus it does make you wonder if the economic pressures of competition created a situation that the company needs to address. I don’t want to let them off the hook I just want to keep the events in Davis in perspective. I look forward to shopping at Traders Joes in Davis I just don’t think I will be buying two buck chuck from them.

  106. Maybe if they sold 3 buck chuck they wouldn’t need to push such poor working conditions all the way down the chain. Some of you apologists remind me of the Dylan song “Who killed Davy Moore.” ‘
    where the promoter, sports writer, referee and others explain why they are not responsible for the boxer’s death.

    While Trader Joe’s is not directly responsible for the death of that young farmworker and her fetus it does make you wonder if the economic pressures of competition created a situation that the company needs to address. I don’t want to let them off the hook I just want to keep the events in Davis in perspective. I look forward to shopping at Traders Joes in Davis I just don’t think I will be buying two buck chuck from them.

  107. Maybe if they sold 3 buck chuck they wouldn’t need to push such poor working conditions all the way down the chain. Some of you apologists remind me of the Dylan song “Who killed Davy Moore.” ‘
    where the promoter, sports writer, referee and others explain why they are not responsible for the boxer’s death.

    While Trader Joe’s is not directly responsible for the death of that young farmworker and her fetus it does make you wonder if the economic pressures of competition created a situation that the company needs to address. I don’t want to let them off the hook I just want to keep the events in Davis in perspective. I look forward to shopping at Traders Joes in Davis I just don’t think I will be buying two buck chuck from them.

  108. Maybe if they sold 3 buck chuck they wouldn’t need to push such poor working conditions all the way down the chain. Some of you apologists remind me of the Dylan song “Who killed Davy Moore.” ‘
    where the promoter, sports writer, referee and others explain why they are not responsible for the boxer’s death.

    While Trader Joe’s is not directly responsible for the death of that young farmworker and her fetus it does make you wonder if the economic pressures of competition created a situation that the company needs to address. I don’t want to let them off the hook I just want to keep the events in Davis in perspective. I look forward to shopping at Traders Joes in Davis I just don’t think I will be buying two buck chuck from them.

  109. Add to that point, in this case, it wouldn’t have even taken a large expenditure by the company–simple things like access to water, period breaks, access to shade would have made a huge difference. As would a more immediate response to get that girl to proper medical attention. I can only imagine what would have happened had they just taken her to the hospital rather than sticking her in the hot van and waiting for all of the other workers to board before they finally took her not to the hospital but to a drug store to get some rubbing alcohol.

  110. Add to that point, in this case, it wouldn’t have even taken a large expenditure by the company–simple things like access to water, period breaks, access to shade would have made a huge difference. As would a more immediate response to get that girl to proper medical attention. I can only imagine what would have happened had they just taken her to the hospital rather than sticking her in the hot van and waiting for all of the other workers to board before they finally took her not to the hospital but to a drug store to get some rubbing alcohol.

  111. Add to that point, in this case, it wouldn’t have even taken a large expenditure by the company–simple things like access to water, period breaks, access to shade would have made a huge difference. As would a more immediate response to get that girl to proper medical attention. I can only imagine what would have happened had they just taken her to the hospital rather than sticking her in the hot van and waiting for all of the other workers to board before they finally took her not to the hospital but to a drug store to get some rubbing alcohol.

  112. Add to that point, in this case, it wouldn’t have even taken a large expenditure by the company–simple things like access to water, period breaks, access to shade would have made a huge difference. As would a more immediate response to get that girl to proper medical attention. I can only imagine what would have happened had they just taken her to the hospital rather than sticking her in the hot van and waiting for all of the other workers to board before they finally took her not to the hospital but to a drug store to get some rubbing alcohol.

  113. “Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day.”

    True enough. However, if you are familiar with the habits of most Davis crows, you will know that around 4 am to 6 am (depending on the time of year) they wake up, make a huge ruckus, and fly out of their roosts into the farmlands around town, where they spend all the daylight hours. (I was bicycling this morning on Tremont Road south of Davis, around 8:45 am, and saw maybe 5,000 crows and magpies feasting.) As such, you will hardly see a crow in the mall during the daylight hours — they are busy doing their crow jobs.

    Of course, there are some who stay behind and work the mall, presumably as garbage collectors. But the great majority is gone all day, and thus your chances of getting rained on by guano in the daylight hours is slim. I don’t believe that I have ever once, for example, returned to my car* in that parking lot in the daytime and found it splatted upon.

    * I live but a half a mile from the U-Mall, and as such I rarely would drive there, save when I am gassing up at ARCO.

  114. “Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day.”

    True enough. However, if you are familiar with the habits of most Davis crows, you will know that around 4 am to 6 am (depending on the time of year) they wake up, make a huge ruckus, and fly out of their roosts into the farmlands around town, where they spend all the daylight hours. (I was bicycling this morning on Tremont Road south of Davis, around 8:45 am, and saw maybe 5,000 crows and magpies feasting.) As such, you will hardly see a crow in the mall during the daylight hours — they are busy doing their crow jobs.

    Of course, there are some who stay behind and work the mall, presumably as garbage collectors. But the great majority is gone all day, and thus your chances of getting rained on by guano in the daylight hours is slim. I don’t believe that I have ever once, for example, returned to my car* in that parking lot in the daytime and found it splatted upon.

    * I live but a half a mile from the U-Mall, and as such I rarely would drive there, save when I am gassing up at ARCO.

  115. “Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day.”

    True enough. However, if you are familiar with the habits of most Davis crows, you will know that around 4 am to 6 am (depending on the time of year) they wake up, make a huge ruckus, and fly out of their roosts into the farmlands around town, where they spend all the daylight hours. (I was bicycling this morning on Tremont Road south of Davis, around 8:45 am, and saw maybe 5,000 crows and magpies feasting.) As such, you will hardly see a crow in the mall during the daylight hours — they are busy doing their crow jobs.

    Of course, there are some who stay behind and work the mall, presumably as garbage collectors. But the great majority is gone all day, and thus your chances of getting rained on by guano in the daylight hours is slim. I don’t believe that I have ever once, for example, returned to my car* in that parking lot in the daytime and found it splatted upon.

    * I live but a half a mile from the U-Mall, and as such I rarely would drive there, save when I am gassing up at ARCO.

  116. “Rich – The bird sh-t droppings all over University Mall doesn’t just happen at night. Just like humans birds have to go at all hours throughout the day.”

    True enough. However, if you are familiar with the habits of most Davis crows, you will know that around 4 am to 6 am (depending on the time of year) they wake up, make a huge ruckus, and fly out of their roosts into the farmlands around town, where they spend all the daylight hours. (I was bicycling this morning on Tremont Road south of Davis, around 8:45 am, and saw maybe 5,000 crows and magpies feasting.) As such, you will hardly see a crow in the mall during the daylight hours — they are busy doing their crow jobs.

    Of course, there are some who stay behind and work the mall, presumably as garbage collectors. But the great majority is gone all day, and thus your chances of getting rained on by guano in the daylight hours is slim. I don’t believe that I have ever once, for example, returned to my car* in that parking lot in the daytime and found it splatted upon.

    * I live but a half a mile from the U-Mall, and as such I rarely would drive there, save when I am gassing up at ARCO.

  117. Another Co-op in West Davis is not realistic, but West Davis does need a store. I belong to the Coop and it is member run and owned. TJ’s is not. I prefer to buy food from places that are local.

    TJ’s is one of these places that attempts to give the impression of a socially responsible business and it is not. Davis Food Coop will keep my business.

    Can you imagine what the wine and produce at TJs is like if they don’t provide bathrooms, soap, water, and paper towels to the workers that pick the food? It is inhumane and not good hygiene!

  118. Another Co-op in West Davis is not realistic, but West Davis does need a store. I belong to the Coop and it is member run and owned. TJ’s is not. I prefer to buy food from places that are local.

    TJ’s is one of these places that attempts to give the impression of a socially responsible business and it is not. Davis Food Coop will keep my business.

    Can you imagine what the wine and produce at TJs is like if they don’t provide bathrooms, soap, water, and paper towels to the workers that pick the food? It is inhumane and not good hygiene!

  119. Another Co-op in West Davis is not realistic, but West Davis does need a store. I belong to the Coop and it is member run and owned. TJ’s is not. I prefer to buy food from places that are local.

    TJ’s is one of these places that attempts to give the impression of a socially responsible business and it is not. Davis Food Coop will keep my business.

    Can you imagine what the wine and produce at TJs is like if they don’t provide bathrooms, soap, water, and paper towels to the workers that pick the food? It is inhumane and not good hygiene!

  120. Another Co-op in West Davis is not realistic, but West Davis does need a store. I belong to the Coop and it is member run and owned. TJ’s is not. I prefer to buy food from places that are local.

    TJ’s is one of these places that attempts to give the impression of a socially responsible business and it is not. Davis Food Coop will keep my business.

    Can you imagine what the wine and produce at TJs is like if they don’t provide bathrooms, soap, water, and paper towels to the workers that pick the food? It is inhumane and not good hygiene!

  121. I agree with the comment above. I also live across the street from the West Davis shopping complex, and as much as I’d love to walk to a co-op every morning, I just don’t think a co-op in W. Davis is feasible.

    I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around. I don’t see how the co-op could pull it off.

    Try asking Trader Joe’s if they offer scrip or support for local groups in any way like scrip. The answer is no. Every other grocer in Davis offers something scrip-like to support local groups.

    Honestly, I will have to weigh cost to decide if I want to shop at TJ’s or not. Some items are a third less than what you find at the co-op, so that gets tempting when making monthly budget.

    I’m not thrilled with TJ’s. It’s sort of like my love-hate relationship with Walmart. I shop some at Walmart because of their low prices, but I wish it could be different.

  122. I agree with the comment above. I also live across the street from the West Davis shopping complex, and as much as I’d love to walk to a co-op every morning, I just don’t think a co-op in W. Davis is feasible.

    I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around. I don’t see how the co-op could pull it off.

    Try asking Trader Joe’s if they offer scrip or support for local groups in any way like scrip. The answer is no. Every other grocer in Davis offers something scrip-like to support local groups.

    Honestly, I will have to weigh cost to decide if I want to shop at TJ’s or not. Some items are a third less than what you find at the co-op, so that gets tempting when making monthly budget.

    I’m not thrilled with TJ’s. It’s sort of like my love-hate relationship with Walmart. I shop some at Walmart because of their low prices, but I wish it could be different.

  123. I agree with the comment above. I also live across the street from the West Davis shopping complex, and as much as I’d love to walk to a co-op every morning, I just don’t think a co-op in W. Davis is feasible.

    I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around. I don’t see how the co-op could pull it off.

    Try asking Trader Joe’s if they offer scrip or support for local groups in any way like scrip. The answer is no. Every other grocer in Davis offers something scrip-like to support local groups.

    Honestly, I will have to weigh cost to decide if I want to shop at TJ’s or not. Some items are a third less than what you find at the co-op, so that gets tempting when making monthly budget.

    I’m not thrilled with TJ’s. It’s sort of like my love-hate relationship with Walmart. I shop some at Walmart because of their low prices, but I wish it could be different.

  124. I agree with the comment above. I also live across the street from the West Davis shopping complex, and as much as I’d love to walk to a co-op every morning, I just don’t think a co-op in W. Davis is feasible.

    I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around. I don’t see how the co-op could pull it off.

    Try asking Trader Joe’s if they offer scrip or support for local groups in any way like scrip. The answer is no. Every other grocer in Davis offers something scrip-like to support local groups.

    Honestly, I will have to weigh cost to decide if I want to shop at TJ’s or not. Some items are a third less than what you find at the co-op, so that gets tempting when making monthly budget.

    I’m not thrilled with TJ’s. It’s sort of like my love-hate relationship with Walmart. I shop some at Walmart because of their low prices, but I wish it could be different.

  125. Amazing. Where were all those who find fault with TJ’s for its Kevin Bacon-level relationship with the death of a migrant worker, when Valley Oak was closed? I’d have more sympathy if they were treated equally, but now our low-income children will see their school closed while others fret about if buying cheap wine makes you responsible for another’s heat stroke! I’d love to care about this, but I continue to be obsessed with Valley Oak!
    And to still see you not drawing conclusions between deaths related to peanut allergies and the national epidemic that is Jiffy, makes me sick. You and the City Council must be in the pocket of Big Peanut!
    Valley Oak! Valley Oak!

  126. Amazing. Where were all those who find fault with TJ’s for its Kevin Bacon-level relationship with the death of a migrant worker, when Valley Oak was closed? I’d have more sympathy if they were treated equally, but now our low-income children will see their school closed while others fret about if buying cheap wine makes you responsible for another’s heat stroke! I’d love to care about this, but I continue to be obsessed with Valley Oak!
    And to still see you not drawing conclusions between deaths related to peanut allergies and the national epidemic that is Jiffy, makes me sick. You and the City Council must be in the pocket of Big Peanut!
    Valley Oak! Valley Oak!

  127. Amazing. Where were all those who find fault with TJ’s for its Kevin Bacon-level relationship with the death of a migrant worker, when Valley Oak was closed? I’d have more sympathy if they were treated equally, but now our low-income children will see their school closed while others fret about if buying cheap wine makes you responsible for another’s heat stroke! I’d love to care about this, but I continue to be obsessed with Valley Oak!
    And to still see you not drawing conclusions between deaths related to peanut allergies and the national epidemic that is Jiffy, makes me sick. You and the City Council must be in the pocket of Big Peanut!
    Valley Oak! Valley Oak!

  128. Amazing. Where were all those who find fault with TJ’s for its Kevin Bacon-level relationship with the death of a migrant worker, when Valley Oak was closed? I’d have more sympathy if they were treated equally, but now our low-income children will see their school closed while others fret about if buying cheap wine makes you responsible for another’s heat stroke! I’d love to care about this, but I continue to be obsessed with Valley Oak!
    And to still see you not drawing conclusions between deaths related to peanut allergies and the national epidemic that is Jiffy, makes me sick. You and the City Council must be in the pocket of Big Peanut!
    Valley Oak! Valley Oak!

  129. We don’t shop at Walmart for the same reason we won’t buy two buck chuck. We can afford a little more and don’t need to participate in an economic model that relies on a race to the bottom. Spoke out against the closing of Valley Oak too.

  130. We don’t shop at Walmart for the same reason we won’t buy two buck chuck. We can afford a little more and don’t need to participate in an economic model that relies on a race to the bottom. Spoke out against the closing of Valley Oak too.

  131. We don’t shop at Walmart for the same reason we won’t buy two buck chuck. We can afford a little more and don’t need to participate in an economic model that relies on a race to the bottom. Spoke out against the closing of Valley Oak too.

  132. We don’t shop at Walmart for the same reason we won’t buy two buck chuck. We can afford a little more and don’t need to participate in an economic model that relies on a race to the bottom. Spoke out against the closing of Valley Oak too.

  133. “I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around.”

    I live on Tiber Avenue. It’s been 2.5 years since Foodmart closed. Any prospects for another store there?

  134. “I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around.”

    I live on Tiber Avenue. It’s been 2.5 years since Foodmart closed. Any prospects for another store there?

  135. “I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around.”

    I live on Tiber Avenue. It’s been 2.5 years since Foodmart closed. Any prospects for another store there?

  136. “I had a sinking feeling with Ray’s and Foodmart that they weren’t getting enough business while they were around.”

    I live on Tiber Avenue. It’s been 2.5 years since Foodmart closed. Any prospects for another store there?

  137. Other co-op member,

    Why are you pissed at DPD and a lot of people on this blog who DID in fact stand up and support Valley Oak saying that it should NOT be closed?

    If you have an issue with peanut butter then start your own blog and advocate. I personally appreciate the work of DPD, since the local paper is only serving as PR for TJs and Target. We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.

    Thanks for keeping us posted on these issues as they develop David.

  138. Other co-op member,

    Why are you pissed at DPD and a lot of people on this blog who DID in fact stand up and support Valley Oak saying that it should NOT be closed?

    If you have an issue with peanut butter then start your own blog and advocate. I personally appreciate the work of DPD, since the local paper is only serving as PR for TJs and Target. We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.

    Thanks for keeping us posted on these issues as they develop David.

  139. Other co-op member,

    Why are you pissed at DPD and a lot of people on this blog who DID in fact stand up and support Valley Oak saying that it should NOT be closed?

    If you have an issue with peanut butter then start your own blog and advocate. I personally appreciate the work of DPD, since the local paper is only serving as PR for TJs and Target. We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.

    Thanks for keeping us posted on these issues as they develop David.

  140. Other co-op member,

    Why are you pissed at DPD and a lot of people on this blog who DID in fact stand up and support Valley Oak saying that it should NOT be closed?

    If you have an issue with peanut butter then start your own blog and advocate. I personally appreciate the work of DPD, since the local paper is only serving as PR for TJs and Target. We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.

    Thanks for keeping us posted on these issues as they develop David.

  141. “We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.”

    I think we saw the end of Davis as a small community in 1968, when they permitted development (the neighborhood along Catalina Drive, called Covell Park) north of Covell Blvd. Right after that, Westwood (west of 113, the presidential streets) was built. That’s when I recall my small hometown growing to the point where you no longer knew everybody.

  142. “We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.”

    I think we saw the end of Davis as a small community in 1968, when they permitted development (the neighborhood along Catalina Drive, called Covell Park) north of Covell Blvd. Right after that, Westwood (west of 113, the presidential streets) was built. That’s when I recall my small hometown growing to the point where you no longer knew everybody.

  143. “We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.”

    I think we saw the end of Davis as a small community in 1968, when they permitted development (the neighborhood along Catalina Drive, called Covell Park) north of Covell Blvd. Right after that, Westwood (west of 113, the presidential streets) was built. That’s when I recall my small hometown growing to the point where you no longer knew everybody.

  144. “We are now seeing the beginning of the end of Davis as a small community.”

    I think we saw the end of Davis as a small community in 1968, when they permitted development (the neighborhood along Catalina Drive, called Covell Park) north of Covell Blvd. Right after that, Westwood (west of 113, the presidential streets) was built. That’s when I recall my small hometown growing to the point where you no longer knew everybody.

  145. 1. glad that TJs is coming to town, even if i’ll mostly still get my food from a combo of the co-op, my CSA box and my garden. their snack and packaged/frozen food selection, as well as their wine/beer/alcohol section, are pretty good, and fill a niche not totally present in town (although the cost plus kitsch emporium sometimes is worth checking out on the wine side).

    2. i think that people trying to make the horrible (and sadly perennial) tragedy of inexcusable and easily remediable california farm labor working conditions into something peculiar to TJs or 2 buck chuck would be well placed to swear off wine entirely, and probably every other labor intensive veggie or fruit while they’re at it. not to make light of a burning need to enforce humane working conditions, but this is far, far broader than a single label of a single wine at a single store. you could boycott the coop on similar flimsy grounds because of the gallo wines sold there.

    3. the complaints about the crows is pretty funny. o if only we lived in a world free from such messy living biota, our shopping environment would be so much more sterile, and thus beautiful. funny too that it’s being treated as some inexplicable new event, and not something that’s been going on in davis for as long as there were agricultural fields for crows to feed in and trees for roosting.

    4. i’m still grumpy that westlake is sitting idle, rubble still filling its loading dock. would that the city council would fine the landlord for clearly trying to wait them out and get a rezoning deal.

  146. 1. glad that TJs is coming to town, even if i’ll mostly still get my food from a combo of the co-op, my CSA box and my garden. their snack and packaged/frozen food selection, as well as their wine/beer/alcohol section, are pretty good, and fill a niche not totally present in town (although the cost plus kitsch emporium sometimes is worth checking out on the wine side).

    2. i think that people trying to make the horrible (and sadly perennial) tragedy of inexcusable and easily remediable california farm labor working conditions into something peculiar to TJs or 2 buck chuck would be well placed to swear off wine entirely, and probably every other labor intensive veggie or fruit while they’re at it. not to make light of a burning need to enforce humane working conditions, but this is far, far broader than a single label of a single wine at a single store. you could boycott the coop on similar flimsy grounds because of the gallo wines sold there.

    3. the complaints about the crows is pretty funny. o if only we lived in a world free from such messy living biota, our shopping environment would be so much more sterile, and thus beautiful. funny too that it’s being treated as some inexplicable new event, and not something that’s been going on in davis for as long as there were agricultural fields for crows to feed in and trees for roosting.

    4. i’m still grumpy that westlake is sitting idle, rubble still filling its loading dock. would that the city council would fine the landlord for clearly trying to wait them out and get a rezoning deal.

  147. 1. glad that TJs is coming to town, even if i’ll mostly still get my food from a combo of the co-op, my CSA box and my garden. their snack and packaged/frozen food selection, as well as their wine/beer/alcohol section, are pretty good, and fill a niche not totally present in town (although the cost plus kitsch emporium sometimes is worth checking out on the wine side).

    2. i think that people trying to make the horrible (and sadly perennial) tragedy of inexcusable and easily remediable california farm labor working conditions into something peculiar to TJs or 2 buck chuck would be well placed to swear off wine entirely, and probably every other labor intensive veggie or fruit while they’re at it. not to make light of a burning need to enforce humane working conditions, but this is far, far broader than a single label of a single wine at a single store. you could boycott the coop on similar flimsy grounds because of the gallo wines sold there.

    3. the complaints about the crows is pretty funny. o if only we lived in a world free from such messy living biota, our shopping environment would be so much more sterile, and thus beautiful. funny too that it’s being treated as some inexplicable new event, and not something that’s been going on in davis for as long as there were agricultural fields for crows to feed in and trees for roosting.

    4. i’m still grumpy that westlake is sitting idle, rubble still filling its loading dock. would that the city council would fine the landlord for clearly trying to wait them out and get a rezoning deal.

  148. 1. glad that TJs is coming to town, even if i’ll mostly still get my food from a combo of the co-op, my CSA box and my garden. their snack and packaged/frozen food selection, as well as their wine/beer/alcohol section, are pretty good, and fill a niche not totally present in town (although the cost plus kitsch emporium sometimes is worth checking out on the wine side).

    2. i think that people trying to make the horrible (and sadly perennial) tragedy of inexcusable and easily remediable california farm labor working conditions into something peculiar to TJs or 2 buck chuck would be well placed to swear off wine entirely, and probably every other labor intensive veggie or fruit while they’re at it. not to make light of a burning need to enforce humane working conditions, but this is far, far broader than a single label of a single wine at a single store. you could boycott the coop on similar flimsy grounds because of the gallo wines sold there.

    3. the complaints about the crows is pretty funny. o if only we lived in a world free from such messy living biota, our shopping environment would be so much more sterile, and thus beautiful. funny too that it’s being treated as some inexplicable new event, and not something that’s been going on in davis for as long as there were agricultural fields for crows to feed in and trees for roosting.

    4. i’m still grumpy that westlake is sitting idle, rubble still filling its loading dock. would that the city council would fine the landlord for clearly trying to wait them out and get a rezoning deal.

  149. Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then? Your own childhood home was in the new West Davis development and it could be argued that your home destroyed the “small town nature of Davis.” Stick to the facts, boy.

  150. Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then? Your own childhood home was in the new West Davis development and it could be argued that your home destroyed the “small town nature of Davis.” Stick to the facts, boy.

  151. Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then? Your own childhood home was in the new West Davis development and it could be argued that your home destroyed the “small town nature of Davis.” Stick to the facts, boy.

  152. Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then? Your own childhood home was in the new West Davis development and it could be argued that your home destroyed the “small town nature of Davis.” Stick to the facts, boy.

  153. Don’t waste time blaming Trader Joe’s for the injustices wrought by the big-name winegrape growers in the Central Valley, and even the North Coast. Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.
    The solution is knowing who REALLY made the wine you buy, because with these corporate predators, you’ll never see their name on the label. There’s no way to know, except to ask your responsible retailer. And in some cases the retailer may not even know because buyouts happen so quickly and covertly.
    Charles Shaw is just one of the brands Bronco and the corporate looters have bought and destroyed. Names like Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak, Woodbridge, Talus,Three Blind Moose, William Hill, Franciscan, Ravenswood, Hogue, RH Phillips, Forest Glen, Estrella, Montpellier, Grand Cru, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, FoxHollow, Napa Ridge ….the list goes on and on.
    Be responsible and buy from responsible retailers. But don’t blame Trader Joe’s for Bronco’s lack of integrity. Bronco (and Gallo, Constellation, The Wine Group, Fosters, to name a few) began buying up land and wineries and destroying people’s lives and the environment long before Charles Shaw sold out to them. They have a very long history.

  154. Don’t waste time blaming Trader Joe’s for the injustices wrought by the big-name winegrape growers in the Central Valley, and even the North Coast. Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.
    The solution is knowing who REALLY made the wine you buy, because with these corporate predators, you’ll never see their name on the label. There’s no way to know, except to ask your responsible retailer. And in some cases the retailer may not even know because buyouts happen so quickly and covertly.
    Charles Shaw is just one of the brands Bronco and the corporate looters have bought and destroyed. Names like Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak, Woodbridge, Talus,Three Blind Moose, William Hill, Franciscan, Ravenswood, Hogue, RH Phillips, Forest Glen, Estrella, Montpellier, Grand Cru, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, FoxHollow, Napa Ridge ….the list goes on and on.
    Be responsible and buy from responsible retailers. But don’t blame Trader Joe’s for Bronco’s lack of integrity. Bronco (and Gallo, Constellation, The Wine Group, Fosters, to name a few) began buying up land and wineries and destroying people’s lives and the environment long before Charles Shaw sold out to them. They have a very long history.

  155. Don’t waste time blaming Trader Joe’s for the injustices wrought by the big-name winegrape growers in the Central Valley, and even the North Coast. Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.
    The solution is knowing who REALLY made the wine you buy, because with these corporate predators, you’ll never see their name on the label. There’s no way to know, except to ask your responsible retailer. And in some cases the retailer may not even know because buyouts happen so quickly and covertly.
    Charles Shaw is just one of the brands Bronco and the corporate looters have bought and destroyed. Names like Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak, Woodbridge, Talus,Three Blind Moose, William Hill, Franciscan, Ravenswood, Hogue, RH Phillips, Forest Glen, Estrella, Montpellier, Grand Cru, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, FoxHollow, Napa Ridge ….the list goes on and on.
    Be responsible and buy from responsible retailers. But don’t blame Trader Joe’s for Bronco’s lack of integrity. Bronco (and Gallo, Constellation, The Wine Group, Fosters, to name a few) began buying up land and wineries and destroying people’s lives and the environment long before Charles Shaw sold out to them. They have a very long history.

  156. Don’t waste time blaming Trader Joe’s for the injustices wrought by the big-name winegrape growers in the Central Valley, and even the North Coast. Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.
    The solution is knowing who REALLY made the wine you buy, because with these corporate predators, you’ll never see their name on the label. There’s no way to know, except to ask your responsible retailer. And in some cases the retailer may not even know because buyouts happen so quickly and covertly.
    Charles Shaw is just one of the brands Bronco and the corporate looters have bought and destroyed. Names like Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Geyser Peak, Woodbridge, Talus,Three Blind Moose, William Hill, Franciscan, Ravenswood, Hogue, RH Phillips, Forest Glen, Estrella, Montpellier, Grand Cru, Silver Ridge, Rutherford Vintners, Hacienda, FoxHollow, Napa Ridge ….the list goes on and on.
    Be responsible and buy from responsible retailers. But don’t blame Trader Joe’s for Bronco’s lack of integrity. Bronco (and Gallo, Constellation, The Wine Group, Fosters, to name a few) began buying up land and wineries and destroying people’s lives and the environment long before Charles Shaw sold out to them. They have a very long history.

  157. “I just don’t care about this. It’s just not that big of a deal to spend time one this.”

    I think a few people disagree with you based on the number of comments on this item, particularly since it was a Sunday article that generally has lower readership.

    “Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.”

    I don’t disagree on that point. But I see this like the Gap and their purchases of sweat shop produced clothing. Clearly the blame lies with the sweat shop owners. But without stores like the Gap, the sweat shop owners would have no market to sell their products. Same with Trader Joe’s and places like Trader Joe’s. So I think the Trader Joe’s of the world do bear some responsibility.

  158. “I just don’t care about this. It’s just not that big of a deal to spend time one this.”

    I think a few people disagree with you based on the number of comments on this item, particularly since it was a Sunday article that generally has lower readership.

    “Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.”

    I don’t disagree on that point. But I see this like the Gap and their purchases of sweat shop produced clothing. Clearly the blame lies with the sweat shop owners. But without stores like the Gap, the sweat shop owners would have no market to sell their products. Same with Trader Joe’s and places like Trader Joe’s. So I think the Trader Joe’s of the world do bear some responsibility.

  159. “I just don’t care about this. It’s just not that big of a deal to spend time one this.”

    I think a few people disagree with you based on the number of comments on this item, particularly since it was a Sunday article that generally has lower readership.

    “Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.”

    I don’t disagree on that point. But I see this like the Gap and their purchases of sweat shop produced clothing. Clearly the blame lies with the sweat shop owners. But without stores like the Gap, the sweat shop owners would have no market to sell their products. Same with Trader Joe’s and places like Trader Joe’s. So I think the Trader Joe’s of the world do bear some responsibility.

  160. “I just don’t care about this. It’s just not that big of a deal to spend time one this.”

    I think a few people disagree with you based on the number of comments on this item, particularly since it was a Sunday article that generally has lower readership.

    “Put the blame where it belongs, squarely on the shoulders of Fred Franzia (Bronco) and his ilk, like Gallo and Constellation. These guys don’t care about the people who work in the thousands of acres of vineyards they own or control. Cutting cost is all that matters. Workers can easily be replaced with more willing to risk their lives for minimum wage.”

    I don’t disagree on that point. But I see this like the Gap and their purchases of sweat shop produced clothing. Clearly the blame lies with the sweat shop owners. But without stores like the Gap, the sweat shop owners would have no market to sell their products. Same with Trader Joe’s and places like Trader Joe’s. So I think the Trader Joe’s of the world do bear some responsibility.

  161. “Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then?”

    I was a precocious 4 year old in 1968, then attending the excellent UC Davis preschool, which still exists in its same location (immediately to the west of Aggie Village), though far superior to when I was a tot.

  162. “Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then?”

    I was a precocious 4 year old in 1968, then attending the excellent UC Davis preschool, which still exists in its same location (immediately to the west of Aggie Village), though far superior to when I was a tot.

  163. “Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then?”

    I was a precocious 4 year old in 1968, then attending the excellent UC Davis preschool, which still exists in its same location (immediately to the west of Aggie Village), though far superior to when I was a tot.

  164. “Rich, In 1968 you must have been all of 8 years old. How could you have known much beyond your own neighborhood then?”

    I was a precocious 4 year old in 1968, then attending the excellent UC Davis preschool, which still exists in its same location (immediately to the west of Aggie Village), though far superior to when I was a tot.

  165. That last sentence made little sense. I meant to say the preschool which now exists is better than it was when I was a kid, though I recall loving it….

  166. That last sentence made little sense. I meant to say the preschool which now exists is better than it was when I was a kid, though I recall loving it….

  167. That last sentence made little sense. I meant to say the preschool which now exists is better than it was when I was a kid, though I recall loving it….

  168. That last sentence made little sense. I meant to say the preschool which now exists is better than it was when I was a kid, though I recall loving it….

  169. Rich, OK, you were 4 years old in 1968. So how could you recall Davis growing out of its small town feeling in 1968. I don’t think that you were aware of more than your little school and maybe your immediate neighborhood – more likely nothing further than the sidewalk in front of your house. Certainly you were not aware of any building going on or cared much about it at the time.

  170. Rich, OK, you were 4 years old in 1968. So how could you recall Davis growing out of its small town feeling in 1968. I don’t think that you were aware of more than your little school and maybe your immediate neighborhood – more likely nothing further than the sidewalk in front of your house. Certainly you were not aware of any building going on or cared much about it at the time.

  171. Rich, OK, you were 4 years old in 1968. So how could you recall Davis growing out of its small town feeling in 1968. I don’t think that you were aware of more than your little school and maybe your immediate neighborhood – more likely nothing further than the sidewalk in front of your house. Certainly you were not aware of any building going on or cared much about it at the time.

  172. Rich, OK, you were 4 years old in 1968. So how could you recall Davis growing out of its small town feeling in 1968. I don’t think that you were aware of more than your little school and maybe your immediate neighborhood – more likely nothing further than the sidewalk in front of your house. Certainly you were not aware of any building going on or cared much about it at the time.

  173. I realize this matters to no one but myself, but I do recall Davis changing in those years. Obviously, as you say, I had no real perspective at that age.

    When I was a little kid (and my dad was something of a bigwig in the business community), it seemed like (though probably was not the case) we knew everyone we saw at the stores, downtown or elsewhere in Davis. That is characteristic of a small town.*

    But at that time, Davis was really growing fast (along with the university). I recall when cropdusters used to buzz over our house to drop poisons on the nearby fields (which became houses and schools shortly thereafter). I remember riding horses over at the Anderson’s ranch (the same Andersons who own Davis Lumber and for whom the Anderson Banking Building and Anderson Road is named), which shortly after became the Lucky Shopping Center.

    I recall, nostaligically, that Davis. As I have said before, it was not a better Davis, just smaller and different. I think Davis of today is really the best this town has ever been. Back then, there was no Farmer’s Market, very few good restaurants, no greenbelts, fewer parks and on and on. But it was a town of (I’m not sure the exact number; there were 12,000 people in 1964) about 15,000, and it had its charms.

    * In later years I lived in Petersburg, AK, (pop 2,000), and it has that same feeling — you know everyone.

  174. I realize this matters to no one but myself, but I do recall Davis changing in those years. Obviously, as you say, I had no real perspective at that age.

    When I was a little kid (and my dad was something of a bigwig in the business community), it seemed like (though probably was not the case) we knew everyone we saw at the stores, downtown or elsewhere in Davis. That is characteristic of a small town.*

    But at that time, Davis was really growing fast (along with the university). I recall when cropdusters used to buzz over our house to drop poisons on the nearby fields (which became houses and schools shortly thereafter). I remember riding horses over at the Anderson’s ranch (the same Andersons who own Davis Lumber and for whom the Anderson Banking Building and Anderson Road is named), which shortly after became the Lucky Shopping Center.

    I recall, nostaligically, that Davis. As I have said before, it was not a better Davis, just smaller and different. I think Davis of today is really the best this town has ever been. Back then, there was no Farmer’s Market, very few good restaurants, no greenbelts, fewer parks and on and on. But it was a town of (I’m not sure the exact number; there were 12,000 people in 1964) about 15,000, and it had its charms.

    * In later years I lived in Petersburg, AK, (pop 2,000), and it has that same feeling — you know everyone.

  175. I realize this matters to no one but myself, but I do recall Davis changing in those years. Obviously, as you say, I had no real perspective at that age.

    When I was a little kid (and my dad was something of a bigwig in the business community), it seemed like (though probably was not the case) we knew everyone we saw at the stores, downtown or elsewhere in Davis. That is characteristic of a small town.*

    But at that time, Davis was really growing fast (along with the university). I recall when cropdusters used to buzz over our house to drop poisons on the nearby fields (which became houses and schools shortly thereafter). I remember riding horses over at the Anderson’s ranch (the same Andersons who own Davis Lumber and for whom the Anderson Banking Building and Anderson Road is named), which shortly after became the Lucky Shopping Center.

    I recall, nostaligically, that Davis. As I have said before, it was not a better Davis, just smaller and different. I think Davis of today is really the best this town has ever been. Back then, there was no Farmer’s Market, very few good restaurants, no greenbelts, fewer parks and on and on. But it was a town of (I’m not sure the exact number; there were 12,000 people in 1964) about 15,000, and it had its charms.

    * In later years I lived in Petersburg, AK, (pop 2,000), and it has that same feeling — you know everyone.

  176. I realize this matters to no one but myself, but I do recall Davis changing in those years. Obviously, as you say, I had no real perspective at that age.

    When I was a little kid (and my dad was something of a bigwig in the business community), it seemed like (though probably was not the case) we knew everyone we saw at the stores, downtown or elsewhere in Davis. That is characteristic of a small town.*

    But at that time, Davis was really growing fast (along with the university). I recall when cropdusters used to buzz over our house to drop poisons on the nearby fields (which became houses and schools shortly thereafter). I remember riding horses over at the Anderson’s ranch (the same Andersons who own Davis Lumber and for whom the Anderson Banking Building and Anderson Road is named), which shortly after became the Lucky Shopping Center.

    I recall, nostaligically, that Davis. As I have said before, it was not a better Davis, just smaller and different. I think Davis of today is really the best this town has ever been. Back then, there was no Farmer’s Market, very few good restaurants, no greenbelts, fewer parks and on and on. But it was a town of (I’m not sure the exact number; there were 12,000 people in 1964) about 15,000, and it had its charms.

    * In later years I lived in Petersburg, AK, (pop 2,000), and it has that same feeling — you know everyone.

  177. I think Davis HAD to finally try harder to get Trader Joe's in. The city needs the sales. Just a few miles north, there's the Costco, Target, soon to be Best Buy, BB&B, and Michaels. I wouldn't be surprised if Trader Joe's "thought" about the Woodland Gateway. We all know the college students will drive up to Costco on a weekly basis. While they're there, shop at Target and Best Buy. Now if Trader Joe's were there too, even the Target in Davis will have its sales cannibalized by its Woodland store. Trader Joe's in Davis will help keep a balance between sales going to Woodland and staying in Davis.

  178. I think Davis HAD to finally try harder to get Trader Joe's in. The city needs the sales. Just a few miles north, there's the Costco, Target, soon to be Best Buy, BB&B, and Michaels. I wouldn't be surprised if Trader Joe's "thought" about the Woodland Gateway. We all know the college students will drive up to Costco on a weekly basis. While they're there, shop at Target and Best Buy. Now if Trader Joe's were there too, even the Target in Davis will have its sales cannibalized by its Woodland store. Trader Joe's in Davis will help keep a balance between sales going to Woodland and staying in Davis.

  179. I think Davis HAD to finally try harder to get Trader Joe's in. The city needs the sales. Just a few miles north, there's the Costco, Target, soon to be Best Buy, BB&B, and Michaels. I wouldn't be surprised if Trader Joe's "thought" about the Woodland Gateway. We all know the college students will drive up to Costco on a weekly basis. While they're there, shop at Target and Best Buy. Now if Trader Joe's were there too, even the Target in Davis will have its sales cannibalized by its Woodland store. Trader Joe's in Davis will help keep a balance between sales going to Woodland and staying in Davis.

  180. I think Davis HAD to finally try harder to get Trader Joe's in. The city needs the sales. Just a few miles north, there's the Costco, Target, soon to be Best Buy, BB&B, and Michaels. I wouldn't be surprised if Trader Joe's "thought" about the Woodland Gateway. We all know the college students will drive up to Costco on a weekly basis. While they're there, shop at Target and Best Buy. Now if Trader Joe's were there too, even the Target in Davis will have its sales cannibalized by its Woodland store. Trader Joe's in Davis will help keep a balance between sales going to Woodland and staying in Davis.

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