Seattle city government faces a steep budget deficit amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars over the next three years—an estimated 10 percent of its revenues. Yet the city just allocated $1.7 million to help struggling independent supermarkets avoid going out of business. The money is both more than the stressed budget should apportion and not enough to make a difference in a metropolis of nearly 400 food stores.
Seattle’s Grocery Store Debacle
City government is subsidizing independent food stores while big grocers flee crime-plagued neighborhoods.
