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Boycott STAFF OF LIFE
an editorial i submitted criticizing the opening of the new STAFF OF LIFE store in Santa Cruz.
Letter to the Editor:
I urge the entire community to BOYCOTT the new STAFF of LIFE store that just opened on soquel avenue this past February 15th.
Here we have a so-called "natural food" store that sells copious quantities of MEAT. I'm sorry, but natural foods stores do NOT ever carry or sell meat. Vegetarianism is a CENTRAL tenet of green/holistic and healthy living- it always has been and will always be so.
Read our local author JOHN ROBBINS and his book, "The Food Revolution" to find out why a meat based diet has absolutely NO PLACE in our society.
I'm sure all vegans and vegetarians are horrified by the stink and hypocrisy of this new store, as i know I AM.
And then there's the new police state spy/surveillance camera that records you as you enter and exit. I'm sorry, but "natural foods" stores do NOT spy and surveil their customers.
Wal-marts and Targets do this, NOT "natural food" stores. We have a different code of ethics. Real natural foods stores who care about customers privacy and dignity do NOT engage in this type of fascist right wing military/police state practice.
Unfortunately nearly ALL of our so-called "natural food" stores here in Santa Cruz sell meat and spy on their customers. That includes Whole Foods and New Leaf.
Staff of Life has, unfortunately, lost most of my business and support. I'd rather now shop at a dollar store than have to hold my nose and hear the sound of saws cutting up animal flesh in the back while shopping in the new store.
Don't give your support or business to ANY of these right wing police state/meat-eating "natural food" stores. Just say NO to their arrogance and hypocrisy. They have NO PLACE in our beautiful city. They belong in the cesspool that is Texas, NOT on the enlightened Left Coast of California.
Dee Paternick
1049 may St
Santa Cruz
I urge the entire community to BOYCOTT the new STAFF of LIFE store that just opened on soquel avenue this past February 15th.
Here we have a so-called "natural food" store that sells copious quantities of MEAT. I'm sorry, but natural foods stores do NOT ever carry or sell meat. Vegetarianism is a CENTRAL tenet of green/holistic and healthy living- it always has been and will always be so.
Read our local author JOHN ROBBINS and his book, "The Food Revolution" to find out why a meat based diet has absolutely NO PLACE in our society.
I'm sure all vegans and vegetarians are horrified by the stink and hypocrisy of this new store, as i know I AM.
And then there's the new police state spy/surveillance camera that records you as you enter and exit. I'm sorry, but "natural foods" stores do NOT spy and surveil their customers.
Wal-marts and Targets do this, NOT "natural food" stores. We have a different code of ethics. Real natural foods stores who care about customers privacy and dignity do NOT engage in this type of fascist right wing military/police state practice.
Unfortunately nearly ALL of our so-called "natural food" stores here in Santa Cruz sell meat and spy on their customers. That includes Whole Foods and New Leaf.
Staff of Life has, unfortunately, lost most of my business and support. I'd rather now shop at a dollar store than have to hold my nose and hear the sound of saws cutting up animal flesh in the back while shopping in the new store.
Don't give your support or business to ANY of these right wing police state/meat-eating "natural food" stores. Just say NO to their arrogance and hypocrisy. They have NO PLACE in our beautiful city. They belong in the cesspool that is Texas, NOT on the enlightened Left Coast of California.
Dee Paternick
1049 may St
Santa Cruz
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Folks might want to keep an eye on how homeless people in the neighborhood are treated. Upscale "green" gentrification hits just as hard as other kinds of commercial exclusionary activity that runs off the poor.
maybe you can give a list of alternative capitalist enterprises we should do business with? you know, so we know who the good capitalists are....
.
The Staff of life isn't new, its in a new location. Its been here for a very long time. 30-40 years or more. They have always sold meat as far as i know. I rarely go in there, far to expensive for me. I thought it odd myself they sold meat, although I am not a full on vegetarian.
As far as not allowing homeless there, Roberts second guess is more accurate. I was a teen back then but the park was closed by the City, probably for that reason, but I do not believe Staff of life had anything to do with it. It was during the troll busting era. I remember the reason the City gave, too many people were congregating. I was one. They re-landscaped, and after that the fence and signs went up. I have a faint glimmer there may have been an incident, car hitting someone or something, but it was certainly a move against the homeless.
Back then the Staff of life would come and give food out in the back parking lot, and lots of it. Back then, I know of two homeless people who worked there. I still see homeless people there when I drive by a few times a week under the eves. I am very skeptical they are anti homeless. I would make sure you check that Robert. There are plenty of places that are but your source perhaps had an isolated incident with one employee. Perhaps you heard a half truth.
Regardless, this place has sold meat for a very long time. The community is well aware they do. I think you might find better reasons for boycotting , like their prices. I still don't think you will find much support, but good luck.
Right minded Santa Cruzan's know to question the validity of his or his sidekick Johnson's "reporting". .
I won't do what you whiners demand!
You're a little late, the Staff of life has been selling meat and fish since some time in the 90's. You are correct that eating animals is less sustainable than a vegan diet, but people might as well buy grass fed / humanely raised meat and locally harvested seafoods from the local market if they're gonna buy it at all.
And no-one forces you to buy it Dee.
John Robbins, his son Ocean, and their family ARE shoppers of Staff of Life, they seem ok with us selling it.
The Staff of Life had cameras at their old location too. They were by the front door, registers, etc. They were useful, many times in the customers favor.
I enjoy interacting with most of the customers, but as far as "We have a different code of ethics" I can't begin to count the number of Staff "shoppers" who have been asked to leave because they shoplift, manipulate prices, verbally abuse employees, piss on the floor of the bathroom, etc. Even some of the regulars push the limits of decency when interacting with Staffers.
Are those the "ethics" you speak of?
Peace D
Vegan here. Not horrified. What natural food store alternatives are there in SC?
I prefer a few markets with knowledgeable staff. But allot of the whole Natural food industry is frankly bullshit.
LIST
All The Farmers Markets...
New Leaf
Whole Foods
Natural Foods Market
Food Bin
Aptos Natural Foods
Nature's Best Foods
New Leaf Community Market - Felton
Oh yeah... Food Bin... I think counts.