Here is the letter they sent to the letter several days ago New York Times:
Editor:
Reporting on Whole Foods’ recent decision to close a downtown San Francisco store, Thomas Fuller and Sharon Lafraniere cited shoplifting as the main reason.In San Francisco, a year of trouble in an entire food market shows the woes of the city” May 1) but surprisingly describe this problem as “insurmountable” by failing to mention that in California, the theft of merchandise valued at $950 or less is only committed by individuals who are not part of a criminal ring. According to UCLA economist Lee Ohanian.This means that “law enforcement may not bother to investigate, and if they do, prosecutors will be let off the hook…. Because of this law, California is offering an open invitation to anyone to come in and take it. Just like that – because they know the police or prosecutors won’t bother with a criminal complaint.
Reporting the closing of this Whole Foods store without mentioning California’s unwillingness to punish effective shoplifters is like the sinking of the Titanic without mentioning the iceberg.
best regard
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
And
Martha and Nelson Getchell Chair in the Study of Free Market Capitalism at the Mercatus Center
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
