Kroger/Albertsons merger opponents are wrong. These are good, responsible companies | Opinion
Kroger/Albertsons merger
We've been following the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons because it's significant for the Latino business community. I want to highlight Kroger's ongoing support for Hispanics.
Last year they gave $1 million to benefit several Hispanic organizations to solve food insecurity and provide job training that builds on their work to create equitable economic opportunity for Hispanics. They've also set aggressive goals for minority hiring. And they've added a new "Hispanic-inspired" brand of products in their stores, Mercado Brand.
Kroger states they need this merger to compete and survive. With the clear growth in bulk and online grocery sales, the grocery landscape is changing. They've also pledged no layoffs or store closures. I think this merger deserves an opportunity; Kroger has earned it.
We've recently launched our new Tacoma Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, there is a lot of work to do for the Hispanic community here in Tacoma. And we need more companies like Kroger supporting our efforts. Therefore we look forward to a favorable approval of Kroger's proposed merger.
End factory farming
Factory farms are destroying the environment and harming animals on a massive scale. Their waste pollutes our water, harms sea life, and creates awful conditions for people living nearby. And now, these big U.S. meat companies are moving their operations to developing countries, which will hurt local farmers, food supplies, and the environment there, too. It's like "meat colonialism," and it's not okay.
We have to care. This impacts global resources and the lives of people and animals everywhere. On October 2, people across the world will be speaking up for animals on World Day for Farmed Animals. Join in—learn more at dayforanimals.org. I am volunteering this year to hand out vegan food samples.
There are options in every restaurant and grocery store to replace animal products with plant-based foods.
We can all do our part to make a difference.
Debate shows liberal bias
Republicans have said for years the mainstream media has a liberal bias. The Presidential Debate clearly reinforced that view. The fact-checking by ABC's David Muir and Linsey Davis was completely one-sided, 5 times for former President Trump and not a single one for VP Harris. Harris should have been fact-checked numerous times. Here's just a few. She said Trump will be a dictator (he said for one day and he was joking), Trump supports Project 2025 (he denounced it), he will institute a national abortion ban (no evidence), he called Antifa and White Supremacists "very fine people" (Charlottesville, repeatedly debunked). Harris's debate answers were mostly memorized and short on specifics and in a recent ABC Affiliate interview, they were very similar. She's flip-flopped on multiple issues and copied many of Trump's positions. Her handlers say she's evolving. I say she's willing to say anything to get elected. Don't be fooled. Harris wants Americans to take a "New way forward" and forget their suffering from high food and gas prices, crime and open borders. We are not better off than we were four years ago and she and President Biden's policies are to blame.
