Once great American cities like San Francisco and New York have become cesspools of violence, addiction, and homelessness.
And Chicago is at the top of the garbage heap.
That’s why out-of-control violence in Chicago just forced Walmart to make one move no one saw coming.
Under former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Chicago saw more violence in the streets than at any time since Al Capone ruled the city.
Our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened
And while Lightfoot is no longer Mayor after the voters resoundingly threw her out, new Mayor Brandon Johnson is thought to be just as radical, and just as soft-on-crime.
So Walmart has decided to close half of their Chicago locations.
And the mega store is saying none of their Chicago stores have shown a profit since the first one opened some 17 years ago.
“The simplest explanation is that collectively our Chicago stores have not been profitable since we opened the first one nearly 17 years ago – these stores lose tens of millions of dollars a year, and their annual losses nearly doubled in just the last five years,” Walmart wrote in a press release. “The remaining four Chicago stores continue to face the same business difficulties, but we think this decision gives us the best chance to help keep them open and serving the community.”
The Arkansas-based company said it has attempted to fix the profitability problem, but has had no success.
“Over the years, we have tried many different strategies to improve the business performance of these locations, including building smaller stores, localizing product assortment and offering services beyond traditional retail,” the company added. “We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the city, including $70 million in the last couple years to upgrade our stores and build two new Walmart Health facilities and a Walmart Academy training center.”
“It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores’ performance,” the press release continued. “Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing.”
You can’t fix stupid
Of course, what Walmart isn’t saying is that the main reason for the closures is the horrifying state of the Windy City – and Democrat-controlled cities across the nation in general.
Violence and drug addiction runs rampant, and people are afraid to leave their homes to go to places like Walmart for fear of getting robbed, raped, or even killed.
And what makes it untenable is the stupidity of city leaders in dealing with the problems.
Radical left-wing Democrats’ woke, soft-on-crime policies are only making the situation worse.
It is Chicago Democrats’ stupidity that is the most responsible for the loss of major employers, like Walmart.
Unless there is a change in the thinking and actions of Chicago’s Democrat machine, nothing will change in the Windy City.
And more employers, like Walmart, will simply pack up and leave for greener pastures.
But don’t expect the winds of change to have any effect on Chicago’s Democrat politicians.
As comedian Ron White says, “You can’t fix stupid.”
US Political Daily will keep you updated on any developments to this ongoing story.
