The head of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, admitted that the chain’s stores are no longer safe in a number of major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington.
American cities “have abdicated their responsibility in fighting crime,” Schultz said in a video published this week.
“I must say, in my view at the local, state and federal level, these governments across the country and leaders, mayors and governors, city councils have abdicated their responsibility in fighting crime and addressing mental health,” Schultz said.
A company spokesperson confirmed that it would shut down 16 locations in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, Philadelphia, and Washington—all of which are run by Democrats.
“It has shocked me that one of the primary concerns that our retail partners have is their own personal safety,” Schultz said in the video during a recent internal company meeting. “America has become unsafe.” The recent closures, he said, are “just the beginning” and “there are going to be many more.”
“I don’t have to spend too much time on what’s going on in the country and how America has become unsafe,” Schultz said. “But you all read the press release last couple of days about the fact that we are beginning to close stores that are not unprofitable.”
Company officials also “heard the stories that go along with it about what happens in our bathrooms; the issue of mental illness, the issues of homelessness and the issues of crime,” Schultz said.
Business Decisions
Starbucks sent out a letter to its employees on Monday, promising to improve their experience while on the job. That memo was disseminated before a spokesperson announced the closure of locations.
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