New York City’s independent supermarkets, bodegas, and grocers are the backbones of our communities. We employ thousands of New Yorkers, and every day we provide New Yorkers with access to fresh produce, necessary home goods like diapers and formula, and other items families need.

We take our responsibility seriously. During the height of the pandemic, we were essential workers who risked our lives to keep this city alive. We lost people in those early days of Covid, but we are proud of our work. Beyond Covid, when the big stores pulled out of New York City in the 70’s and ’80s, we were the ones who stepped in to make sure these communities were not without access to food. We also look like the communities we serve. We are people of color and immigrants from all over the world. We love our communities because we are our communities.

However, we are in trouble. A rise in larceny cases has hit independent supermarkets hard.Indeed, some have hired private security. Some robberies have been as high as $72,000. We have been assaulted, terrorized, and our physical and mental health jeopardized.

That is why we are writing you today to announce the formation of the Collective Action toProtect our Stores (CAPS), initially made up of:

• National Supermarket Association

• Bodega and Small Business Group

• Metro Supermarket Association

The goals of our coalition are simple.

• NYPD AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY UNITS: Dedicated NYPD Unit and DA Units for retail theft.

• HARM ON HARM: Call on prosecutors to use harm on harm to request bail for repeat theft offenders, and we call on judges to use this tool (harm on harm) to set bail.

• SUPPORT FOR KEY LEGISLATION:

  • Raise assaults on retail employees and owners to a class D felony.

  • Call for legislation to combine charges to up charge theft (from petit larceny to grand larceny).

  • Support Albany legislation to create a new offense of fostering the sale of stolen goods and make it a class A misdemeanor.

• PSA CAMPAIGN: New York City should launch and run a public service announcement (PSA) campaign against shoplifting.

• ACCOUNTABILITY: No more finger-pointing. We must hold every level of the criminal justice system accountable for doing their part to tackle this issue, including NYPD, DAs,Judges and elected officials.

New Yorkers expect and deserve to feel safe when they shop– but right now, for too many, they simply do not. This impacts the stores that lose money, workers who are harmed, and consumers who are worried about feeling safe to shop. This is an entirely untenable situation, and something must be done to rectify it before more stores close or workers are harmed.

As you set forth your visions in the State of the State and State of the City, we urge you to take these recommendations under consideration. We expect more organizations and companies to join us in the weeks and months ahead. As New York’s political leaders, we look forward to working with you to make our communities safer and ensure our stores and customers feel comfortable coming to work and entering our stores.

Signed:

National Supermarket Association

Bodega and Small Business Group

Metro Supermarket Association