Re: “Fred Meyer closure strands Lake City in food, pharmacy desert” (Aug. 25, Opinion):
I was dismayed to hear of the impending closure of the Fred Meyer store in Seattle’s Lake City neighborhood. I shop there occasionally and have always found what I needed, along with friendly, helpful service. It’s an important part of Lake City’s infrastructure, and its closure would make it difficult for many Lake City residents, already among the least affluent in Seattle, to meet their needs for food and pharmacy within walking distance or a reasonable bus ride.
Op-Ed author Patricia Olson wrote, “ … when a national corporation focused solely on profits can impact access to food and health care for some of our city’s most vulnerable, it is time for local government to act.” I agree! The Fred Meyer provides access to healthy food and health services, and helps to maintain stability in the neighborhood. If it closes, it will be a large useless property for years before something is built on it, a blight on the neighborhood.
We were able to stop the Albertsons-Kroger merger with the help of city and state government involvement and public outcry. We need to apply the same forces to save the Lake City Fred Meyer.
Beatrix Wiedmer, Seattle
