Birmingham mayor wants to limit dollar store development Randall Woodfin feels dollar stores are forcing healthy grocers to move out of town. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT WVTM13’S JON PAEPCKE EXPLAINS HOW THE HEALTHY FOOD PLAN COULD PLAY OUT. JON: IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH BIRMINGHAM , THEY ARE NOT HARD TO FIND. NOW THE CITY’S MAYOR HAS HAD ENOUGH. >> DOLLAR STORES NOT ONLY TARGET, BUT CAUSE FOOD DESERTS. MANY GROCERY STORES ARE FORCED TO CLOSE. JON: THAT IS WHY HE IS PITCHING A NEW HEALTHY FOOD ORDINANCE. >> IT WILL DEVELOP NEW DOLLAR STORES. ALL DOLLAR STORES MUST BE ONE MILES FROM ANY EXISTING STORES. JON: THIS FAMILY DOLLAR STORE SITS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM AND ONE OF MORE THAN TWO DOZEN DOLLAR STORES WE FOUND SCATTERED ACROSS THE MAGIC CITY, MANY OF WHICH ARE LOCATED IN CLUSTERS. THIS FAMILY DOLLAR IS TWO BLOCKS FROM THIS DOLLAR GENERAL IN NORTH BIRMINGHAM. CITY COUNCILOR JOHN HILLIARD AGREES WITH THE MAYOR’S PLAN. >> SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS CHANGE THE MINDSET OF THE WAY OUR CONSTITUENTS SHOP, THE THINGS THAT THEY EAT AND CONSUME BECAUSE IT AFFECTS THE OVERALL CITY, STATE AND THE COUNTRY BECAUSE IT DRIVES UP HEALTH CARE. JON: WHICH WOODFIN FEELS MIRRORS THE CITY’S MISSION TO CRACK DOWN ON PAY DAY LENDERS. >> WE CAN’T HAVE CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS THAT PREY ON POOR PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. JO

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