It is the site at Adams Boulevard and Central Avenue -- an area affected by the '92 unrest -- that has received the most attention. But that site is in limbo; a Tesco spokesman told community groups that it could take several years to open a store there.
Take a look at the map of Los Angeles-area locations on freshandeasy.com. There's a ring of 16 stores, mostly suburban -- stretching from Moorpark to Rancho Cucamonga to San Pedro. And then there's a gaping hole in the middle: South and Central Los Angeles. The Sahara of food deserts.
Our politicians and community leaders can do more to make sure that Tesco -- indeed all supermarket chains -- don't leave things this way. The same policies some cities use to create affordable housing could work for affordable food: As part of any development or expansion, a company must build in underserved areas or pay into a fund to subsidize retailers that will.
Neighborhood stakeholders also can insist on binding community-benefits agreements -- deals that a coalition of local organizations reach with a company before development begins. Groups agree not to oppose a development, and in exchange, for example, a company commits to hiring local workers, paying a living wage and operating environmentally sensitive buildings. It's not an outrageous notion; Philip Anschutz's AEG signed just such an agreement during the planning phase of L.A. Live in downtown. But, so far, Tesco hasn't negotiated with the Alliance for Healthy and Responsible Grocery Stores.
It's not just Adams and Central that needs a market. So does Boyle Heights. So does MacArthur Park. So do Athens and Hyde Park and Florence.
Certainly, Tesco should be applauded for going into some low- and mixed-income neighborhoods that have been overlooked by other retailers. But there are many more that need them. As Fresh & Easy's motto says: "Everyone deserves fresh, healthy food."
