02-25-2025, 08:31 AM
"Life would be simpler if there were a Costco in Hilo"
"A true statement."
"Between layoffs and cutbacks in Medicaid/SNAP/DoE/USDA/other federal dollars coming into Hawaii, I fear Puna and Hilo will be hit hard. Hospitals and schools are often considered the anchor institutions that foster economic development in communities. Grocery stores here certainly benefit from SNAP. Will some of those employees now lose their jobs too?"
If there are cutbacks, especially SNAP benefits, one must think this scenario out a little longer than the nose on their face.
Walmart captures 25.5% of the total SNAP benefits paid for food on a national level. I am quite sure the Hilo Walmart captures a much higher percentage than that. Costco also captures 6% of the total SNAP benefits paid for food on a national level. I am also quite sure that the Kona Costco captures a much higher percentage than that.
So then, if SNAP benefits are suddenly cut off, how long do you think Walmart and to a much lesser degree, Costco is going to operate without severe staff cutbacks as well?
Safeway? Malama Market? Foodland? The Natch? JHara?
Furthermore, consider that a majority of Walmart workers are paid wages that are so low they still qualify for SNAP, so to those workers impacted, it's a double slap in the face.
So much winning!
"A true statement."
"Between layoffs and cutbacks in Medicaid/SNAP/DoE/USDA/other federal dollars coming into Hawaii, I fear Puna and Hilo will be hit hard. Hospitals and schools are often considered the anchor institutions that foster economic development in communities. Grocery stores here certainly benefit from SNAP. Will some of those employees now lose their jobs too?"
If there are cutbacks, especially SNAP benefits, one must think this scenario out a little longer than the nose on their face.
Walmart captures 25.5% of the total SNAP benefits paid for food on a national level. I am quite sure the Hilo Walmart captures a much higher percentage than that. Costco also captures 6% of the total SNAP benefits paid for food on a national level. I am also quite sure that the Kona Costco captures a much higher percentage than that.
So then, if SNAP benefits are suddenly cut off, how long do you think Walmart and to a much lesser degree, Costco is going to operate without severe staff cutbacks as well?
Safeway? Malama Market? Foodland? The Natch? JHara?
Furthermore, consider that a majority of Walmart workers are paid wages that are so low they still qualify for SNAP, so to those workers impacted, it's a double slap in the face.
So much winning!
"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government.”
-Thomas Jefferson
-Thomas Jefferson