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Wednesday, October 26,2011

Call to Action: Pick 'n Save/Metro Market Shoppers

We Need You to Speak Up

By Louis Fortis
 
More than 192,700 of our 260,000 Shepherd Express readers do some of their grocery shopping at a Roundy's Pick 'n Save or Metro Market, according to Media Audit, and many of you have conveniently picked up your Shepherd Express during your grocery shopping at Roundy's for over a decade. The Shepherd Express is currently available at more than 1,100 locations, including virtually every supermarket in the five-county Milwaukee metropolitan region.

Unfortunately, That Is Going to Change

The Shepherd Express has been notified that Roundy's has decided that, as of Nov. 5, it will no longer offer its customers the opportunity to pick up their Shepherd Express when they shop at one of its grocery stores.

Why Is This Happening?

As many of you know, the Shepherd had been in all of the Pick 'n Save stores until early this April, when the Shepherd ran a cover endorsement of JoAnne Kloppenburg for Supreme Court justice. Within a day of the Shepherd's distribution of this endorsement throughout the community, Roundy's contacted the Shepherd Express and told us to immediately remove our newspapers from all five of its Brookfield Pick 'n Save stores. Now Roundy's is telling the Shepherd to remove our newspapers from all of its Pick n' Save stores.

 What You Can Do

Roundy's has said that this is just a business decision. When we told some of our readers of Roundy's decision, they asked: Isn't keeping happy the 192,700 Shepherd readers who shop at a Pick 'n Save or Metro Market a good business decision?

So if you like being able to conveniently pick up your Shepherd Express each week at your local Pick 'n Save/Metro Market store, please call "Chairman Bob" (Mariano), who has always been a very reasonable person, at 414-231-5804, and politely ask him to please continue to provide that customer service.

The Shepherd has been provided free to the residents of the Milwaukee area for almost 30 years, and we have never asked for anything in return. Now we would sincerely appreciate your help in letting Roundy's know that you appreciate their making your Shepherd so conveniently available.

If someone does not agree with the views of the Shepherd Express, they do not need to pick it up, but the 192,700 Pick 'n Save/Metro Market shoppers who read the Shepherd should not be penalized.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Louis Fortis

Publisher/Owner

The Shepherd Express

 

POST A COMMENT
REPLY TO THIS COMMENT
You only have yourself to blame. You've showed your true nature as a journalistic source and you've received the consequences. I don't blame Roundy's one bit for not wanting biased political sources on their newstands.

 

Like JS is so unbiased.  idiot.  some of us like the other side of the story.  thank you shepherd!  i will call to action!

 

OCCUPY PICK 'N SAVE!

 

Typical biased, delusional thinking displayed so prevalently. In reality, it shows that you are in fact the "idiot".

First, I never said the Journal wasn't biased. Moreover, Pick 'n Save does not give the Journal away on its newsstands. 

Second, I never said what side of the story I was on; this is created by your own assumptions. I only said that the Sheperds biased journalism could be the cause of their removal.

But seriously, keep commenting. It's rather entertaining.

 

Really. They can't handle 2 differing views of local politics. How pathetic. Perhaps those who back Pick n Save on this lameness can add that pathetic moniker to themselves.

 

The Shepherd does NOT have itself to blame.  This is another attempt by corporate American to tell you what to read and what to think. You and Pick N Save should not squelch free speech and the work of a genuine journalist publication.  Just because you disagree with its philosophy and approach does not mean you get to control information.  You want to try to confine communication and information strictly to your point of view and that starts the process of trying to control thought and action.  Allowing only those papers you like to be available to the entire community is your narrow-minded, feeble attempt to shut down free speech and a free press and discourse...and that, my friend, is un-American.

 

NOW what am I going to wrap my fish heads in???

(sigh)

 

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT
I used to work for Roundy's and I am confused. Chariman Bob has been a strong Democrat supporter. He has has a good working relationship with Ron Burkle who was a large contributor to the Clinton campaigns and the Democratic party. He had former Democrat Governor Evan Bayh on his board when he was at Dominicks. I was once asked to remove pictures of Republican presidents from my office wall. So I think there must be more to this story. Then again Repbulican Governor Walker has been doing all he can to help the grocery retailers in Wisconsin. The relationship between the Wisconsin Grocers Association and Gov Walker is tighter than Tupperware. Personally I do like being able to get a hard copy of the Shepherd from Pick 'N Save. While I do not always agree with Chairman Bob, I respect his good judgement. I don't know Roundy's is doing this but its quite possible it is not politically motivated.

 

"Pressroom Buzz contacted Roundy’s spokeswoman Vivian King and asked about speculation that something about the lefty paper’s content had led to its removal. King responded in an email: “We have made the decision to remove all free publication racks from our stores so that we may better focus on serving our customers’ grocery needs. This is a decision for all stores and all free publications. Not quite sure from where the rumors came that fueled your questions, but this decision has nothing to do with content of any publication.”"

http://www.insidemilwaukee.com/Article/962011-MoreJournalSentinelLayoffsAfoot

 

I think Chairman Bob I connected with the Democrats, which is what you need to succeed in Chicago.  So I'm glad to hear this was not politically motivated.

That portriat of Richard Nixon that was in my office -- its right next to Chairmam Bob's pic in my office now.

 

 

The goal is "Not to offend your paying customers". It holds for entertainment, it holds for shopping. Like entertainment is about "validating each member of the audience's personal prejudices and outlooks on life", the retail establishments must not offend the people they value the most... those who have money to spend! As the money gets concentrated higher up the socio-economic scale, this is only a natural reaction.

Everyone, rich and poor alike, wants to be in the company of those who are EQUAL or HIGHER than themselves, nobody wants to be in the company of those LOWER, which most likely holds one back from moving UP.

Verdict, work harder until you have enough money to spend, you will then be "valued". And if there are not enough jobs for everyone to have, something has got to give. Ending the entitlements and safety-nets has only one outcome, to starve out the undesirable excess, like choking out a weed. (A Republican Truth)

 

Waukesha Guy,  I know I'm higher up on the status scale. You are the only one that seems to be so damn status. Most people have more to worry about how high they're on the food chain.  I'm waiting for tomorrow to see if i have breast cancer so I could give a rats behind about you and your arrongant , stupid, and ways.  Grow up .  I agree with Louie.  Free speach!!  If you don't like the paper don't pick it up.  Many people like it. Karen

 

 

 

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT
Too Much Hate coming from this paper as of late, I'm fine with it's left view but my god the right is not always wrong and trying to ruin everything sorry to say I do not blame them

 

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT
Given the situation with the Brookfield stores during the Kloppenberg campaign, I refuse to believe this decision was not politically motivated. Knowing that the WI Grocers Association is in bed with Walker gives me further reason to speculate that the Right is pulling the strings here.

 

"I refuse to believe this decision was not politically motivated."

Yep, and they're removing all the other free papers just to throw us off the trail.

 

REPLY TO THIS COMMENT
Picked up a copy at OutPost & KMart Hales Corners. Will call Chairman Bob. Peronsally, I liked all the free literature, Metro Parent, Rental mags. etc. We need all viewpoints to evaluate the facts, and have an informed opinion when we go to the voting booth.

 

"We need all viewpoints to evaluate the facts, and have an informed opinion when we go to the voting booth."

It won't be hard to find. It'll still be available at over 1,040 or whatever locations.

 

 
 
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