NYT: Food Co-op Exile's Story Demands 2,000 Words
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and…
Comrades, a new bar has just been set for Park Slope Food Co-op navel gazing: “For such a scrutinized institution, little public attention is paid to people like me—co-op failures and near-failures who have struggled to stay in good standing and have stumbled in the cramped aisles. Like every other aspect of the much-loved and much-hated co-op, the topic of members in trouble draws a bushel of opinions. An organic bushel, of course…The co-op, a place that raises aspirations for society, makes us raise aspirations for ourselves. I am still suspended, but imagine myself someday returning and remaining in good standing. Nostalgically, I envision old friends and former roommates in the aisles, examining the white nectarines. But I wonder: couldn’t it be a little mellower?” —Flunking Out at the Food Co-op
Photo by Betty Blade.
Obviously the work requirement is satisfying some ideological desire.
Or else it is just like fraternity hazing… “I had to go through it so everyone has to go through it even worse!” sort of thing.
I have said it before: the coop would be better served if it expanded and added locations than how it is now. But it won’t do that. So instead it is this cultish thing. I had no idea that missing shifts added to your work hours, though. That is insane.
And from my one trip inside (as a guest, and yes, both the member and I had to show id), I have to say it was so damn crowded on a Tuesday afternoon that I have no idea how anyone can shop there who has a normal 9 to 5 job.
I’m not a coop member and don’t plan on joining because I don’t live close enough for it to be worth it time wise, plus I have other options that are reasonably close in price and quality. What I don’t understand is why people are snotty enough to thumb their noses at the writer’s words and to suggest that everyone who shops in Park Slope or surrounding areas makes $75 an hour. Now if that’s a consultant’s fee and you only can bill 3 hours a day that’s one thing, but if you’re making over $125,000 a year then you shouldn’t complain about sacrificing 3 hours a week.
I prefer to drive to Fairway…that’s me, but I found the article very interesting. I have friends who have said similar things about the coop and not in terms of missing their shifts, but in terms of the “standing around” jobs that don’t accomplish anything. If I had any criticism of the article it’d be that the writer quotes her friends instead of conducting interviews with random members.
I’m not a coop member and don’t plan on joining because I don’t live close enough for it to be worth it time wise, plus I have other options that are reasonably close in price and quality. What I don’t understand is why people are snotty enough to thumb their noses at the writer’s words and to suggest that everyone who shops in Park Slope or surrounding areas makes $75 an hour. Now if that’s a consultant’s fee and you only can bill 3 hours a day that’s one thing, but if you’re making over $125,000 a year then you shouldn’t complain about sacrificing 3 hours a week.
I prefer to drive to Fairway…that’s me, but I found the article very interesting. I have friends who have said similar things about the coop and not in terms of missing their shifts, but in terms of the “standing around” jobs that don’t accomplish anything. If I had any criticism of the article it’d be that the writer quotes her friends instead of conducting interviews with random member.s
Sounds poorly managed.
Is this news? I’m tired of reading all these insipid articles about Park Slope. Maybe the Times should hire reporters who live in other neighborhoods so that we can get some real stories.
Though this article is completely obnoxious, as a coop member, I do question the logic of maintaining the same work requirements when number of members has soared. It’s absolute mayhem in the office and no one knows what they’re doing because there’s too many people to train.
Also… there are supposedly 15,000 members? That means there are 45,000 monthly hours that are supposed to be worked. The place only operates about 450 hours per month. That means there is a 100 : 1 ratio of man hours to operational hours?!
The building can’t fit that many people. Something is completely doesn’t add up here!!
At any given hour there are 33+ members floating around “working”??! Are you kidding me?
By the way… the article is actually 2,300 words. Thank gawd this woman teaches *poetry* at Hunter. I certainly hope she’s not teaching prose and expository writing!!
Someone should share this article with her department chair. I hope she doesn’t include this as a writing sample in her tenure dossier. It won’t help! 🙂
Doesn’t the opportunity cost argument only work when you have that opportunity/choice? Most people working, I imagine, are doing it in their off-time, not forgoing a chance to work at some hourly job.
This co-op this is sooooo played-out and tired. Don’t like it, don’t go. If awesome quality groceries at great prices aren’t worth it, don’t go. If you (the writer) find it so hard to abide by the 1 rule of actually showing up once a month to your agreed-upon shift, which is what makes the co-op operate, don’t join. Go to Key Food. There are way too many members to have to deal with a bunch of whiny babies.