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MLK Save-A-Lot Closing Feb. 16, Plunging South Dallas Deeper into Food Insecurity

DALLAS WEEKLY NEWS — While the loss of local Save-A-Lot stores deals a blow to the community, the MLK store’s poor performance over the last year has already offered the first bitter taste of its absence. South Dallas’ increasingly rampant food insecurity has a direct correlation with various other statistics, such as poor educational performance and poor health. As South Dallas residents have among the lowest median income in the city, food and housing infrastructure will continue to crumble until the city provides greater support.
The post MLK Save-A-Lot Closing Feb. 16, Plunging South Dallas Deeper into Food Insecurity first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 year ago

February 20, 2024

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Who Owns South Dallas?

By Brianna Patt | Dallas Weekly Newspaper

As Moran Foods, LLC. has announced the closure of the Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Save-A-Lot, poorer residents of Dallas are seeing dwindling grocery options in areas with already scarce access to resources. As current city and state politics foster greater economic divides, history shows us the issue will get worse before it gets better.

South Dallas’ food insecurity issue is about to get a lot worse.

In a press release last Monday, Urban Harvest Food Co. and Shekinah Legacy Holdings announced that Moran Foods LLC. has ended talks of a partnership and has decided to close the MLK Save-A-Lot store on Feb. 16. The store has been a community staple for affordable groceries for over two decades, but its operation has been rendered unstable since 2020 when Moran made the decision to transition to a wholesale business model. Employees were reportedly told by Moran Foods that the “landlord wanted them out” despite the business voluntarily leaving the lot.

“The store has never been doing ‘that great,’ but it was an option,” Nicki, a resident of South Dallas said of the closure. “Now you go up the street, things are double, triple the price at Fiesta. Where am I supposed to get food? Closest other stores are in Pleasant Grove.”

Scottie Smith of Shekinah Legacy Holdings was quick to voice his disapproval, stating that previous dealings with Moran Foods suggested there was more time to prove the viability of the store.

“The abrupt announcement of the closure by Moran Foods is a blow to South Dallas,” Smith said in the press release regarding the decision. “For half a year, we were in active negotiations to take over the store’s operations, intending to ensure the area’s sustained access to essential food supplies[…] Their sudden decision to shut down, bypassing a community-inclusive solution, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the wellbeing of South Dallas residents.”

Prior to talks with Smith, Moran Foods had established its standard contract agreement with independent owner, Yellow Banana LLC., a DC-based company focusing on making low-cost groceries accessible in food deserts across the country. As Yellow Banana reportedly did not meet contractual obligations in operating the store, with residents and employees citing extremely low stock of products, Moran Foods terminated the partnership.

Now, despite previous promises of a gradual closure, Moran Foods is shut down grocery operations at the building on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. on Feb. 16.

“I mean, [if the economy] keeps getting worse, then the city is going to have to do something right?” South Dallas Local Darrien says. “People can’t live without food, and one grocery store for this neighborhood isn’t gonna cut it.”

While Yellow Bananas handling of the MLK Save-A-Lot was just another flop on the LLC’s already lackluster record of providing viable options to inner-city residents, the company’s poor management contributed to the location’s mounting economic failures. Now, as the company prepares to close its doors permanently, residents of the neighborhood are now forced to rely on the Fiesta Food Mart of Fair Park as the sole low-cost grocer in the area.

Residents have called for the city to provide greater food options to the area. But as the office of District 7 Councilmember Adam Bazaldua has previously stated, the commission of additional grocers “would be based on the income levels of an area and the viability of the stores.”

Food pantries have similarly become less common in South Dallas, with operations steadily decreasing since 2020.

Like all lower-income Texans, poorer residents living in areas like South Dallas pay a higher percentage of taxes than higher-income Texans. As sales tax has been found as the most regressive tax policy, taking higher percentages of smaller incomes, residents of South Dallas pay proportionally more while having less access to adequate resources.

Food insecurity has been rampant in South Dallas for years, however, the city has not been successful in implementing a significant improvement to options in the area. As we interviewed the City of Dallas last year in covering this issue previously, the city does not consider an area for the commission of grocers if the investment can not be proven to be economically viable. However, efforts have been taken on to make grocery items more accessible further south, closer to Red Bird and Cedar Crest.

South Dallas/Fair Park’s employed population accounts for over 22,000 of the workforce in Dallas. Variably, 35% of workers of the entirety of Southern Dallas County are in the blue collar sector and a separate 28.7% work in an industry working with the public, such as education, health, and social sectors.

Additionally, South Dallas/Fair Park holds a child population of around 8,000, raising concerns of poor diets for students in the area. Adults are also worried about the disillusionment youth of the neighborhood feel about their living standards.

“We have high school students across the street come and ask me for a job,” says Eric Patt, current manager of the store. “As someone in this community, a manager of a business in South Dallas, I try to play a positive role. Now this business is shutting down and it doesn’t do a lot for these kids.”

While the loss of local Save-A-Lot stores deals a blow to the community, the MLK store’s poor performance over the last year has already offered the first bitter taste of its absence. South Dallas’ increasingly rampant food insecurity has a direct correlation with various other statistics, such as poor educational performance and poor health.

As South Dallas residents have among the lowest median income in the city, food and housing infrastructure will continue to crumble until the city provides greater support.

The post MLK Save-A-Lot Closing Feb. 16, Plunging South Dallas Deeper into Food Insecurity first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

1 day ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

3 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: