Security Guards were called to CVS because of youth shoplifting and threatening customers.
Photo: JOHN ALLE
Recently, there was an opinion piece circulating in our community about inappropriate juvenile activity throughout the Village and in and around CVS Pharmacy. I think we can all agree that this continuing bad behavior by a growing number of school-aged kids is unacceptable and must stop.
However, some have asserted that the property owner at which CVS is a tenant, The Palisades American Legion is partly responsible for the unattended juveniles’ behavior because they’re somehow being greedy and not spending money on security. As a very involved community member, I respectfully think that such opinions should be addressed with a few important realities and facts.
First, the issue is most appropriately remedied by parents monitoring their children’s location and activity. Somehow over the past few years it’s become fashionable to let our children roam unattended throughout the Village and get into trouble. I know we want our children to experience independence, but as the problem grows, it seems that we all have a part to play in the solution. Monitoring and educating our own children on what is and is not appropriate behavior in the community that we all share seems to be a good place to start.
Next, it’s customarily the contractual responsibility of the commercial tenant, CVS Pharmacy to hire security at their leased premises. Only the tenant can address the kids bad behavior, and have the police make arrests if warranted. As the property owner, the American Legion would typically not have the right to impose security at CVS Pharmacy.
Lastly, the Palisades American Legion, constituted by United States veterans who have honorably served our country, has plowed millions of dollars back into our community over the decades from the rent they receive from their tenants (CVS and the US Postal Service). Accusing this non-profit entity of being greedy or profit-seeking is simply wrong. We should all thank the men and women of the Legion for financially supporting the July 4th Parade, Pali High, all our local schools, the Palisades Recreation Center, and the list goes on. Without the financial support and generosity of this community jewel, we’d all be begging for money to fund our community important causes.
-Matthew Rodman
Businessman, Community Volunteer (Sparkplug Winner) and 25-year Resident
Amen!
Well said and very correct.
Yes!
We were ‘free-range’ when we were teenagers.
Thankfully cell phone and other forms of tracking weren’t available.
BUT, and it’s a big BUT we knew not to steal! We knew not to shoot off fireworks in town! We didn’t hassle elders (and, heck that was anyone over 30) We knew limits.
And if we did get out of line there were consequences! Being grounded for weeks. No friends over. Home straight after school. No TV. etc
Yeah, I’m old now, but these kids are royal a-holes!
Additionally, my thought about the ongoing problems at CVS is one that many chain retailers face. As costs have risen, they have employed fewer and fewer people in their stores. Going into CVS at all hours, I’m always astounded that you seldom see more than one employee on the floor, usually monitoring the self check out stands. Yes, pharmacy has 5 or 6 people at busy times but they are in the back corner. There are third-party stocking personnel but they are not responsible for monitoring store activity. In a store that size, you are asking for trouble thinking theft isn’t going to be a problem. It’s wide open, and teenagers, other bad actors, know it.