A Wyoming resident emailed John Bucksbaum, Chief Executive Officer of General Growth, parent company of RiverTown Mall, to protest the recent moving of the bus stop 100 yards away from the mall entrance. While surprised to receive a phone call from Bucksbaum's assistant, Brian McCarthy, that surprise turned quickly to disappointment as his response went beyond the expected brush off.
McCarthy emphasized that the Grandville Police had responded to 69 incidents at the bus stop over the past five years--including an assault on Nov. 13. The Grand Rapid Press quoted the Grandville police department as saying no real problem exists.
"That article was wrong," McCarthy said. "We've had several assaults, rowdy behavior and the bus stop's location near a main mall entrance makes it easier for shoplifters to get away."
Perhaps something on the order of the movie "Speed"? Hard to believe Grandville's boys in blue missed that. Perhaps they were in line at Panera Bread waiting for pastries.
McCarthy went on to say that the decision does not affect senior citizens or the disabled because the Go! Bus still stops at the entrance. Of course, he failed to consider that many seniors and handicapped persons ride the Rapid busses, as well.
The Wyoming resident repeated the statement that moving the bus stop discriminated against people of color and those with lower incomes. McCarthy sees no discrimination because, after all, employees have to park in the same area as the bus stop and many mall shoppers have to walk more than a hundred yards from their parking spots. (Of course, those with cars didn't have to wait for a bus on a cold street corner with no bus shelter or spend nearly as much time traveling to and from the mall.)
On the positive side, receiving a response from General Growth indicates that they are listening to public reaction. If the reaction is strong enough, maybe the damage control staff in their PR department won't be able to smooth this one over.
Meanwhile, let's all shop local businesses.
Bucksbaum's email:
john.bucksbaum@generalgrowth.com
