Being of that demographic, I scheduled a shopping trip to City Market during the 7-8 a.m. hour reserved for seniors. My estimate is that upwards of 40% of the shoppers were at least a decade younger than seniors; many were several decades younger. And they were filling carts, not just buying a coffee before work.
I found this both disappointing and alarming.
I know Cortez has a rugged, individualistic character, more inclined to rely on self than community. I often admire that. But not in this instance.
Behavior which puts others at risk of serious illness or death is irresponsible selfishness. I was alarmed because, in fact, many seniors were taking advantage of this safe shopping opportunity. So the pool of people likely to be at risk of the consequences of this disregard has been enlarged during this window of time.
I appreciate the thought and effort City Market put into creating this opportunity for seniors to shop more safely. I can understand why they don’t want the added burden of manning the entrances and asking for IDs before letting people in. But without that, what has been created is an environment where a concentration of seniors are put at risk by the disregard of younger shoppers.
I would prefer that the young accept how potentially consequential their choice could be and forgo shopping during what is only three hours each week. Absent that, I would feel safer if City Market policed the doors or abandoned the special shopping hours.
Chuck LeechCortez
