Letter to the Editor: 'Chicken Littles' Don't See ShopRite's Upside

Dear Editor,

Unfortunately, as is the case recently with many of the “issues” in Wyckoff, the ShopRite matter has been usurped by a small minority of Chicken Little residents that foist propaganda regarding traffic, trees and their singular vision of the town’s drastic downfall on their fellow citizens. These scare tactics are tired and insult the intelligence of progressive minded residents who they claim to speak for, but who actually despise their message.

While it is comical that the CLs never address how Wyckoff possibly survived two supermarkets in the same locations for many years, their biggest oversight is who these residents are trying to keep out of Wyckoff: the Inserra family. 

The Inserras are deservedly recognized as extremely generous and caring in the areas where their other supermarkets are located.  There are countless stories about the ShopRite in Ramsey repeatedly donating to local schools and consistently supporting charity efforts in the area. 

As a resident of Mahwah for a period of time that frequented the Inserra’s Ramsey location, I can personally attest to the congeniality and small business feel of the store, which greatly contrasts with the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest atmosphere of the massive Wyckoff Stop & Shop. Furthermore, the Inserras provide generous donations to numerous charities through the Inserra Family Foundation, including hefty donations to support diabetes research.

The tunnel vision of the CLs prevents them from seeing anything outside of their narrow, detached worldview. These same people who harp about Wyckoff losing its old school charm are actively opposing an application from a family that is everything they supposedly support: small business, consideration of their neighbors and active, beneficial participants in their local communities. 

Can the same thing be said for the massive Stop & Shop corporation? Perhaps if the CLs could actually see the forest through the trees (pun intended,) they would reconsider their contradictory position.

Sincerely,

Joseph R. Haftek, Jr.
Wyckoff, NJ

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