Rick Caruso is a local Los Angeles mega-developer. Some of his handiwork is The Grove shopping center, next to the iconic Farmer's Market. His latest venture is The Americana at Brand in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale. These are very upscale shopping venues that are big on the mixed-use urban concept of living and shopping all in the same general area.
In a Q & A with the Left Angeles Times, the interviewer (Patt Morrison) asks about the color, the flavor of these new landmarks. This is why Mr. Caruso is a douchebag:
What about the more colorful elements of urban life? Street characters and the like? For example, were there Salvation Army bell ringers at the Grove?
No. They were on the Farmers Market side, but not the Grove side. We are very charitable, [but] the one year we had [bell ringers], people complained a lot -- a little bit too aggressive.
The Salvation Army?
Some of the people can be. It's not the old Salvation Army you and I remember, nicely dressed, courteous.
What planet is this imbecile on? Aggressive? Unkempt?
This is not a first for the venerable Salvation Army.
The Target department store chain several years ago decided to keep the Christmas season bell-ringers away from their stores. Amazingly, the chain gave a similar reason. Yet they could not provide any situation in which there was aggression practiced by the people who stand in front of the entrance, ring a bell and have a red kettle so people can or not drop some money in to help this organization do what it does.
Now, I am not a member of The Salvation Army. Yes, it is a Christian organization and an actual denomination. It is set up in a military sort of way. There are generals, commanders, majors and so on. And yes, it is decidedly evangelical.
And, it sure was not the federal government that entered the battered city of New Orleans in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was The Salvation Army.
Now, bank to Mr. Caruso and the interviewer, Miss Morrison.
In the way that Miss Morrison framed the question, it was to insinuate that The Salvation Army is some circus side show. What about the more colorful elements of urban life? Street characters and the like? For example, where there Salvation Army ringers at The Grove?
Hey, Patt! The Salvation Army is not a colorful element of urban life! They are everywhere in every community. They are passionate about helping any one in any need anywhere and anytime.
And then there is a justification before Mr. Caruso spreads the lie that The Salvation Army bellringers are aggressive. We are very charitable. Hey, Rick! I don't give a rats ass what you are as far as charity. It is not about you, Ace. It is about not denigrating an organization, built on Christian principles, trying to peacefully raise money during the Christmas season. Then ol' Ricky boy makes this outrageous statement. It's not the old Salvation Army you and I remember, nicely dressed and courteous. Again, Ricky boy, what planet are you on? In my encounters with the bellringers this past Christmas season, none looked like Union Rescue Mission rejects. And they were nothing but courteous. And grateful when I dropped a buck in. And really grateful when I was able to drop five bucks in the kettle right before Christmas.
People like Mr. Caruso should get out once in a while and be in the real world. Not the make-believe world of the urban utopia that he seeks to build throughout Southern California.
The Salvation Army is a wonderful group of totally committed Christians that are trying to make the world a better place. And they help in places that people like Mr. Caruso would never, ever step a toe, let alone a foot, in.
For this, Rick J. Caruso is a douchebag. And he owes The Salvation Army a big apology.
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