Cynthia Nixon called out of touch with reality by CVS manager for saying shoplifters shouldn't be prosecuted
Recently, actor Cynthia Nixon slammed her local CVS store for putting basic items like detergent under lock and key. She tweeted about this on Thursday, May 27, and in response to this, the manager of the local CVS has spoken out, saying the 'Sex and the City' star "didn't understood what was going on."
The tweet by the 'Sex and the City' star was labeled as pro-shoplifting, with many mocking her for "incompetent moral grandstanding.”
Nixon was responding to a tweet about how recent mayoral and DA candidates have claimed that they would not prosecute shoplifters as it 'criminalizes poverty'. She tweeted: "As so many families can’t make ends meet right now, I can’t imagine thinking that the way to solve the problem of people stealing basic necessities out of desperation is to prosecute them."
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In response, the manager of the SoHo CVS, close to Nixon's $3.2 million apartment, spoke out and said that she was out of touch with reality.
The manager Vincent said while speaking to Daily Mail, "Miss Cynthia Nixon, I don't think you understand what is going on," and added, "If you feel that way, maybe one day you should come here and see what we go through. Because people are in danger too - they come in here, and start with customers and they start with the people here that work."
Vincent said they had to put some of the common yet valued items such as skincare creams, toothpaste, detergent, and cosmetics under lock as they were stolen with ease and then resold in the bodegas. He stressed that the scale of the theft was bigger than expected. He explained, "The main reason why we are doing lockdown is because it's not a petty crime any more."
Vincent further added, "They are going above and beyond, and taking shelves. They are putting it in knapsacks and taking everything."
He also said that he did feel bad about the New Yorkers who were suffering financially, but said he did not believe that the theft was done by those who were going hungry. "The empathy for the people I have - if they take one item, I'm not going to stop them," he said.
He said, "But they clear shelves. It's not about them surviving to eat. It's about getting money to buy drugs." Vincent then explained that locking certain items up is for the good of customers as a whole, as it ensures that the cabinets are not emptied by those who pillage the stores. He added, "I just want the people out there to know that we try to keep a safe environment, so when people come out to shop there are items on the shelves. Not stolen. And that's what it's all about."
Vincent added, "We try to keep it safe and be courteous to everyone. Including the people who come in to steal. I hope this gets out there. This CVS is not about locking down, and not giving to the customers. It's about making sure the items are still on the shelves for them to buy."
Nixon’s take on shoplifting was met with outrage and baffled amazement. “Why don’t you leave the doors to your posh co-op unlocked, and the closets and freezer stocked. Those in need can come help themselves?” replied Thomas Kenniff, a former prosecutor who is running for Manhattan DA.
“You live in a neighborhood of $3 million-dollar apartments and townhouses. No one at your CVS is ‘desperate’ to steal ‘basic necessities'. This isn’t just moral grandstanding on your part, it’s really incompetent moral grandstanding,” a twitter user said.