Here is my follow up to everything that happened with Publix. I am extremely annoyed at @Publix now and the CEO Todd Jones. On Wednesday May 16th I called his office and left a message wanting to talk to him about the donation to Adam Putnam. At that time, news of the donation
was first breaking. I never heard back. Last week on Thursday morning, the day of the die in, I left another message and this time I did hear back. I explained to him how unfortunate it was that he did not call back the week before as he had the chance to do something proactive.
When I finally had the chance to speak with him on Thursday, I asked him for two things. One was to come to Parkland and to visit with the families who have been affected by this violence. He had explained to me that morning the change in Publix policy and I asked him to come
explain that in person and to hear from us why we are concerned about the donations to Putnam. I also let him know that most other large Florida based companies had donated to the victims fund but Publix had not and perhaps Publix could make a donation to offset what they gave to
Putnam. He said he would get back to me on both items. When I did not hear back, I called again today and we did speak. He had the gall to say to me that because the die in made this so political that he would not be able to come down here to meet with the Parkland kids and
families, as a reminder we are customers, and that Publix would not be making any donation to the victims fund. That is the right of Publix to make a decision like that, but I also have the right to call it out. To be clear, this became political because of the donation to
Putnam and the lack of response from Publix until there was an outcry. The victims in Parkland did not make this political.
