To Caviar, Postmates, and DoorDash:
Serve Ward 7 and 8 customers, too
If you claim to serve Washington, DC, you need to serve all 8 wards. #BridgeTheGap
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Campaign created by Latoya WatsonWashington, DC | D.C. Ward 7 Resident who's looking to bridge the gap between west and east of the river |
Campaign Victory!
With over 800 supporters, Latoya has gotten all three companies to deliver to the predominantly Black communities in Wards 7 and 8!
Find out how we won the campaign here.
Sign the petition
As current and potential customers, we want you to serve all Washingtonians equally by delivering to all eight wards.
By signing this petition, you are agreeing to receive occasional emails on this and related campaigns from Spendrise. You may of course unsubscribe at any time.
Let meal delivery services know you want equal treatment for all DC residents!
I’m a resident of Ward 7, a very diverse section of the District that I'm proud to call home. Ward 7 is home to D.C.’s largest park, Fort Dupont, and also home to Hip Hop Chicken & Fish, Sharks Seafood, and many other takeout restaurants that serve quick fried eats. I'm young, Black, and while I love to cook and frequent these ma' and pa' shops, I also want to experience the same service that Postmates, Caviar, and DoorDash provide in Logan Circle, Columbia Heights, or even just across the bridge in Capitol Hill and H St. Unfortunately, this isn't my reality.
In Ward 7, over 94% of the community here is African American, whereas Ward 2, for example, is 71% white.1 Ward 7 and 8 have limited access to delivery services, and it goes beyond food. We also don't have the same access to services such as Zipcar and Car2go. As new companies promise a better, more open, more convenient future, these experiences make me ask, a better future for whom?
The proof is in the data and it's pretty hard to miss that delivery services are disproportionately leaving out Black individuals, like me, my family, and my neighbors. Black people deserve quality food and equal service. I'm raising my hand to call for that change. With 24% of the District’s population here, we are a huge consumer base that's being ignored and underserved. This needs to change. #HungryInEastoftheRiver #BridgeTheGap
Sources: 1. https://suburbanstats.org/population/washington-dc/how-many-people-live-in-ward-2
Ward 7 and Ward 8 account for 24% of the District's population
Of a total 601,723 residents counted in the 2010 US Census, 141,780 of them resided in Wards 7 and 8. 95% of the residents in these two wards were Black.
Exhibit A) Postmates: "Anything, anywhere, anytime"?
Anywhere, apparently, but Ward 7 and 8.
Exhibit B) DoorDash's mission is to "connect people with the best in their cities"
Which people, DoorDash?
Exhibit C) Caviar: services the "Washington, DC Metro Area"
"Not East of the Anacostia, Washington, DC" just doesn't have the same ring to it.
Are we missing a business?
It's no secret that businesses don't serve communities east of the Anacostia River equally. We picked these three to start. Email info@spendrise.com if there's a company that is not serving all customers equally that you feel like should be part of this campaign, and the Spendrise team will get back to you with next steps.
Reasons for signing
Tyrell HResident of Ward 7 or 8
As a native of Ward 7 I've watched other areas experience rapid growth to include new sit down restaurants and food delivery options. The lack of food options on the East End, unfortunately is one of race, this injustice must end!
Barbara D. MResident of Ward 7 or 8
Some of residents of Ward 7 go across the bridge to spend our money. If you offer delivery than we can stay home and have food delivery. This is a job for some one, to deliver service.
Amy LResident of Ward 7 or 8
I find it incredibly sad that your services don't deliver to Ward 7. None of my family or friends in DC use your services because you don't deliver to me as a Ward 7 resident and they find that reprehensible and discriminatory.
Rachel RResident of Ward 7 or 8
I live within 1.5 - 2 miles of many restaurants along the H street cooridor, yet none of the delivery services will come to my house because I live East of the River. This is nothing less than modern day redlining.
N. LResident of Ward 7 or 8
My neighborhood is black, but that doesn't mean we don't like to order delivery...
Andrea DResident of Ward 7 or 8
Serve all the people in DC. Do it for good reasons, but know that DC residents include many strong-minded activists who could boycott companies that discriminate, support lawsuits to force service, and support companies with a reputation for serving the community.
Kristal QResident of Ward 7 or 8
This is a missed business opportunity. Wards 7 & 8 are food deserts. Few restaurants or grocery stores. With limited food options, a delivery service would make a killing if they serviced these areas.
Bernadette TResident of Ward 7 or 8
Uber Eats gets all of the $500/mo minimum I spend on food delivery service, and I'm not unique. The residents in this community deserve equal access to ALL of the benefits to city living - but because you don't deliver, Uber and Amazon are making a killing off of me. Having a potentially discriminatory business model is not Smart, the optics are terrible, and you're losing money. Do better.
Jenna UCurrent Customer
I work in Ward 8 and use your service less at home in Ward 6 because you don't service the entire city.
Alexis WCurrent Customer
I'm not a DC resident but I do work in DC, in Ward 6, literally just a couple blocks from Ward 7 and the Anacostia River. If you can deliver to me at there, you can deliver to Wards 7 and 8!
Meredith BCurrent Customer
Wards 7 and 8 are food deserts and underserved in every way. Businesses need to realize that there is money to be made East of the River and that it is in their business' best interest to do business there. And it is simply the right thing to do.
Sophia H
Convenience is one reason people love meal delivery services, and considering that many folks in Wards 7 & 8 live in food deserts, these delivery services should make an even greater effort to bridge the gap.
Tamara V
I can't really say it better than Latoya did, but your practice is discriminatory and also stupidly missing out on a lot of customers.
Chris G
There is no reason that I should have access to food delivery as a resident of upper NW, when Wards 7 and 8 are oftentimes located closer to your partnering restaurants. Until you begin serving ALL of DC's residents, I won't be using your services.