"Ultra" Discriminatory Sales Practices

The Advoc8te was just made aware of a Washington City Paper article announcing that Ultra, an alcohol delivery service is coming to the District.  

Ultra, which already operates in the New York City area and Chicago, is launching in D.C. this week, and will deliver any amount of booze to someone for a $5 fee. Customers can log on to Ultra's website, orderultra.com, type in their ZIP code, and scroll the beer, wine, and liquor options.

Sounds great right? Well hold your horses if you live east of the river. This new service does not apply to you. The City Paper has the details:

Ultra will deliver alcohol between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m, which means no late-night delivery. For now, Ultra says it will only deliver to certain areas, including much of Northwest, Capitol Hill, the Southwest waterfront, and H Street NE—and not, say, east of the Anacostia River. Shah says Ultra won't offer service where delivery people would "feel that the area is not safe for them."

BOOOOOOOO!

I can't even say this is a surprise. It feels like the last 3 major "convenience" services all included some caveat about not servicing wards 7 and 8 -- all under the auspices of safety or lack of demand. At what point will D.C. residents, business owners, and our local government stand up and speak out AGAINST this discriminatory practice of not servicing east of the river? This is the nation's capital for goodness sakes! We should be setting the example of economic and social inclusion!

Just how "convenient"and "ground breaking" are these new amneties when they refuse to service at least 25% of the DC population? I don 't know about you but that doesn't feel very "one city" to me. So despite "expanding" to the DC market -- and more than happy to deliver to President Obama in NW - Ultra really doesn't see the need to service Mayor Vincent Gray in Ward 7. I can't be sure but  I have a feeling that Mayor Gray feels very safe in Ward 7 and enjoys an occasional beer after a hard day at the office.

Why do we have to continue to embarrass and shame these companies into doing the right thing? Why is it okay for a company to say IN A PRESS RELEASE that they won't deliver east of the river? 

At what point will the public and private sector see the value and importance (for all DC residents) to invest in Wards 7 and 8 (other than with more affordable and transitional housing) with a comparable level of commitment, quality, and speed as west of the river?

It seems that more than a river divides us and there is nothing "ultra" about that.

Do your part. Ask for a "last call" for Ultra in DC until they decide that their expansion should include ALL OF DC and not just the parts they pick and choose. You can tweet them at @orderultra

Now let's drink to that!