Marketplace All-in-One The surveillance state comes for grocery stores
Jan 8, 2026
Pauline Gray, a retired neonatal intensive care nurse and Altadena homeowner, shares her experiences after devastating fires. She discusses her plans to rebuild and the importance of financial preparedness, highlighting her savings habits. The conversation also delves into the rise of surveillance technology in grocery stores, with retailers like Wegmans using biometric systems to deter theft and boost spending. Experts discuss the implications of such tech, including privacy concerns and regulatory gaps, revealing a complex landscape of consumer behavior and security.
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Survivor Preparing To Rebuild
- Pauline Gray's rental property lost a carport and fence while the main house survived with smoke mitigation and a new roof installed.
- She retained an architect and builder, plans were submitted, and she intends to rebuild using insurance and savings.
Pay Yourself First
- Pauline Gray recommends paying yourself first by saving a portion of every paycheck.
- She says she pays herself 20 percent of every check to prepare for emergencies like the fires.
Grocery Stores Are Becoming Surveillance Hubs
- Supermarkets like Wegmans are using biometric tech to track shoppers' faces, movements, and purchases.
- That surveillance both aims to prevent theft and to optimize pricing and encourage spending through behavioral data.