Jason asked: "Did you ask patrons of the Hood Stores why they shop there? I'd be inclined to give poor people more credit than being prey for predatory corner grocers."
I say: WIC coupons present a major business for these "hood" stores. In fact I drove by several stores tonight and noticed that there were very large signs in the windows saying "We accept WIC and FOOD STAMPS (EBT)." There is a reason they advertise so noticeably. WIC coupons are presented to the store and the patron receives the items listed on the coupon. The patron does not have to give any consideration to the price of that item. There is no monetary allotment. It is simply a coupon entitling the recipient to the item listed on the coupon regardless of price. The coupons say 1 dozen eggs, 2 gallons milk, 1 lb. cheese, 2 boxes cereal, 1 gallon juice, 1 case formula, etc. I posted previously that I have watched a store owner charge $6.39 for a 1 lb. block of cheese that would have cost $1.69 at Rainbow or Cub. Formula is a HUGE cash cow for these "hood" stores. Formula is VERY expensive. The "hood" stores charge BIG money for this item and get BIG money in return. If there is no impetus for the recipient of the items on the WIC coupon to care about price why would they care where they get the item. The corner or "hood" store is only a block away. To get the same items at a major grocery retailer would require a bus, taxi or car ride. Or, in some cases a VERY VERY Long walk. Remember, Phillips, Elliot Park, Powderhorn Park, Corcoran and Central have no major retail grocers located in these neighborhood boundaries. As far as "Food Stamps" or "EBT" goes, the "hood" store owners accept EBT cards for items that are not eligible for purchase on these cards on a pretty regular basis. Cigarettes, beer, crack paraphernalia, rolling papers, cash, etc. As I stated in a previous post, the purchases on EBT cards and WIC coupons are randomly audited. The county has very few people assigned to this function. So...the store owners obviously feel their chances of getting caught are slim and do whatever they can get away with. Even if they get caught they generally just get a hand slapping or lose their license to accept the EBT cards and WIC coupons. They just change the business license into someone else's name and are back in business by the next week. So what are the real consequences here. I will say that some store owners have actually done jail time. The previous owners of a chain of "hood" stores called "Z's" markets got popped for fencing stolen goods and WIC fraud and actually spent some time in jail. "Hood" people shop at these stores even though they are getting gouged because they are close and they can walk to them. Mostly they are getting chips, pop, junk food, or an item they forgot to get at the regular grocery store. Most of these people do their major shopping at a bigger grocery retailer. Cigarettes are about the same price at the hood stores as they are at the bigger supermarkets. The chances of the corner store accepting the EBT card for items not eligible for purchase is far greater than at a major grocery retailer. The major stores have it all programmed in their scanners. Where the slippery slope gets even worse is at months end when the patron has nothing left on EBT and has used all the WIC coupons. The "hood" stores often times extend credit in exchange for......... The mother needs food for the kids, formula and diapers for the baby so what's a 30 second quicky in the back room compared to no food?. I am not justifying this only stating that that's the way it is. As I posted previously, one of the owners of the corner store by my house was running prostitutes out of the basement. He didn't get popped for that. He got popped for WIC fraud and selling stolen goods out of the store. I also have many singles living on my block that live on pizza, chips and pop. They are also without cars and the big grocery store is a 6 block walk. Those people shop at the "hood" store and pay the extra price rather than walk to the other grocery store. As far as the comment about people of color or poor people getting treated disrespectfully by these store owners go I think these people are used to getting treated in a suspicious manner so there is nothing new about these attitudes. The "hood" store people are just more direct about their suspicions than at other places. You think people or color or people who look "poor" aren't getting followed around in Marshall Fields just because they look poor or have skin of color and may be dressed in hip hop and wearing a little bling bling? As a mother of a black son I can tell you that I have watched my son get stereotyped pretty regularly by people in stores, theaters, restaurants, etc. Especially now that he is older and looking more hip hop. The "hood" store is just more blatant about it. I still say that part of the solution is to limit the number of "hood" or convenience stores that can exist within a certain space. It's not the end all answer but it would certainly be a big help. Those old 1920's corner store buildings should be converted to another use. Barb Lickness Whittier ===== "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
