THE CONVENIENCE STORE CONTROVERSY

THE CONVENIENCE STORE CONTROVERSY From the very start, Heather explained the reason why LeMar was, always, so short of cash. A reason, which even **I** could understand, even if it did make very little sense. the reason, for the controversy, which lead to the investigation. Many times, my neighbor and I had watched, from his porch as, each payday, too many people took LINK benefits out, to name brand stores, and convenience stores, buying cases of booze, as well as name brand snacks. Heather told me that she watched, from her porch, as well. The problem, which the feds were investigating, was the question of HOW people, receiving LINK benefits, of $150.00 per month, could be LINK "bankrupt", after just one week. When Heather wondered why the feds began calling LINK clients in, I suggested "Maybe, it is to find out about purchasing choices." Heather would say that "In that case, my boyfriend is in serious trouble." Serious trouble, indeed. From what Heather, myself, and my friend, learned, it would seem that the feds were confused. With the exception of a microscopic few, just about everyone, on LINK, had gone through budgetting classes. (Of course, I had taken nearly ten YEARS, worth of English classes, yet I can not tell the difference between a past, present, and future, participal.) No, the people, who were at the heart of the investigation, were those, whose LINK cards showed extensive purchases, made the first week of each month. Now, while most of the convenience stores used the motto of "No one is required to shop here", one store had been cagey, indeed. In order to draw in more low-income business, one convenience store operator had customers agree to sign credit lists. (Like the old, coal mining towns) The operator kept a list of all credit purchases, then had the person pay up, the next month. Even more cagey was the fact that the store allowed people to rack up debts, which would take months to cover. That is, until the federal review came to town. When the store owner claimed "No one is forced to shop here. They come, and I serve them." The feds used a court order to shut the place, within 72 hours. The rest were not so easy to shut. After all, NO one is REQUIRED to shop, anywhere. While convenience store regulars were put back into budgetting classes, my friend, Heather, and myself, wondered if it would make any difference. After all, Heather said that her boyfriend shopped at the convenience store, for the "prestege". While the feds were reviewing her boyfriend, Heather and I took some of his receipts, which Heather had saved, and visited one of OUR favorite, discount, grocery, stores. While we found the name brand version, in a container 2.5 times the size of that, at the convenience store, for the same price. When we looked at the generic, we found real savings. Normally, the man spent $125-150, per trip, to the convenience store. This for, at most, two bags of groceries. At the discount store, Heather and I verified that we could fill 1.5 shopping CARTS, with the same amount of money. While Heather had told me that she would prefer to shop less often, and stock more, her mistake was in believing that her man had been honest, in saying that he would not abuse his access to her benefits, or her apartment. This is why Heather was not certain if she had just misplaced her things, but, only until she looked at a local pawn shop. When she had asked her landlord to replace her unit lock, the landlord had quoted "$200.00, plus tax" An amount which Heather could NOT afford. This is when I asked "What about your parents house?" Heather had said "You haven't met them, yet." When I did meet them, and proposed the storage agreement, her mother had said "Fine by us. Just make sure it is during the day-time." Heather would tell me "My parents, and the day-time. Like life stops at sun-down." It was a few days later when Heather received the visit. While she thought it would be HIM, to say when he would be available, again, it turned out to be the police. Heather was told "Maam, he skipped town. If you hear from him, call us." Heather agreed. When we returned to bed, Heather would say "I am not surprised. You know, baby, one time, he spent two years, skipping states, just to avoid a two year prison term". Now, while Heather was certain that she, or I, would be next, in the investigation, Heather was baffled at how many other people were called in, ahead of us. When I was called in, it was to be asked about my two visits, per month, to the convenience stores. When I mentioned that each visit, on the first, of each month, was for my rent money order, and that a second was for medications pick-up, the feds just scratched their heads. Heather admitted a monthly visit as well. At her store, however, the counter not only handled money orders, but allowed her to pay her phone, and electric, bills. The problem the feds had was that our stories were fact-for-fact the same as the record. We made the MOST of what little we had. Still, there were nearly 500 people, who enjoyed the thrill, of shopping convenience stores. These were the people who, no matter how many classes they were compelled to take, they would just go right back to the old way. Result, the very case-management units, which had been ordered cut, to avoid deficits, were under federal order, to EXPAND, and provide more services. When some agency directors would resign, saying "There is NO more MONEY, in the budget, for workers", the feds offered a compromise. Either more workers, or return the people to controlled care. This, because there was no, legal, basis, for shutting down the convenience stores. When Heather would hear some friends talk about "removing temptation", Heather would remind these people "No one is required, to shop the convenience stores." How would this "controversy" end? Who was at fault? Questions. Questions, Questions.