BIG-TIME.
>> I’VE BEEN SHOPPING HERE, MY
GRANDMOTHER IT HAS BEEN A
, TRADITION TO COME HERE TO
LEXINGTON MARKET AND GET
EVERYTHING YOU WANT.
KIM: FOR MANY LIKE ANTHONY
PASLEY, SHOPPING AT LEXINGTON
MARKET IS A WAY OF LIFE.
PASLEY IS DISABLED AND CAN’T GET
TO ANY OTHER GROCERY STORES.
HE USES FOOD STAMPS, AND
RECENTLY HASN’T BEEN ABLE TO GET
EVERYTHING HE NEED
>> I CAN BUY FISH, I CAN BUY
GREENS, SOME FRUIT, CHICKEN,
EGGS, BUT I LIKE LUNCHMEAT EVERY
NOW AND THEN.
I WANT SOME LUNCHMEAT TO MAKE A
SANDWICH AND THEY’RE TELLING ME
I CAN’T DO IT.
KIM: THE OWNER OF MARY MERVIS
DELICATESSEN, ELLIOT BODNER,
SAYS NEW REGULATIONS DON’T ALLOW
PATRONS TO USE AN EBT CARD TO
BUY PROCESSED MEAT, BAKED GOOD
OR CERTAIN OTHER ITEMS.
>> IN THE BIG STORES, CHAIN
STORES, WEGMANS, GIANT, SAFEWAY,
YOU CAN BUY ANYTHING IN THE
MARKET YOU WANT AND PAY WITH
FOOD STAMPS. WHY BECAUSE THEY
HAVE ONE REGISTER AREA FOR T
ENTIRE MARKET.
WE ARE INDEPENDENT MERCHANTS SO
BECAUSE OF THAT THEY SAY WE
DON’T QUALIF
KIM VENDORS WHO SELL RAW MEAT OR
: PRODUCE CAN STILL ACCEPT FOOD
STAMPS BUT SEVERAL MERCHANTS ARE
SEEING A BIG DIP IN SALES.
>> WE ARE 50% DOWN FROM THE
SALES WE HAD.
>> SEE THE LUNCH HOUR AND NO
PEOPLE.
>> MY MANAGER WAS HERE FOR 22
YEARS.
I HAD TO LET HER GO HAD ANOTHER
FELLA COUNTER COOK 17 YEAR
, CAN’T AFFORD TO KEEP THEM.
IT HAS HEARD MY BUSINESS SO BAD.
THEY’RE TRYING TO PUT THE LITTLE
GUY OUT OF BUSINESS BASICALLY.
KIM SEVERAL LEGISLATORS FROM
: MARYLAND SENT A LETTER TO THE
USDA ASKING THEM TO INVESTIGATE
THE CHANGE IN FOOD STA
ELIGIBILITY.
THE VENDORS AND PATRONS HOPE
CHANGES COME BEFORE ITS TOO
LATE.
>> IT IS SAID.
JUST SAD.
WHAT HAS THIS MAN OR US DONE TO
ANYBODY TO STOP US FROM GETTIN
A SANDWICH?
JUST A COLD SANDWICH.
KIM: EACH VENDOR IS BEING OR
WILL BE ASSESSED CAREFULLY TO
DETERMINE WHETHER THEY MEET OUR
CONTINUE TO MEET SNAPPED
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA BASED ON
