By Eric Wolf Schoen
As a kid I loved the little box of Barnum’s Animal Crackers, little cookies in the shape of animals in the circus themed box. What kid didn’t love to carry the little box around with the handle attached. Could the little box cost maybe a $1 when I was young?
I go to CVS the other day and yes they had my childhood and frankly adulthood favorite little box with the animals in tow. I looked at the price $3.59! Could not believe it so I went online. $3.59 for the little box. Are they crazy? Looked at Walgreens website. $3.29. My head is still spinning.
What is going on with the price of everything but especially food in this world? A meal at 5 Guys (they cook in peanut oil so do not go into the store or eat food from there if you are allergic to peanuts) is $24 for one person. We are talking about a burger, fries, a beverage and maybe a little dessert. A family of 4 close to $100 for burgers? Incredible!
While we are talking burgers, Wendy’s the hamburger chain floated the idea of surge pricing meaning that the prices would be higher when they were busy and lower when they were not. This brilliant idea was shot down by their customers and now is a distant memory. But to think that a restaurant chain would change their prices based on how busy they are? Kind of almost as stupid as the congestion pricing planned for New York City!
Have you tried to find old fashion Tide detergent in the box at CVS or Walgreens or other stores? Many don’t carry it anymore. I bought the former 66 ounce box which is now 56 ounces through Amazon at a price higher than what the 66 ounce box use to cost. And the stores that have detergent have it under lock and key. It’s sad that we as a society have come to this.
Kleenex are at a higher price with fewer tissues in the box. The price of Pet food if you can find it boggles the mind. You have to take out a second mortgage to go out for dinner. All of these price increases are post pandemic.
And to screw us all, such as those who enjoy a night in New York City the city will impose congestion pricing after a series of sham hearings after the cameras have already gone up. There is still time to offer your comments on what will certainly increase prices of everything that travels through the New York area.
Go to new.mta.info by March 11. There you will find several ways to submit comments: via an online form, via email, by calling the Central Business District Tolling Program at 646-252-7440 or mailing your comments to Central Business District Tolling Program, 2 Broadway, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10004. Again, all Comments must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. on March 11, 2024. Comments received after that date and time will not be considered.
Remember: money from Congestion Pricing will go to mass transportation improvements, not road improvements. The pothole you see today is the pothole you will see TOMMORROW!
Back to the animal crackers. There is nothing that you can tell me costs so much to charge $3.59 for that little box. Manufacturers of these products saw an opening and they must be stopped. Don’t buy that little box. Buy a big bag of animal crackers if you must. Order over $35 worth of things from Walmart and you get free 2 day shipping. Open a Target card and shipping on most items is free. You know about Amazon Prime that costs you some money but many times can save you in the long run.
The next President of these great United States will have to have a plan in place to drive down these crazy prices. By the way, I went to Acme, a chain all around WESTCHESTER and their prices are often $1 more than competitors Stop and Shop and ShopRite. The only way this craziness is going to end is if we stop buying the $3.59 box of animal crackers and only buy what we must eat.
That sounds crazy but who can afford the crazy prices at the grocery store anymore?
THE PRIMARIES
God love our New York State Legislature. They have created total confusion regarding the Primary dates.
The absentee ballot many of you received last week is for the Presidential Primary which is April 2. You select a candidate and a slate of electors. These people will go to the political party convention and vote for the candidate they have pledged their vote to.
At press time it looks like the decision on the Presidential Candidates has been made in Super Tuesday voting. So New York will not play a major role in Presidential candidate selection.
Two friends said to me they saw Jamaal Bowman on the Presidential ballot. No friends that is a Jamaal Bailey. I do not know this individual, he could be the greatest thing since sliced bread but he is not Congressman Jamaal Bowman. So don’t think that if you don’t vote for him you are voting against our fire alarm pulling Congressman.
The Primary for Congressional and State Races is June 25. This is the date you can cast your ballot for George Latimer or the current Congressman or a Marty Dolan who I spoke about last week.
Now let’s say you have never voted before, just turned 18 or new to the area. You can still register as a Democrat and cast your ballot in the Democratic Primary for Congress for Mr. Bowman’s seat. If a new voter registers up to 10 days prior to the Primary as a Democrat (up to the first date of early voting) you can join the many others concerned with Congressman Bowman’s behavior and inability to represent the wishes of his constituents.
HEAT SEASON IS ON UNTIL MAY 31
Check your local codes but in WESTCHESTER bottom line is landowners of apartment buildings and multifamily homes have been instructed to maintain a minimum temperature of 68 degrees at all times.
If you are not receiving sufficient heat get a room thermometer and put it in the middle of your apartment to get a value. If it is 68 degrees your landlord is providing sufficient heat, if not call
Yonkers Housing at 914-377-6500.
Briefs:
RIP Flaco the Owl
Oscars this week.Watch Oppenheimer which will be the big winner.
Rita Moreno. 92 years young. Presenting at the Oscars. In a new film to hit theaters shortly
Bowman of the week: Video of him leading the charge to free Palestine with Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
Reach Eric Schoen at thistooisyonkers@aol.com, or friend him on Facebook Eric Schoen…just look for him in the picture with Joan Rivers!
