I am no economist but I fail to see why the bottle tax has been so disastrous to Santoni's Supermarket in Highlandtown while apparently sparing other city markets ("Santoni's closing Highlandtown store," Oct. 13).
(Make no mistake: My mobile friends loved Santoni's. Being on the less mobile side, I walk to Fresh and Green's when I need produce.)
I have to ask if it could it possibly be that Santoni's has been charging more than its competitors for sodas and other items, leaving Mrs. Raven and Miss Oriole to load up on Santoni's hand-butchered meat and great pies and then, on the way home, swing by Safeway to fill up the car trunk with 7Up, Pepsi and the like — all on sale or cheaper, tax or no tax.
And, yes, I am cynical, but did Santoni's lose money by giving transportation to low-income residents of city "food deserts" who wanted to peruse his expensive soda stocks? Pelegrino, anyone?¿
Jane Harriman, Baltimore