Markets in Inner City

Amid all the lush post-riot rhetoric about “healing,” “rebuilding,” “solidarity,” etc. comes the voice of Roger Stangeland, chairman of Vons, who announces (July 24) that Vons will open 12 stores in the inner city. A commendable gesture, to be sure, but the reasons behind it bear some examination for what they reveal about our mighty corporate capitalists.

Stangeland was quick to point out that this decision was taken, not because “we are do-gooders or philanthropists” but because of a business judgment that there are “opportunities” in the inner city. Thank god there aren’t any mushy, bleeding heart liberals at the helms of our major corporations!

There might have been some mention, along the way, about meeting the needs of the people of the inner city who have been complaining for years about high prices, poor food quality and inadequate service, selection and competition.

To view the bleak lives and dire conditions of the people of the inner city as a long-overlooked business opportunity is not only insulting to these people but is a bitter reminder of the smug, arrogant, insensitive and greedy spirit that we have seen with grim regularity in Reagan, Bush and their cronies in the corridors of power. DAVID ADNOPOZ

Pasadena