QUESTION: I recently fell on hard times and had to apply for food aid. I happened to be at Boatwright’s Bakery and saw the sign that said it accepts food stamps.
Well, I decided to go in and buy a sandwich with my EBT card and I was told that I had to eat outside because I used my food stamp card. I thought I had misunderstood so I decided to ask the girl if what she said was true. She again replied and said that because I had paid with food stamps (EBT) card that I had to eat outside.
Now, if that’s not discrimination I don’t know what is. I thought those times were over; apparently not at Boatwright’s Bakery. — Feeling Disrespected, Brawley
We figured this was going to be a pretty cut-and-dried PROBE question to address. A couple calls to the county Department of Social Services, a call to Boatwright’s Bakery, and voila.
No such luck.
It seemed as though Social Services was reluctant to give us an answer, and getting hold of either a manager or the owner of Boatwright’s was next to impossible Monday, even after five phone calls throughout the day.
Normally we wouldn’t just print this PROBE without some kind of statement from Boatwright’s, but Feeling Disrespected isn’t the first person to recount this story nearly note for note.
What we find disconcerting is how public assistance money from Feeling Disrespected’s electronic benefits transfer card somehow can be a different kind of money than that of someone not on public assistance. It all does the same thing; it all spends the same way. So why should anyone with an EBT card be forced to sit outside and dine?
We wanted to ask the owner of Boatwright’s that very question, but she wasn’t available at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., noon, 12:45 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. and didn’t return our calls.
We called county Social Services to ask if what Boatwright’s was doing was somehow illegal or against regulations agreed to by a business willing to accept EBT cards.
Unfortunately, Social Services has nothing to do with Boatwright’s ability to accept EBT cards. That is a separate agreement entered into by the state and J.P. Morgan, the firm that issues the cards and funds for the public assistance program.
But county Social Services staff analyst Mary Ransdell, who oversees the issuing of EBT cards to local clients, did agree what Boatwright’s was doing isn’t kosher.
“They should not have told her to leave,” Ransdell said.
We asked Ransdell if she was aware whether the state program Boatwright’s is in allows the business to turn away such customers, and she couldn’t say definitely. Yet she said she had never heard of anything like that.
We won’t say what Boatwright’s is doing is bad, good, discrimination or a private business doing things its own way. You can decide that.
" its by law that Boatwrights had to send this girl out to eat. Under Food Stamps, they can buy food to make food at the privacy of their own home. But not to eat at the place itself. Imagine if restaurants accepted food stamps?! And looking at the first comment by JSYI, thats exactly what food stamps are for, to make food, not intended for a purchase of a meal. "
pinay wrote on Nov 29, 2007 12:34 AM:
" just wait until one of your girls gets pregnant especially if she's a minor and isnt of age yet to be able to get a job. Do you know where she's going to go? STRAIGHT TO AFDC, Medical AND FOODSTAMPS and there isnt anything you can do about it if she chooses to do so. what are you going to do ground her for using public aid just to pay for diapers. she is then considered head of her own household . And of course when she signs the child support papers through the county she'll only get $50 of it in the mail the rest will automatically go into the medi-cal fund. You may try to send this father to court to make him pay but what if he too is underage to work. then what. To save your last name she carries by buying the diapers yourself or make your child learn the hard way to support her own kids even if it means AFDC until she is of age to support them without public assistance. Its either AFDC or on the streets selling drugs or prostituting. "
itsmeagain wrote on Nov 25, 2007 2:09 PM:
" Asbrly, I just can't help myself but to laugh at your comments below. You seem to stumble on your own words. I see you took your daddy's advise and played the system to your advantage as well, yet you criticize others without even knowing what their situation is. Sooner or later, people that lie to get benefits, will get caught. If you fall on hard times like this person on Probe did, you better know the rules and regulations on where and how to use your EBT card. Be grateful that we have a system to help out the unfortunate. Otherwise you'd be depending on Daddy for everything. Then again, not everyone has parents to help them out like you do. "
asbrly wrote on Nov 25, 2007 12:09 PM:
" why is food stamps so embrassing believe it or not but a lot of people that are on food stamps have jobs can afford food but love to mess with the system. They figure out ways to mess with system to get those benefits. So u might want to think about it again before you say those same speeches their hear all the time. ITS ON YOU "
holababy wrote on Nov 24, 2007 10:24 AM:
" Eat it outside. That the law-----follow it. "
itsmeagain wrote on Nov 23, 2007 11:57 PM:
" When a person has to depend on someone else for their own survival, that person shouldn't take advantage of what's being given. If a food-stamp recipient can't eat at a deli, there is a legitimate reason and it was already stated here. Maybe she got her feelings hurt but it wasn't discrimination. If for some reason I would ever fall on hard times, yes, I would be embarrassed and I would probably buy my food where no one knows me but I would never buy fast food, that's a waste of money. "
asbrly wrote on Nov 23, 2007 7:11 PM:
" Just wanted to add what if the person using the the food stamps lives with her parents has a part time job has a baby which her baby doesn't eat food yet and her parents pay a large amount of taxes at the end of each year. Dont you think the hard earned money that her parents pay is getting paid back to them. This was my situation and my daddy said go ahead and use up my money that I put in. (Just because you work doesn't mean you pay taxes paying taxes doesn't mean you get a large amount at the end of the year back. Paying taxes is actually owing the state and federal taxes when you actually have to payments to the state and federal. That is paying taxes.) My mom always said you should talk because your kids might put you in that same situation. THAT'S A FACT ONE DAY YOU'LL REMEMBER YOUR OWN WORDS. U MIGHT BE DRIVING YOU KID DOWN TO APPLY FOR AFDC ONE DAY! THEN YOU'LL REMEMBER YOUR COMMENT ON IVPRESS "
gymjunkie wrote on Nov 22, 2007 9:07 AM:
" Madisonmom- true no one knows how the sandwich was paid for. But have you ever heard of "secret shoppers" how was the employee to know that this wans't a sting by the State to see if they were following the rules. The employee did the right thing by telling the customer to eat it elsewhere. State agencies do this all the time to check to see if stores are complying with the rules. "
Madisonsmom18 wrote on Nov 22, 2007 8:49 AM:
" I dont think the issue here should be what she was buying but that she was told to eat outside. When I read that, I thought of the time of segregation. Boatwrights is a bakery, with chairs and table to SIT and EAT your food. No one else would have known how the sandwich was paid for so it really shouldnt have mattered. I once used an ebt card while I was going to school full time, had a part time job, and had a two month old baby! I used the state assistance while I was getting my education to be a better more productive person so I CoULD get a good job and support my daughter. I am now 25 years old and have no embarasment about taking advantage of the help that was offered to me that MY taxes are now helping someone else with. "
bluecat wrote on Nov 22, 2007 8:43 AM:
" It doesn't seem as though the Probe gave Boatwright's owners much of a chance to respond. They tried several times in only one day to contact the owner. Perhaps the owner was out of town, or in a meeting where he or she couldn't be reached. They should have tried to get ahold of the owner a little harder before printing this article that basically slanders them. And I love at the end of the article they say that the reader can decide if Boatwright's was discriminatory. This article has such a discriminitory slant that as far as I'm concerned the Probe has already found the deli guilty. "
19661966 wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:14 PM:
" helping people in time of need is the true american way. for the rest of you, keep kicking your fellow man down and never ask for nothing; only animals fight for food. "
MRKNOWITALL wrote on Nov 21, 2007 10:06 PM:
" Hirales, it has to do with the LAW. When you accept food stamps you accept the rules that come with them. You can choose not to take them if the rules are too strict for you. They are a HAND OUT to help you through a tough time, they are not an obligation on any one's part. If you accept them, you must follow the rules. This person accepted them and then ignored the rules and got his feelings hurt because the business was following the rules. "
hirales wrote on Nov 21, 2007 7:19 PM:
" I would like to comment on buying the sandwich with an EBT card, we have to place ourselves in that person's shoes. We don't know the person but times are getting harder and maybe someday we will resort to food stamps. Do you want to be treated like a dog? Not even because nowadays dogs get treated better. What if that person was taking a break before returning to work. These days who wants to go home and get something to eat if you live out of town with the gas prices so high. Remember treat others how you want to be treated, and not judge them. We are not here to judge others but to understand them. In my book, she was discriminated and I would do something about it. Regardless, of socio-economic status, disability, and ethnicity we should respect who they are.... "
burn33 wrote on Nov 21, 2007 5:24 PM:
" LOL at the people defending the customer, I have no pity for the majority of people on these programs, get a job. I am amazed at how may people cry at how hard it is to find a job, what it translates to, is they can't find a job the WANT. Too bad, I will dig ditches to pay the bills, and have, but most people now days on these programs will go for the free money rather than actually look for a job. We as a country really need to re-think these programs, something along the lines of mandatory communtiy service for those people who manage to stay on these programs and never find a job. "
shawnc wrote on Nov 21, 2007 2:35 PM:
" I bet some of you feel bad for giving the bakery a hard time now, don't you? If not, you should - for jumping to conclusions. "
cheripies wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:22 PM:
" lol
Anyone else remember when Probe had a regular feature called "hand-out house honor roll?" People ratting out their parasitic neighbors for ripping off the public dole.... "
no,i sure don't remember that,when did they have that?
i don't think your'e suppposed to be able to buy prepared sandwiches with food stamps,at least the store in niland doesn't let you buy a prepared sandwich with them. "
nanzy422003 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:20 PM:
" people that know how hard is to make money will go to buy all the ingredients to the grocery stores!!!
this free riders with food stamp have the luxery of spend 5 dlls in a sandwish!!!
they got the money for free. they do not know how hard is to make it, so they waste it easy!!
YOU should be ashame of posting this comment here after spending our money still u want a
5 stars treatment..
get you butt up get a job and start wasting out hard earned money!!!
I hope the goverment stop giving this things for free.........this makes people lazy the dont work why? if they can still eat!!
"
nanzy422003 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 11:08 PM:
" i have had difficult times too, but i havent run TO go get food stamp!!! i will be ashamed telling my kids we eat with somebodyelses hard earned money..............get a job!!!!
NO MORE FREE RIDES FOR PEOPLE..........THEY NEED TO WORK!!! how can they teach their kids is ''ok'' to live out ot others!!!!!
GET A JOB!!! LIVING FOR FREE AND STILL FEEL DISRESPECTED? WORK LIKE ALL OF US!!! AND FEEL RESPECTED!!
HOW THIS SOUND...........?
I WORK, I MAKE MY OWN MONEY VS. I LIVE OUT OF WEALTHFARE?????????
PLEASE!!! "
delislim wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:57 PM:
" What upsets me is I have two different jobs, one of which is at 7-11, and some of the people that come in and use their EBT cards are purchacing lotto and scratcher tickets with the acctual cash they get. I know that times are rough and everyone dreams of hitting the lotto, but quit buying soda pop, bags of chips and candy. where is the neutritional value in those foods? the milk and juice section is right by the candy isle, get that for the children and yourself. the idea of food stamps and cash aid is being abused by so many that the real needy don't get the help they really need. I think if they are going to recieve aid then they can attend some sort of lifeskills class to teach them what is good for them and bad for them to consume and reform the way it can be used/ ie cut out the junk foods and such. "
alexandria wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:55 PM:
" MAYBE THIS PERSON WAS OUT LOOKING FOR A JOB AND GOT HUNGRY.YOU DON'T KNOW!WHY CAN'T THEY GET TO EAT WHAT THEY WANT LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.IF SOCIAL SERVICES FOOD PROGRAM SAYS IT'S OK THEN LEAVE IT ALONE.YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN YOUR FUTURE.YOU MIGHT NEED THE FOOD PROGRAM AND YOUR NOT GOING TO LIKE IT IF PEOPLE STARTED JUDGING YOU.LEAVE THE PERSON ALONE!!!!!BE HUMAN,HAVE A HEART AND THANK GOD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE. "
chonguis wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:13 PM:
" ITS JUST A SANDWICH!!! they're called food stamps for a reason. if the customer bought food with it then thats fine! why should we decide where and what the customer eats. its true that some places wouldnt have as much business as they do if it wasn't for some of these people paying with their EBT cards. so they should be happy that they keep their little businesses going! "
susflores wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:09 PM:
" Anyone who falls on hard times should know how hard it is to put food on the table. Even though it is her right to buy food wherever they accept this system, she should always try to compare prices to make her money stretch. I don't see why the store manager wouldn't answer the calls, if the explanation is as simple as what people here are saying. Who would want to eat at the deli anyways? This person shouldn't complain but take it as a lesson learned. Buy bread, cheese and bologna at the supermarket and prepare it at home. "
holababy wrote on Nov 20, 2007 4:10 PM:
" mrknowitall---
You are right, the rule also applies to Gas Stations that have deli's or kind of prepared food. The card can be used for "pizza to go" or "sandwichs to go". Simple, end of the story. All you have to do is read the contract signed by the retailer and the state.
YOU CAN'T BUY AND EAT AT THE SAME PLACE. "
vllyrat wrote on Nov 20, 2007 3:37 PM:
" I think that maybe this person was sick of baloney sandwiches...everyone needs a perk here & there...even those less fortunate.
Give the person a break it was only a $5 sandwich not a porterhouse steak.
"
lizethsm wrote on Nov 20, 2007 3:19 PM:
" I am a college graduate with a successful career and a good salary. Even I don't eat at deli's. I refuse to pay $5 or more for a sandwich I can easily make at home. If you're on food stamps, you should not have the luxury to eat at a deli. I agree with mrknowitall: "It doesn't cost a lot to buy a loaf of bread, some bologna and mayonnaise - at Walmart, it would cost about $4.75 for all of the above in the smallest quantities at the lowest priced brand. This could make easily 8-10 sandwiches." "
oscarb9 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 2:49 PM:
" Why are people judging the food stamp recipient? Indeed he/she might be wrong in using the assistance to buy prepared food instead of using it more effectively. But this does not give any right for Boatwright to treat a customer like a second class citizen. "
mrknowitall wrote on Nov 20, 2007 2:35 PM:
" Remember that the food stamp program is designed to temporarily help the most needy. My biggest problem with this guy is that he bought a not so cheap sandwich, when he could have brought groceries for several meals. It doesn't cost a lot to buy a loaf of bread, some bologna and mayonnaise - at Walmart, it would cost about $4.75 for all of the above in the smallest quantities at the lowest priced brand. This could make easily 8-10 sandwiches. The guy should be ashamed of himself using my money to buy a prepared sandwich and then have the gall to complain that he can't eat it there. Food stamps are not for convenience eating or eating out, they are for SURVIVAL. This guy just doesn't get it. "
pinkinsp wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:37 PM:
" Well folks, apparently some counties allow you to use EBT cards in restaurants, like in Sacramento Co. This came from the Sacramento County Department of Public Assistance:
How to use your EBT card at restaurants:
• Households where at least one person is elderly, disabled, or homeless
can use their Food Stamp EBT card to purchase prepared food from approved restaurants.
• Present your EBT card prior to ordering your meal so they can verify you are eligible.
• They will run your card through their Point of Sale device (ATM-like machines), verify eligibility, and then you may enjoy your meal.
It is a matter of respect. These people on public assistance pay taxes also. Maybe Boatwright's should be suspended from the Food Stamp Program. The person obviously felt humilated, or they were at least entitled to an explanation. "
living in imperial wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:37 PM:
" Makes sense to me... You can buy a pre-made sandwich at Vons... but not eat it there. I don't think Boatwrights is in the wrong for accepting EBT cards. However, if I had to live off an EBT card myself, I think I'd be a little less willing to spend my cash allotment on a Boatwright's sandwich. I'd rather stretch it out as far as possible and I like the idea someone came up with of buying some bread, ham and cheese. I think it was unfair of the Probe writer to write off Boatwrights without enough investigation to make an accurate conviction. -- Josh B. "
kozzackkelt wrote on Nov 20, 2007 1:11 PM:
" Having seen food stamps pay for such "necessities" as Big Gulp sodas and Slurpies at local 7-11's, and now paying for deli sandwiches, IMO, my tax dollars are being wasted. Some people really do need public assistance and something should be there for them.....to use at a grocery store buying healthy, nutritious food items; not sodas, pre-made foods of any sort (deli sandwiches, frozen microwave foods). You'd think that by now, the social services folks would have a list of specific food items that cannot be paid for using public money...... And, there is always work if one wants it.....IMO, EVERYONE can do something to be gainfully employed. Suffering from "I'm Entitled" disease is not a legit excuse...... Anyone else remember when Probe had a regular feature called "hand-out house honor roll?" People ratting out their parasitic neighbors for ripping off the public dole.... "
Prov3 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:53 PM:
" "MRKNOWITALL" is correct. Since the individual purchased the sandwich with an EBT Card they cannot eat inside. While initially it may seem as though the owner of Boatwright's was avoiding having to speak with PROBE, realize that this little business is normally very busy from around 11:00-3:00 with lunch customers and people coming in on their lunch hour to place bakery orders and, with Thanksgiving almost here, their business greatly increases around the holidays (I speak from experience, having gone there during lunch hours and before holidays). Businesses that accept EBT Cards are informed of the policies and laws pertaining to the card's usage; any individual that uses the card should also be aware of these as well. "
ricocafe99 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:23 PM:
" If I owned Boatwrights I would make sure I never advertised in the IV Press for publishing negative comments about my business...oh thats right I forgot, if you are an advertiser they won't do that to you...and no I'm not in the advertising business. "
lizethsm wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:23 PM:
" I think both Boatwright’s and the customer are wrong. TO THE CUSTOMER: If you're on food stamps, you shouldn't be eating lunch at a deli. Deli's are expensive and my tax dollars should not be paying for your pricy lunch. TO BOATWRIGHT'S: Shame on you. If you weren't going to let the customer eat inside the deli, you shouldn't have let them buy the damn sandwich to begin with. Why do you think it's OK for you to take their money but send them outside to eat?
"
joseccastaneda wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:22 PM:
" Guess what? Whether the government spends your money on EBT or on road fixtures, they are still going to spend it. Cut social services and they will still spend that money elsewhere. Get over it. "
gymjunkie wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:08 AM:
" Tried to hand a homeless person a sandwich once and he said he asked for money instead so he could buy some liquid food. Wonder if the liquor store let him drink it there. "
vllyrat wrote on Nov 20, 2007 10:03 AM:
" I think Boatwright can shove their sandwiches up where the sun don't shine. If you're a homeless person looking dirty...do they also tell you to eat your food outside too?? That EBT transaction is paying your min. wage job.
"oink" "
oscarb9 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:55 AM:
" To MRKNOWITALL, Boatwright's should have returned the calls from Probe. As you mentioned, the food stamp EBT card can't be used for restaurant food and Boatwright's surely knew about this and they still decided to make a penny. Double shame on Boatwright for accepting the EBT card for pre-made food and for treating a customer in that manner. Probe thanks for bringing this up. "
pinomatus wrote on Nov 20, 2007 9:45 AM:
" disrespected get a job and stop feeling sorry for yourself. spending other peoples hard earned money and you still got attitude like someone owes you something. take the sandwich and be happy you got it. "
ledman wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:39 AM:
" Please everyone quit crying. It was just a sandwich for goodness sakes. "
gymjunkie wrote on Nov 20, 2007 8:03 AM:
" MRKNOWITALL probably got it right. But Boatrights shouldn't have accepted the card for a premade sandwich to begin with. Now if the person had bought all the ingredients seperatly and then proceded to build a sandwich (as jsyi suggests) and eat it then that would be a different story.
Can premade sandwiches be bought at Safeway deli counter with an EBT card? If so, can you eat it there? What about a slice of pizza at Costco? "
R Leon wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:26 AM:
" Well said - justjill68 - no one knows maybe this person was in their lunch break, what ever the reason no one should be treated differently than others - This person is a customer and should have been treated with respect, just like all other customers that do business there. This business is well known in the valley, owner should have at least had the curtesy to return reporters phone call. "
MRKNOWITALL wrote on Nov 20, 2007 7:01 AM:
" Hey, cut Boatwright's a break! The reason they told the person they had to go outside is legitimate and the Probe writer could have easily found the reason if he/she actually took some time to do it. Unfortunately, Probe is no longer a legitimate column, just a throw-away piece that no longer has clout.
The reason Boatwright's did this is simple. You CANNOT use the food stamp EBT cards to eat at a restaurant. You can only use it to purchase food for your family to take home and feed them. Boatwright's knows this law, as do all businesses that accept them. If Boatwright's allowed them to eat there, then it becomes restaurant food. Whoever as social services told Probe what they did needs to be educated quickly. Probe owes Boatwright's an apology for not diligently finding an answer and impugning the good name of their business. "
justjill68 wrote on Nov 20, 2007 12:06 AM:
" If this is truly how it happened, then Boatwright's should not accept those cards if they look down on people who use them. As a business they should treat all customers with "appreciation." Boatwrights is still getting their money so what does it matter to them where the customer eats? A customer is a customer. The owner of Boatwrights should have responded to this matter right away, or maybe they are avoiding it. "
jsyi wrote on Nov 19, 2007 11:23 PM:
" a sandwich? Why not go buy a loaf of bread, some lunch meat and sliced cheese instead........enough to eat for a week instead of a meal...Wonder what this person considers hard times... "
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