LETTER: Stop meddling in Kroger-Albertson merger

Published 8:00 am Thursday, November 21, 2024

As a young Black man living paycheck to paycheck, I feel the strain every time I shop for groceries or pay my bills. Inflation has made it harder and harder to keep up, and the rising cost of food hits especially hard.

After the election, it’s clear that people across the country are demanding solutions to ease these burdens. That’s why it’s so frustrating to see the Oregon Health Authority interfering with the Kroger-Albertsons merger, a move that could make life even harder for families like mine.

This merger is more than a business deal; it’s a chance to keep groceries affordable in neighborhoods that desperately need them. Without it, Albertsons could close stores, leaving communities without nearby options for food. For someone like me, who can’t afford to drive across town for groceries, this isn’t just inconvenient, it’s devastating.

Kroger’s plan to keep 62 stores open and lower prices with a $1 billion investment would help ease the burden for people struggling to make ends meet.

Blocking this merger risks driving prices higher, reducing competition and making groceries even less accessible for working families. We’re already stretched thin. What we need now are solutions that create stability and affordability, not more uncertainty.

The election was a call for change, and this merger is part of the answer. OHA needs to step aside and let this deal move forward, so families like mine can have one less thing to worry about.

DeMarco Owens

Northeast Portland