"We believe that the initiative is working, that's why we brought it to the Atlantic Coast, where there are many people on vacation. Since the control began at the national level,
we see a significant drop in food
, if we compare the third quarter with the fourth 2022, a period in which prices were lowered from 10 to almost 5 points per month", was the morning announcement by Daniel Menéndez, head of Somos Barrios de Pie, at the launch of the Fair Prices program, in Mar del Plata.
"We believe that this initiative started with some confusion due to the image that the truckers circulated. I really do not know what they agreed on, I do not have the details, but
I see a very large process of stigmatization
, "the also official from the Ministry of Ministry told Clarín. Social Development of the Nation, at the Luz y Fuerza union headquarters, on Av. Colón.
Menéndez emphasized the
"intention
to
ridicule an intervention action by the State
, which is dedicated to monitoring and raising awareness for residents and to fine supermarkets for non-compliance, as has already happened with an important chain," defended the referent
.
Members of "Somos Barrio de Pie" distribute the brochure for consumers to control the price of food. Photo: Marcelo Carroll
In
principle, it was planned that the picketers would carry out a control in areas close to supermarkets in Mar del Plata, but as the days went by it was decided to change the destination of the operations
"to avoid generating susceptibilities."
On Thursday this medium was informed that "the operatives will be at points of high tourist circulation in Mar del Plata."
La Rambla, Plaza Mitre, Plaza España and the corners of Independencia and Colón, Independencia and Luro and Miter and pedestrian San Martín,
Scheduled for noon, the control finally began at 12:30 p.m. only in La Rambla, a nerve center of Mar del Plata,
although not very opportune for a day like it started this Friday, cloudy and windy
.
"Information Point. Fair Prices", announces the austere banner that the wind carries and flips.
"It's difficult to be here, there's a lot of wind, but it's my job," Sebastián points out, holding the back of the sign.
In fact, the operation was a failure and they did not get into the super to carry out controls.
Only presumed "awareness" tasks.
ID:55893675 MAR DEL PLATA SUMMER 2023 price application Justoa Barrios Pie hand out flyers on the boulevard Photo MARCELO CARROLL - FTP CLARIN DSC_2513 (1).JPG Z salonso_rrr(4).jpg
With little tourist traffic in the area, vacationers dribble the five members of Somos Barrios de Pie, who hand out a flyer that says: "You can check how to use the APP at our information points."
Given the elusive response of the people,
who are more anxious to get a little place for the photo next to the Wolves, the lukewarm initiative of the delivery men does not help either, who hand out the flyer as if it were an offer of squid rings.
"It's okay, people leave me.
I go over to deliver one and they avoid me. They think I want to sell them something
. It doesn't work", feels Erica, who has a plan to Promote Work.
"I earn 32,000 pesos and I am available when the organization (Barrios de Pie) calls me. They are two or three times a week. Today this was the case, they told me yesterday; sometimes I have to clean squares," he says while hands over a brochure to which a gentleman makes a ball.
This is the brochure that is distributed to consumers. Photo: Marcelo Carroll
A couple from Santa Fe received the flyer, which they look at without understanding too much.
The man dictates to the woman, who with her cell phone tries to search without knowing what.
"How is it? What do I have to do?
They gave me this, but they didn't tell me, I don't understand."
The lady takes her brochure, which she folds and puts in her bag.
"We'll see you later."
In the announcement made by Daniel Menéndez, it was explained that the contribution of the piqueteros would be to teach how to use the application (Fair Prices), which helps to verify
if the businesses are complying with the prices agreed
with the Government.
The APP allows you to scan the products and check the values.
In case of non-compliance due to high prices or lack of merchandise, there is the "complaint" option, with the data that reaches the Ministry of Economy.
Daniel Menéndez and Emilce Rodríguez, from the Barrios de Pie organization: "It seeks to ridicule an intervening action." Photo: Marcelo Carroll
There are
51 shops in Mar del Plata folded at Fair Prices, where 120 products are attached
.
"For now it is difficult to know the impact it will have here, but it is one more help to stop an upward trend and stabilize food prices at lower levels. It depends on other factors such as the accumulation of reserves, that the price does not skyrocket exchange rate and other macroeconomic variables to lower inflation," completed the piquetero referent.
After 1:00 p.m., the unfriendly weather continues on La Rambla, where the most attention is paid to the emblematic wolves and the skaters who take advantage of the free field on the esplanade for their pirouettes.
"Incredible what they do," says Evelyn, amused, with a sheaf of flyers to hand out.
"It's a struggle, nothing happens. People are on vacation, you come up and they make a face at you and you turn around. I think you
should be close to the supermarkets
,
here it doesn't make sense
."
The scene is more or less similar.
One in five people receives the flyer and half make a bun or throw it away.
"
It's kind of annoying to have the paper in your hand and generally there is no desire to read it
," describes Evelyn, who lives as an achievement when the paper reaches its destination.
"After delivering it, I follow up and after twenty meters it ends up in the garbage can."
"Here the prices are quite good, it's not like in Buenos Aires, which is crazy," a lady who arrived in Mar del Plata at the beginning of the month receives the brochure.
"How do I search for the application, baby? I want to do it, collaborate
, I'm interested, but I don't have anyone to help me."
Using the brochure as a guide, the Barrios de Pie member strives to be as clear as possible.
Sebastián continues his fight to prevent the banner from rising like a kite.
Clearly
, the impact imagined
on the eve of the third weekend of January, the summer star, does not seem to have been achieved, because it is the one that concentrates the greatest number of people.
"It's a help, it's hard to know the impact it will have," Chucky Menéndez had anticipated.
A few days ago, leaders of Somos Barrios de Pie had announced that the controls would be at 25 points along the entire Atlantic Coast.
Later, to avoid controversies, they chose the convening areas of Mar del Plata, but
the bad weather added to the disinterest of the people
weakened the baptism day.
After 1:30 p.m., the coordinator of Barrios de Pie gathers his people.
They talk under one of the arcades of the Hotel Provincial.
"We're leaving, that's it for today, we'll continue tomorrow in the other parts of the city. If it rains? It's not known, we'll wait for the indications."
This time, La Rambla was not the desired epicenter
.
The initiative to raise awareness about fair prices lasted one hour.
