GOP loss in 3rd Congressional District special election, Dollar General consumer choices

After Pilip loss, GOP needs reality check

Instead of blaming the loss by their candidate, Mazi Melesa Pilip, on things like snowstorms and early-voting access, local Republican Party leaders need a reality check [“Experts: Factors that hurt Pilip’s campaign,” News, Feb. 15].

Their candidate was, at best, unclear or unwilling to be transparent about her stances on many issues.

She declined to take part in multiple community forums and came across as a puppet for the party’s major talking points. All she seemed to do was parrot those ideas.

You would think their vetting process after the debacle of former Rep. George Santos would have improved.

— Tom Sena, Merrick

I notice when stores give fewer choices

I can understand why Coca-Cola might want to downsize from 400 different types of drinks, and I will never miss Diet Coke Feisty Cherry [“Fewer choices in stores as brands trim offerings,” News, Feb. 13].

However, I was a little startled to read that Todd J. Vasos, Dollar General CEO, said, “The consumer is not going to know the difference” if Dollar General drops a couple of types of mayonnaise. “Actually, it’s going to make her life a little simpler when she goes to the shelf.”

First, his statement is rather sexist unless he prefaced it with a statement that the vast majority of Dollar General customers are female. Also, his customers may not notice or care since they are a discount variety store, and his customers may just be happy to be getting a cheap product. But customers at other stores may notice.

I shop at more than one grocery store because the closest one does not have everything I want. I shop at more than one drug store, home improvement store, etc. for the same reason. I also do more shopping online than ever before because I can’t find what I want in local stores.

So, some customers do notice a lack of selection — and miss it.

— Virginia C. Wilch, East Setauket