Honk if You're Not Down With Walmart
The group Walmart Free NYC released a study that, according to the Daily News, says Walmart’s designs on East New York would result in a gridlock nightmare. The article notes: “The report predicted that if the planned Gateway II shopping center included a Walmart, it would draw 10,692 more cars every weekday than the mall’s…
The group Walmart Free NYC released a study that, according to the Daily News, says Walmart’s designs on East New York would result in a gridlock nightmare. The article notes: “The report predicted that if the planned Gateway II shopping center included a Walmart, it would draw 10,692 more cars every weekday than the mall’s developers predicted in their environmental study. That’s a 32% jump in traffic, they said….All the new vehicles would slow traffic by 29% on the already congested Shore Parkway, the study found.” No word on whether the group is conducting a similar study about how a ShopRite might affect the area. Meanwhile, Gateway II developer the Related Companies tells the newspaper that the study is poppycock. In other Walmart-is-coming news, an article in Crain’s brings word of the following: “Walmart has reached a deal in principle with the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York that guarantees union workers will construct or renovate any stores that the retailer opens in the city during the next five years. The deal is a coup for Wal-mart Stores Inc., which faces stiff opposition from grocery and retail unions worried that the retailer’s entry into the New York City market will put downward pressure on the salaries of their members.”
Brooklyn Walmart Foes Say Plan is Traffic Jam in the Making [Daily News]
Walmart Inks Construction Union Deal [Crain’s]
Photo by jerdlngr
Solution to snobbery issue:
Le Walmart
…next.
By BoerumHillScott on February 3, 2011 10:49 AM
“I think the anti Wal-Mart fight in NYC has a lot to do with class-ism and snobbery as well as unions.
Stores that are non-union but have a solid middle to upper-middle class suburban reputation are welcomed, while Wal-Mart with it’s lower to lower-middle class rural reputation is shunned.”
I think there’s something to this. Target sponsors free Fridays at MoMA, and they’re from Minnesota, which has a more progressive image than Arkansas. So they’re seen as OK whereas Wal-mart isn’t, even though they’re very much the same in terms of how their workers are treated.
For that matter, Sam’s Club has similar wages and benefits to Costco.
“I think the anti Wal-Mart fight in NYC has a lot to do with class-ism and snobbery as well as unions.
Stores that are non-union but have a solid middle to upper-middle class suburban reputation are welcomed, while Wal-Mart with it’s lower to lower-middle class rural reputation is shunned.”
That is one of the reasons why Walmart failed badly in South Korea.
“because she is demonstrable moron, anti-intellectual, with no credentials, ability or commitment to be a national leader”
…come on now fsrg,
that never stopped Nancy Pelosi from imposing her agenda on the American people!
remember: “We’ll have to vote on this bill before we can see what’s in it.”
or how about:
“unemployment is a great economic stimulus”
😉
Et tu, FSRG?
We have not sold out yet. My experience with Walmart has been in the southern USA where some communities gave great tax incentives to lure Walmart and then after the 10 year tax free period expired they closed shop and moved across the border to the next town. I’m not going to lose any sleep over the fact that a multi-billion $ corporation is crying “not fair.” Walmart needs to think local when they come into BK.
I think Walmart, like Target, has the power to make positive change in NYC for example by demanding higher quality fresh/ low sugar/low fat food alternatives from there suppliers.
benson,
If I’m not mistaken,
Walmart carries the Sarah Palin line of glasses and
accessories, no?
This area of Brooklyn needs further development and
support. Walmart would do that.
Behind Gateway I the neighborhood has improved considerably since the opening.
There is a very large apartment complex there that went condo a few years back and has successfully sold units to local families at very very reasonable prices in the 100k – 200k range.
Starrett city also seems to have gotten a big boost from the development next door. A decade ago it wasn’t in very good shape.
benson – I wish you didnt compare Walmart to Sarah Palin – people dislike Sarah Palin because she is demonstrable moron, anti-intellectual, with no credentials, ability or commitment to be a national leader but because she is hot and gets ratings, the media constantly gives her a platform….Please pick another analogy or I cant be on your team
By the way, I am writing from Chandler, Arizona: a sea of strip malls and big-box stores. NYGuy7, best you stay away from this place.