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
“Unless they are breaking the law (which no one is alleging)WHAT RIGHT does anyone here or anywhere else have to keep them out. ”
Come to the next B’stoner party and your drinks are on me 🙂 I LUV YOU MAN!
Before we sell out and allow Walmart within the city’s gates (to plunder our women and children) we should at least try and squeeze a few extra pieces of silver from them.
I would imagine East NY public schools could use a new state of the art library, science lab, or playground.
Heres what I dont understand – SO WHAT that walmart isnt unionized, pays less than union shops, hurts local mom and pops (that pay less still) and will lead to traffic.
Unless they are breaking the law (which no one is alleging)WHAT RIGHT does anyone here or anywhere else have to keep them out. Unless they need a variance, or some other Government approval, it seems to me, the “community” has no say in the matter and should be ignored.
I haven’t strayed. Their health benefits sucks, medicaid is public assistance and wal-mart requires you to pay 1/3 of the health care premiums. If you’re only making whatever their average hourly wage is medicaid is a cheaper option.
“What the anti wal-mart studies ignore is the fact that they make life much more affordable for everyone in the area, include those not lucky enough to have a cushy union job.”
yeah – how many of these anti-walmart peeps actually LIVE in East New York?
typical NYC – the haves telling the have-nots where to shop.
If it weren’t for Walmart, China would not be buying all of our treasuries.
I don’t think anyone disputes the fact the Wal-Mart has lower pay and less benefits than unionized supermarkets.
I have not seen any detailed studies, but from what I have read wal-mart offers similar pay and benefits as Target, chain drug stores, and other big box stores (with the exception of unionize Costco).
I am sure that they offer better pay and benefits than bodegas, non-union small grocery stores, dollar stores, and other “mom-and-pop” competitors.
What the anti wal-mart studies ignore is the fact that they make life much more affordable for everyone in the area, include those not lucky enough to have a cushy union job.
Wal-mart is also a leader in cost savings initiatives that have spread to their competitors, including low cost prescription drugs for people without good insurance.
and when moonfaces move in, the rents go up too!!! there’s a side by side study on it. thus for some us, cheap necessity goods are sorely needed.
*rob*
NYGuy, I’m confused. How would the #’s go up here? Unless people who are currently ineligible for welfare/medicaid take these jobs (thus taking a pay cut) and make so little that they are now eligible for welfare/medicaid? If the jobs are filled by those already eligible and using these programs, the numbers would remain the same.