Some New Yorkers Support Wal-Mart. Some.

Uh-oh. Just because New York City has worked really hard in the past decade to keep that boxy symbol of America, the Wal-Mart store, out of our fine city doesn't mean New Yorker's wouldn't shop at them if they had the chance. That's what a new Quinnipiac poll is saying. 51% of the 1,072 New Yorkers polled say that they wouldn't mind one of the big-box shops opening in the five boroughs.

Of course, 74% of those polled also said they think that "Wal-Mart cuts into local mom-and-pop business, and 57% said Wal-mart workers are underpaid." So really what this poll is telling us, if we're reading this right, is that the average New Yorker is an average American. While they may not particularly like a company, its policies, or even its effect on their neighborhood, they really like cheap merchandise. But just because some New Yorkers might like it, doesn't mean that they, or any of us, need a Wal-Mart.

We mean, come on. Like "no-rights-on-red" the fact that New York is completely Wal-Mart-less is one of those great New York quirks that we need to fight hard to preserve. Luckily there are many who agree with us. Witness the recent deal that developers of the Bronx Terminal Market had to make with the City Council promising that a Wal-mart wouldn't open there. Or the fight over the store that they tried to put up on Staten Island. Keep the Mart out of Gotham!

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By Garth Johnston in News on February 4, 2006 2:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Anon

I have no problem paying "mom and pop" four times the rent for the same apartment as the neighbors who have been here all their lives, but if I have a chance to buy discounted groceries, why should "mom and pop" screw me twice?

grammar nazi

There is no apostrophe in "New Yorker's wouldn't shop at them"!

Do you say "I have two pet dog's"?

deng

Chigaco had similar experiment with Wal-Mart. Chigaco city bosses (harassed by union mafia) prevented Wal-Mart opening store inside the city. In the end Wal-Mart openeded huge store in nearby town raising huge amounts of tax revenue for the town. The store is located just outside Chigaco and hundreds of people from Chigaco got a job there (and tens of thousands from Chigaco shop there) but thanks to the union mafia Chicago gets no tax revenue from it.

max

"That a no-skill-required job at Target pays slightly more than at Wal-Mart is small consolation to the guy who sees his factory shut down and his job sent overseas."

Stop beating on Jen, do you really think that factory shutdown has got much to do with the retailer?!? No, it's because consumers will find the best value. It's not like the "Mom & Pop" stores aren't willing to sell chinese products.

pugsley

kmart/walmart/target are all the same except that the AFL-CIO has launched a multi-million dollar corporate campaign against wal-mart which is why we keep seeing an endless supply of hamfisted 'evil walmart' propaganda. I used to rant about kmart opening in nyc, but now am addicted to it.

Are You Serious

That anyone thinks Target is somehow better for America really goes to show how easily people can fool themselves. Target sells the same things Wal-Mart sells and they mostly come from the same factories in China. That a no-skill-required job at Target pays slightly more than at Wal-Mart is small consolation to the guy who sees his factory shut down and his job sent overseas. But keep on deluding yourself, Jen.