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If you are all out of outrage about the Atlantic Yards project, but still want to feel upset about something in Downtown Brooklyn, check out this editorial in the Brooklyn Papers, entitled "Brooklyn and Wal-Mart: Perfect together":
The debate over Wal-Mart is healthy. But even healthier would be to encourage Wal-Mart to open in Brooklyn — in the right place, with a suitable design, and with proper respect paid to Brooklyn workers.Whichever borough captures New York City’s first Wal-Mart could benefit richly. Because Wal-Mart is trying to enter urban markets throughout the country — and meeting strong resistance — the company is highly motivated to “do the right thing” here.
As the song goes, making it here — in other words, doing an urban store right — will mean Wal-Mart can make it anywhere.
And if the company does the right thing in Brooklyn, the whole country will hear about it.
The editorial does address some (but not all) of the, ahem, "concerns" about Walmart-- the union-bashing, the environmental damage, the crushing of small businesses, the mistreatment of employees, the censorship, the sweatshop suppliers in China, etc. Once those are out of the way, it concludes with: "With the proper political and civic leadership, Brooklynites are likely to bring changes to Wal-Mart’s culture far more significant than the changes Wal-Mart will bring to ours."
Yikes!
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Scribe a five block radius from whatever location was deemed "best" for a Wal-Mart, and every single small business inside that circle will see a negative economic ripple after Wal-Mart's arrival. Any small business that might compete directly with Wal-Mart will be out of business in 12 months.
I'd put money on it.
Walmart essentially forces employees to rely on public welfare, so taxpayers foot the bill while Walmart maintains high profits.
Not to mention the fact that most of the products in Walmart are crap.
It distresses me to hear native NYCers support this; I may be a transplant, but I've seen firsthand how Wal-Marts destroy communities.
I for one don't support a Walmart. They may be everywhere, and ruin local businesses, but being such a big box store, having so many things, I urge you all to go the way of the radicals and not pay for things at a walmart, hell, firebomb the place.
Adoniram,
I wouldn't put my money with yours, because the facts run counter to what you state. From my experience in the real estate business, I can tell you that most small business owners want to be located around a Wal-Mart, where they benefit from the increased traffic.
Don't believe me? Call any two landlords whom own a center or a strip mall of equal stature, one "graced" with a Wal-Mart, and one without, and I'd lay my money down that the Wal-Mart location is in higher demand for space, and hence increased rent prices to match.
But we're talking abut Brooklyn here. One of the most densely populated areas on earth. The argument about "increased traffic" doesn't hold as much weight here as it does in po-dunk middle-of-nowhere America.
But we're talking about Brooklyn here. One of the most densely populated places on earth. The argument about "increased traffic" doesn't hold as much weight here as it does in po-dunk middle-of-nowhere America.
There's an American flag on the moon isn't there? How long before they stick a Walmart behind that one?
Luckily, Walmart is easy to defeat. If you ignore it, it will go away. :-)
Why the hell won't anyone bitch about Target running rampant over the city, but as soon as Wal-Mart is mentioned the fangs come out? Do you think Target's shit comes from shiny factories in North Carolina or upstate New York?