July 22, 2008
As Mayor, Anthony Weiner Won't Open NYC to Wal-Mart
At a breakfast forum this morning, Representative Anthony Weiner – a likely mayoral candidate – handed out a 5,000 word manifesto about how he would keep the city affordable for the middle class. The Sun has it that Weiner also used his half-hour speech to criticize the proliferation of big-box chains in New York, wondering, “What is the value of having a Wal-Mart on Queens Boulevard that wipes out economic development on the rest of Queens Boulevard. What is the value of saving 15 or 20% on that pair of jeans, in terms of creating jobs for the rest of Queens?” But the congressman also stressed that he's a "middle-class New Yorker.” And later: “I’m cheap.”
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Thank God for term limits. Can't wait for the next election so that Weiner can put NYC back to the way it was before.
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What of value has ever been on Queens Boulevard?? This guy must be kidding.
About the only notable stores on Queens Blvd ARE the big box stores, a couple of second-rate malls near Woodhaven Blvd.
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bloomberg and giuliani (mayor, d.a., and us attorney) have done great wonders for this city.
how he (weiner) would keep the city affordable for the middle class
it's easy, just increase crime. how do ya do it? get the cops back on desk duty.
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So he's basically saying "Walmart is awesome! Too Awesome! They are cheap and convenient and if they opened one here then poor people who give really shitty service would be out of jobs. By not allowing a Walmart to open then people would be forced to go to those crappy stores and buy shit that's more expensive from those poor people who give shitty service cause there is no Walmart" That's what he's saying, right?
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Queens Boulevard took its biggest hit when McDowell's left after the Soul Glo empire ate it up in teh late 1980s.
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LOL@eric
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He's cheap...no s#it.
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Nice use of "Coming to America" references, Eric!
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We have Costo, BJ, Ikea, and many others ... Don't need the evil empire!
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OMG, we have to vote for him so we can constantly use the expression, "Mayor Weiner".
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Can we have Bloomberg LLC run NYC?
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What he said just does not make sense...Weiner a total loser. He is in the back pocket of the trucking industry and opposed to any idea of congestion pricing
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First of all, babyH., Wal Mart has the shittiest service imaginable.
Secondly, Weiner hates the big box stores? So there can be more national chain stores that just happen to be smaller?
Thirdly, Queens Boulevard and crappy Wal Mart are made for each other.
Lastly, "5,000 words"? Just to tell his people what they want to hear? There's two more words: "piss off!"
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lol-- I just started reading the Weiner manifesto. It ain't so great. But at the top of page 7, we get this gem:
"That’s not good for anyone. It’s not good for parents forced to sacrifice to make ends meat.
I mean, come one, I can sort of understand this kind of mistake on Gothamist, but there's really no excuse for Weiner not having proofread his publicly-released mayoral platform.
Quickly scrolling through, here's another one -- right from the final paragraph:
"The solutions will be found in a City that cultivates its ability to usher new generations of aspirant [sic] into the middle class."
If you want to help the poor and middle class, Walmart is not the worst evil in the world. Christ, we have Target, Kmart, Sears, Costco, Ikea, plus the internets... Mom and Pop can't afford the rent anyway, so might as well give them the opportunity to shop at Walmart along with everyone else.
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p.14
Many New Yorkers feel frustrated when the City’s efforts to lure employers to stay in the City seem to focus on ensuring that high-paying white collar jobs [ ][sic]in Manhattan—to the exclusion of five-figure salary positions at small businesses throughout the five boroughs.
p.15:
That problem—which exists at every level of government, from Washington to Albany to downtown Manhattan—needs too be addressed head on.
I'm sure there are plenty of other errors, but am not going to waste my time finding them.
Maybe he's too cheap to hire a proofreader.
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What is the value of saving 15 or 20% on that pair of jeans, in terms of creating jobs for the rest of Queens?
Does Weiner have Don King writing for his campaign?
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He certainly doesn't have an economist working for him.
Weiner, the theory is that saving 15 or 20% on a purchase gives the consumer more funds to spend elsewhere, improving his or her life. That's why people clip coupons, or buy unlimited metrocards, or pick the generic food over name brand. Job creation is largely a separate animal from the availability of inexpensive goods. A big Walmart would need to be constructed (jobs), staffed (jobs), provided with supplies (jobs), and would generate tax revenues. Home Depot is everywhere, drugstore chains are everywhere, Best Buy, Circuit City and other electronics box stores are everywhere. Walmart isn't any different.
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Weiner is kind of a turkey in general, but I agree with him on the Wal-Mart policy. Having a Wal-Mart in the city would drive down wages and really just water down the character of the neighborhood.
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One way to help keep NYC affordable to the middle class would have been congestion pricing, which would have provided massive amounts of money for mass transit, which is how normal New Yorkers get around. Weiner was squarely against that.
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I'm not sure New York is ready for a "Mayor Weiner." Although at least his name isn't Oscar "Mayor" Weiner! I can't wait for headlines "Weiner Fixes Sewage Leaks."