Defend Brooklyn From Wal-Mart's Low Prices

While a Wal-Mart moving in to Atlas Park in Queens may have been an April Fools joke, there may be one coming to Brooklyn, for real. According to Crain's, the superstore is scoping out the Gateway II shopping center near Jamaica Bay. This would be the city's first Wal-Mart, but this is certainly not the company's first attempt to get their foot in the door here.

The store has long been protested, with efforts of opening being thwarted by protests from local labor and community groups over the years. While in the past they've said moving in wasn't worth the effort, a talking head at the company now insists, “We know that New Yorkers want to shop and work at Walmart, and as a result, we continue to evaluate potential opportunities here. New Yorkers want quality jobs and affordable groceries, and it remains our goal to be part of the solution.”

While Reverend Billy will surely "take that company to the LAKE OF HELLFIRE" if they dare sink their teeth into one of the five boroughs, City Councilman Charles Barron is also ready to fight. He says: “We don't like how they treat workers as it relates to salaries and benefits, and we're not going to have them in our community. They will have the fight of their lives.”

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By Jen Carlson in News on April 26, 2010 10:45 AM

Comments [rss]

without hope

CHARLES BARRON IS CREATING SOOO MANY HIGH QUALITY PAYING JOBS IN HIS DISTICT RIGHT? LETS VOTE THIS IDIOT OUT OF OFFICE ONCE AND FOR ALL!

aaronNYC

Did you guys hear that Walmart is now the largest organic purchaser and distributer in the US? With all the hype over organic and local food in Brooklyn, do you think Walmart's presence would promote better living and greater accessibility to local products to people who typically can't afford them?

Horse Badorties

I agree with Charles Barron regarding Wal*Mart, but Whole Foods is no better.

luke*

Even though this is gothamist I am amazed that people defend Walmart. Being anti-anti-status quo is fun and all, but come on. Walmart is one step away from going back to this: http://tinyurl.com/32j6vmd

Well, except that most of their goods come from China so that is likely already the case.

But the market is always right according to some, so if it desires such working conditions then we must oblige. I think we should do away with the 40 hour work week as well while we are at it. Things will be SOOOOOO cheap then!

HBHB

I fucking hate seeing that defend brooklyn bullshit logo.

laisla

That's a lot of anger for first-world pain and suffering. Perhaps channel it into song?

robingee

This will provide endless content for PeopleofWalmart.com!

laisla

“We know that New Yorkers want to shop and work at Walmart."

Um, no they don't! HTH.

S.K.

Yes they do. Look how popular Kohl's, Target, are. Cheap retail is popular.

laisla

That's hardly the same. Analogy fail.

soxinthecity

Go ahead and shop at Wal-Mart, but don't complain when there are no supermarkets within 20 miles of where you live, and you have no other options except for Wal-Mart.

aspiringrapper

Bring it on! Wal-Mart exists in so many markets & yet civilization still stands. If you don't like it, don't shop there.

laisla

Logic fail.

Spirit of 76

You guys make it sound like NYC has never had discount stores before. Anyone remember Job Lot or John's Bargain Stores?

laisla

Hardly the same kind of store.

Mr Mel

Don't kid yourself, the neighborhood has everything to do with it. I know people that are Costco aficionados, if they have to get into their car to go there, go to LIC or Yonkers.

inoyourider

Wal-Mart brings shitty, low-income, no benefits jobs, while at the same time putting small business owners out of business. No one can compete with a nationwide conglomerate that buys buy the million and has a great transportation infrastructure.

Sure the prices will be lower, but you'll pay in many other ways.

Bottomless Chips

Because retail jobs for the mom and pop clothing stores, shoe stores, hardware stores, and bodegas REALLY pay these huge salaries with benefits that you seem to imply.

Face it. It's not Wal-Mart that's the problem.

theboneranger

thats bizarre logic. you should cite some examples.

Bottomless Chips

I did.

Hardware stores: My uncle worked at one before Lowe's. He left for the benefits, but worked fewer hours.

Retail stores: What clothing store offers benefits and salaries to their clerks?

These jobs that are eliminated aren't these posh, high paying jobs.

And that's the way business works. Jobs are destroyed and job are created. Trying to stop the cycle is fruitless and results in further headache.