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The war over Walmart heated up Monday as Public Advocate Bill de Blasio blasted it as a job killer, and the company launched a massive ad campaign for a city store.
A report by de Blasio and Hunter College researchers concluded that Walmart store openings kill three jobs for every two they create.
"There's a lot of evidence here that we're going to lose jobs in the end because of Walmart," de Blasio said. "This report proves just how consistent that trend has been around the country."
The report claims Walmart cuts into sales at local stores by up to 40%, and costs taxpayers big bucks when its employees have to apply for public insurance and other benefits.
"The more New Yorkers learn about Walmart, the angrier they're going to be," said de Blasio, who wants zoning laws changed so big-box chains need special approval.
Walmart is eying the planned Gateway II shopping center in East New York, Brooklyn, for its first city store.
Its executives have refused to attend Wednesday's City Council hearing on the chain's plans, but they aren't staying quiet. They launched a major ad blitz and a website Monday in support of a move to the city.
Newspaper, radio and direct mail ads - including one in the Daily News - tout low prices and new jobs and blast "special interests" for trying to block the store.
Source: NY Daily News
Kevin Eason is a freelance editorial cartoonist and Illustrator from New Jersey. His brand of satire covers news events in politics, entertainment, sports and much more. Follow him on Facebook.
Comments: (7)
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By: annie7118 on 1/11/2011 5:16PM
It's time for African Americans to stand up and be counted. We still buy more from Walmart than any other group. Walmart gave money to Republicans to fight President Obama. They have used minorities as slaves for too long. I have checked out alot of their stores. There are a very few employees working in most of the store in the low income nieghborhoods. These stores look like outlet stores, they are used to get rid of overstock from the white area and require the minorities to work harder with a very few people on the floor. This is done to make us look bad and to write it off as a loss.
We need to start walking again like the sixties!!!
Our young people have no idea how these people operate and how demeaning they are treated.
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By: Nikki McNally on 1/11/2011 8:48PM
What I don't understand is that some people are willing to pay more and be overcharged sometimes for things they need to buy just because they personally boycott a store. It really only harms themselves. A corporation isn't going to crumble just because one person stops shopping there. Just be smart when you spend. We like all the tips from Http://bit.ly/SavingIdeas There's an excellent article called "You're Being Over-Charged!"...a must read for anyone trying to spend wisely.
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By: Caregiver 1 on 1/11/2011 6:04PM
To the public, take it from one who lives where WalMart has successfully built and near an area where WalMart was defeated. The facts are that the big box giant is notorious for driving the smaller chain and even some of its sizable competitors straight out of business. Its approach is similar to a scorched earth, take no prisoners approach. First it acquires a prime location. Usually an area like a former strip mall or other location with adequate highway access. It quickly constructs a store and often it has grocery, appliance, auto and other retail sections including optical, hearing, pharmacy and other business subsections. Its hours are long and the collective buying power of its corporate structure allow it to purchase its goods at prices lower than any other competitor can compete with. It then couples this with an anti-union posture and because it promises upward growth from within its ranks, applicants flock to the store in hopes of improving their lives. Here is one of the areas that causes most of the community concerns. The wages are artificially low and held that way for the foreseeable future as the company seeks a profit almost immediately from its sales. It imposes near impossible employee regulations on its staff which includes termination for sick time off even with doctors excuses in some cases, mandatory overtime, no pay differential for holiday hours, termination for union organizing efforts(even just listening to a representative), etc. The competition dries up, especially the mom & pop sized businesses and the overall employment figures decreases because the store does not hire an equal or greater number of employees than it displaces. Unemployment is increased which allows them to keep a constant threat of firing over the heads of their employees as WalMart knows that there is a growing pool of replacement workers. Add to those numbers those that migrate to an area because they heard of the WalMart opening and the problem grows exponentially. WalMart also recognizes that the increased street traffic and highway usage is not factored in to their environment impact studies and the cities resources are also drained as WalMart contributes little to defray the increased cost of police, fire, water and other utility requirements. WalMart is the quintessential Trojan Horse. It seems like a boon, but soon causes a community's smaller business' to bust. Peace
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By: Estrelita Perez on 1/12/2011 8:08AM
Why do folks hate on Wal-Mart? My thing is if your "Big Business", lower your prices, if your a customer...don't shop there, and if you are an employee or looking for work, don't work there! Hades, I don't shop at certain places, 'cause their prices are too high...do you see me complaining? GEEZ LOUISE! ;-)
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By: kbroome1969 on 1/12/2011 10:56AM
its one stop shopping... and the least they can do is have more than two or three registers open.... long lines and also in the customer service area also.... yeah i can see why
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By: C on 1/12/2011 11:21AM
Everyone is crying about Wal Mart driving out small business. In some case this true. What about small business only hire friends and family. They only looking out for thier own kind.
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By: kayojon on 1/12/2011 4:28PM
Walmart is all about supply and demand. They have the supply at the price you demand. People should want the store in their neighborhood because it contributes to the tax base, which helps your town. You and your neighbors have to use this opportunity to negotiate directly with them. Walmart needs to build stores... just tell them what you want for this support. Get organized (but don't do it for the union, do it for yourselves) and give them terms. You only get what you negotiate for. Tell your elected officials what you want from Walmart in return to allow them to build in your town. But you get nothing if you only say NO. Don’t be a stooge for the Politicians, Special Interests and Unions – Make a Deal.
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