NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today said that he supports the opening of a Walmart in New York City, despite objections from labor unions.
Past efforts to bring the discount chain to the city have been successfully defeated by politicians and organized labor. Yesterday rumors began to surface that Walmart is looking to come to Brooklyn, serving as the anchor store at “Gateway II,” a yet to be built shopping center behind Gateway Mall in the East New York section of Brooklyn.
“That’s Great,” said Bloomberg, when asked about it today by this reporter. “The more competition the better. People are going to shop at Walmart anyway, we might as well get the jobs and tax revenue.”
While there is currently no Walmart location in New York City, bordering Westchester and Nassau Counties each have multiple stores.
Walmart officials won’t confirm that they’re looking at the site or any site in the five boroughs, but a source with knowledge of the interest says it’s for real.
Labor unions and local elected officials have voiced their opposition.
(Source: Examiner NY)
7 Responses
In the article Bloomberg says “The more competition the better”. Why?
Go Wal-Mart, New York needs you! The highway robbers fear you.
#1 You do not understand why competition is good?
Competition lowers prices.
I’m sure you understand why lower prices are good, right?
But if they open a Walmart, that will force other stores to lower prices, not to mention that Walmart stuff tends to be high quality. New York is famous for high prices and shoddy goods, so why wreck its reputation as a place one goes to squander one’s assets.
Also, Walmart’s non-unionized workers tend to be more productive than unionized workers at other stores, which makes the union bosses look bad (especially when the employers go broke).
But East New York; who is going there?
Sure Bloomberg wants a Walmart. He knows where frum people like to hangout when bored! If there is a Walmart we won’t ask for another park!!
I am not against Walmart but not if used as a hangout or to waste time.
It is asur for a new business to move into a community and try to steal business from existing businesses. That has been Wal-Mart’s growth strategy for decades.