for breaking news visit www.couriersun.com AUGUST 1, 2013 • The Courier SUN 9 RIDGEWOOD GEARS UP FOR FIGHT Rumors that Walmart may come to area BY LIAM LA GUERE lguerre@queenscourier.com Local leaders pledged to stonewall Walmart amid rumors the retail giant is eyeing Ridgewood for its first New York City location. The company has tried to open a location in the city for years, but resistance from public officials and civic leaders has forced it to reconsider. Recent reports have hinted that the company is looking at vacant lots and sites in Ridgewood, and public officials and community leaders are not happy. “Walmart has a long, documented history of mistreating its workers and driving out local small businesses,” said Councilmember Elizabeth Crowley, whose district includes Ridgewood. “Bringing in this store would negatively impact both the commercial and residential areas in Ridgewood.” Walmart’s opponents say the retail giant provides low-income, part-time jobs and forces small businesses to close because they cannot compete with the chain’s low prices. Bertha Lewis, president of the Black Institute, a nonprofit organization that advocates for minority communities, said her group is gearing up for a war against Walmart to prevent a store from opening anywhere in the city. The group is planning to rally and boycott as well as ask public officials to step up pressure against the mega store. It is not known whether Walmart is considering a full size, 182,000-squarefoot “supercenter” or a smaller Walmart Express measuring about 15,000-square-feet for the city. Lewis does not approve of either. “If they put a Walmart Express, it’s like one little bed bug,” she said. “Then in a few blocks there’ll be another bed bug and another and before you know it we’ll be infested ... We will bring the ruckus and we will bring the noise. We are not playing with these people and we are not afraid of them.” Nevertheless, a 2011 NY1-Marist poll showed that 64 percent of Queens residents would like a Walmart in their neighborhood, with 76 percent of those supporters saying they would be likely to shop there. Also last year, residents throughout the city spent more than $215 million at Walmart stores outside city limits. New York is also the top metro market for Walmart.com sales in the country, according to Steven Restivo, the company’s director of communications. “New Yorkers want us here and residents continue to go out of their way to shop our stores outside the city,” Restivo said. He added that Walmart creates jobs, citing Chicago, which has nine chains and employs nearly 2,000 people. Restivo confirmed that the retail giant is still looking for a place to set up shop in the five boroughs, but did not specify whether Ridgewood was on the list. This would not be the first time the company has tried to enter Queens. In 2005, the chain moved to include a store in Rego Park’s shopping center, but developer Vornado Realty Trust dropped the plans after opposition from the community, according to reports. Photo Courtesy of Walmart Rumors say Walmart is eyeing a move into Ridgewood, but leaders are not pleased. Business Solutions Checking with Interest Merchant Services NYCB Business Liquid CD • Need access to your funds? Get maximum flexibility with In-Branch Penalty-Free Withdrawals2 • Minimum to open is $2,500 • Minimum balance to earn interest is $2,500 • Earn the stated APY if you have, or open, any interest-bearing Business Checking account 0.70APY1 NYCB Business Liquid CD 3 Credit Card The building blocks of business myNYCB.com • (877) 786-6560 12-MoNTh CD % 4 1Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of July 19, 2013 and is subject to change without notice. The interest rate remains fixed until maturity. Fees could reduce earnings. If you do not have an existing interestbearing checking account with us and choose to open a new interest-bearing checking account, it must be opened on the same day that you open the promotional CD and opened with new money not currently on deposit with the Bank. The promotional CD must also be opened with new money not currently on deposit with the Bank. Advantage Banking customers who open the promotional CD and meet the requirements as noted will receive the stated APY and will not receive the additional APY increase as part of their Advantage Banking Relationship package. Please ask a bank representative for the full terms and conditions of the Business Liquid CD. 2A penalty may be imposed for withdrawals before maturity. The penalty will be waived if the withdrawal is made after the first six days of the account term or after the first six days following any partial withdrawal. 3Credit cards are issued by First Bankcard®, a division of First National Bank of Omaha. 4TransFirst is a third-party provider of merchant services. Offer may be withdrawn at the discretion of the bank at any time. The bank is not responsible for typographical errors.
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