Would Walmart be good for Brooklyn?

Mod note: I split off our new sub-topic of American socio economic issues, as I wanted to keep this thread focused on the issue of specifically Walmart coming to BK/NYC.

Interestingly, several of the weatlhiest people in the country have names ending in "walton" as in "Wal" mart.

Does that mean some of that money isn't going back into our community?

Having big box stores means you have to have a car to shop there, or use a car service.

Northern Brooklyn was a finished city before Henry Ford did his thing. Our boro just wasn't built for cars and the more cars we have, the bigger the mess we're getting into.

Two strikes against big boxes.

As a result of their distance and relative inconvenience, I do not think I will shop at any of the Walmarts proposed so far (Gateway Center and East NY).

...but I do go to Target, DSW and Old Navy on occasion because they are right on public transportation, and there prices and selection can not be met by anyone in the city, except the internet.

Capt-

As a result of my household's size, I rarely buy anything so large that it needs to be hauled home via car service.

While it gives me a warm fuzzy to shop locally, I think I am completely outside of Walmart's target market. My participation on this thread is an exercise in the supposition of others behavior, and its effect.

Target I believe is based in Minnesota and Kmart is based in Michigan. 10% of every dollar spent at either of these stores ends up out of state. I on the other hand know the owners of several local stores. If you want something they don't have, just ask them. 100% of the profits roll back into the local economy.

So it gets back to being a personal choice: who would you rather support? Some giant corporate entity who wouldn't know you from Adam, or a neighbor down the street who might shovel the snow on your sidewalk if you're not feeling well?

I spent part of my Xmas holiday in a small town in Michigan, maybe 50,000 people. This little town had one of every big box story known to man, all located on the edges of town, each one a little more depressing than the next. No civic pride, no local ownership, no control over stocking, inventory or pricing.

The downtown was a de-populated shell, dominated by drivers, not pedestrians.

Is that the future we cherish?

Target I believe is based in Minnesota and Kmart is based in Michigan. 10% of every dollar spent at either of these stores ends up out of state. I on the other hand know the owners of several local stores. If you want something they don't have, just ask them. 100% of the profits roll back into the local economy.

Lol. How do you know the immigrants running these stores aren't sending a huge percentage of said money out of the country? Not to mention, again, much of their revenue & wages go untaxed.

So it gets back to being a personal choice: who would you rather support? Some giant corporate entity who wouldn't know you from Adam, or a neighbor down the street who might shovel the snow on your sidewalk if you're not feeling well?

Why does it matter? The people working at these evil big box shops are no less members of the communities they serve than people working at local shops. And thus, are no less likely to "shovel your snow if you're not feeling well" (I am unaware that this was a standard metric of a business' standing in a community)

I spent part of my Xmas holiday in a small town in Michigan, maybe 50,000 people. This little town had one of every big box story known to man, all located on the edges of town, each one a little more depressing than the next. No civic pride, no local ownership, no control over stocking, inventory or pricing.

Civic pride is not exclusively a function of how much business is locally owned. And one business owner having control of inventory + pricing doesn't amount to the whole community having control. Ultimately that owner is going to stock what is available + what they think will sell, and price things at what they feel is the best balance between competitiveness and profitability. *GASP* Like an evil big box store!

The downtown was a de-populated shell, dominated by drivers, not pedestrians.

This is more likely a consequence of a poor transit system, or the fact that you were in Michigan around Xmas

Is that the future we cherish?

A tear jerking closing for sure, but you're confusing correlation with causation + using one example to paint a broad picture. Again I'm not saying big box shops are a godsend, but the idea that they're pure evil and local shops are nothing but good for their respective communities is idealistic + untrue

While I have stated my preferences throughout this thread, I can't help but contradict myself by pointing out that I attend First Night at the brooklyn museum.

It is sponsored by Target.

As are many of the concerts at the park bandshell.

And I once worked for a school wherein Target donated a percent of the purchase price.

Evil indeed

Walmart opens its checkbook:

(copied from: nynp.biz)

Goodwill Gets $426K Walmart Grant for “Beyond Jobs”

Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ has received a two-year $426,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation to empower single mothers with all the tools they need to find employment, succeed in the workplace and support their families. Known as Beyond Jobs, the program assists single mothers with job training and placement, but also helps plan for their continued success. Goodwill® works with each woman to create an individualized, holistic plan that outlines how she will gain and retain a job, advance in her career, and ensure long-term financial stability for her family. Beginning March 1st, Beyond Jobs is expected to assist more than 250 single mothers over the next two years. Goodwill will match the grant with $128,000 of funding.

“Finding a steady job is a top-of-mind issue for every unemployed single mother, but the struggle doesn’t end when she finds a job,” said William J. Forrester, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ. “Goodwill’s Beyond Jobs program helps mothers and families by providing more than a job, giving each woman the full set of tools she needs to support her family today and in the future.”

Twenty-six percent of all children now grow up in families headed by single mothers, many of whom face significant struggles in this brutal economic climate. Single mothers are twice as likely to be unemployed as married women, and during the current economic crisis, the unemployment rate for single mothers has ballooned to 12.3 percent, the highest rate ever recorded.

Each participant in the Beyond Jobs program receives a complete career assessment, individualized career planning, job skills training, and assistance with job placement. Recognizing that landing a job is only one step on the road to success, Beyond Jobs also provides mothers with continued financial education, family strengthening services, early education and child care assistance, and connections to healthy food and nutrition initiatives.

“This grant to Goodwill Industries of Greater NY and Northern NJ will support single mothers in New York City by assuring they have access to gaining the necessary skills for today’s jobs,” said Margaret McKenna, President of the Walmart Foundation. “We are pleased to support this project because it gives single mothers the opportunity to continue to play a vital role in the workforce while providing for themselves and their families.”

Capt. Planet said:

Welcome to another Big Gulp of corporate crapola, guys. Hope I don't get sued by 7-11 for copyright enfringement.

Lot a big words here. If the contest is judged on exemplary vocab, you win.

But if ideas are the criteria, I feel you sound sadly like a paid shill for the big box stores. I frankly don't have time to engage in a point-by-point refutation of your arguments. Hopefully the readers can put their thinking caps on and see the gapping holes themselves.

If they can't, there's little hope for civilization, in my opinion.

There's nothing to refute :rolleyes:

Idlewild said:

Fairway seems to be successful. As is Home Depot, Lowes and McD's. My guess is WalMart will wipe out most of the bodegas and some supermarkets within a mile radius because of the perceived selection and savings.

I don't know if this is true either.

NYers are very convenience biased. A Thai restaurant by me just opened a second branch about 3 blocks closer to me. I'm excited! It's gone from being a "special occasions" place to a definite go-to.

NYers will only go to Walmart for things they can't get locally, or for things that are cheaper. I don't think bodegas are going anywhere. Walmart doesn't carry Phillies

whynot_31 said:

Less than half of the households in NYC have a car to drive to Walmart.

Target thrives, in part because it built its stores at transit hubs.

True. But this Walmart is being built by the Belt Parkway. If you look at the neighborhoods the Belt wraps around the ratio of car ownership is pretty high. Not too much efficient or even existing public transportation going on between Kings Plaza (and parts of Sheepshead Bay) and Laurelton. I don't believe Walmart will be king of the hill because of this. But certainly they should do as well as the Home Depot,Target and other alike conglomerates around there.

And doesn't the Target in Ft Greene also thrive because it's in the middle of some pretty easy to reach neighborhoods, as well as a huge parking lot and relatively easy street parking?

CTK-

Walmart competes on the basis of price, not service. I imagine it offers a better shopping experience than places like Family Dollar, C-Town, and Associated that serve NYCs low income neighborhoods.

I wonder if it would be profitable to operate a private bus shuttle service from low income neighborhoods to wherever the new Walmart opens. It would have very limited stops, and room for lots of purchases.

Homeowner-

Do you think I could make money from my shuttle bus idea? Version 1.0 would pick-up outside large NYCHA complexes, and go to Gateway and back. It would run only on Saturdays, and would cost $15 roundtrip. It would run every 2 hours, and use those buses like access a ride uses.

I wonder who the local politician would support:

A. My bus, it's driver and it's money conscious riders

Or

B. Local business owners who could no longer compete and hated my little bus.

I would greatly enjoy breaking the monopolies held by the nasty supermarkets and discount stores.

It would be strange for them to build it on the Belt- there's already a Walmart in Valley Stream. Where are they looking to build this exactly?

And Target, Home Depot, etc. have all managed to come to BK w/o killing the character + small businesses there. A Walmart only accessible to people w/cars def poses no threat to businesses serving people w/o them. Plus the shopping experience at Walmarts is generally pretty terrible.

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The Gateway Mall is right next to the Belt around East NY/Canarsie. Three exits will get you there. Rockaway Ave, Pennsylvania Ave, and Erskine Ave.

Don't mind us, just helping ourselves open a NYC store, as we help others get a job....

STRIVE Gets $620K from Walmart for Skills Training

Tuesday, 31 July 2012 12:19

STRIVE has received a $620,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation which will support the provision of occupational skills training to an additional 200 unemployed men and women in Boston, New York City, and Washington DC.

The new Walmart Skills Training Initiative enables STRIVE to expand the job readiness services it provides to underserved communities. It aims to help at-risk individuals, particularly low-income women and the formerly incarcerated, improve their occupational skills and prospects for employment, helping them and their families get on the path to a brighter future.

"The Walmart Foundation supports programs that provide people with ways to improve their lives through workforce readiness, job placement and support services," says Michelle Gilliard, senior director at the Walmart Foundation. "This partnership with STRIVE is part of our ongoing efforts to help workers gain the necessary skills for today's job market."

Since its establishment in 1984, STRIVE's signature Attitudinal and Job Readiness training has helped nearly 50,000 individuals across America develop the attitudes and behaviors they need to succeed in the workplace. But in today's economy, the right attitude is not always enough to find a job. To help its graduates become more competitive candidates, STRIVE has integrated sector-based skills training into our work readiness model.

http://www.nynp.biz/index.php/breaking-news/11375-strive-gets-620k-from-walmart-for-skills-training