The Village Voice previewed De Marrais’ CMJ show, saying, “The former Rainer Maria frontwoman has a new solo album coming next month, Red Coats, and it reduces her old band’s emo-rock blare to a quieter roar, surrounding de Marrais’ uncommonly expressive singing with tense little clicks and buzzes, slyly destabilizing where Rainer Maria once aimed to knock off socks.”

The NY Times also previewed the show, marking it as a recommended pick: “Ms. De Marrais, the former lead singer of the breezy indie-rockers Rainer Maria, offers sparse, elegiac pop in solo repose.” In addition, The Times Arts Beat blog picked up a Tweet from a raving fan.

Time Out NY calls her an “effortlessly stylish indie crooner.”

WHO: Caithlin De Marrais, formerly of “indie rock icons” (SPIN) Rainer Maria

WHAT: ‘Red Coats’ album release show

WHEN: 7:30, November 2, 2011

WHERE: Union Hall, 702 Union Street (at 5^th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY

TICKETS: $8 in advance, $10 at the door

WalmartFreeNYC is a diverse coalition of residents, activists, and elected officials committed to protecting local businesses, creating good jobs, and supporting artistic communities. For more information, visit www.walmartfreenyc.org or www.facebook.com/walmartfreenyc

A number of media outlets have covered the work of WalmartFreeNYC.

Here is a recent feature article in The Brooklyn Rail:

www.brooklynrail.org/2011/07/local/no-place-for-walmart

Yellowbirds, featuring Sam Cohen of Apollo Sunshine; and Lindsay Sullivan will open.

For more information on Caithlin De Marrais, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at nick.losseaton@gmail.com or 718.541.1130.

http://endup.org/artists/caithlindemarrais

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Caithlin-De-Marrais/26699514677

Crowd Tells World’s Richest Retailer It Must Keep the Promises it Made in Other Cities Before It’s Welcome in NYC

New York- Walmart workers came to Liberty Park today to speak to Occupy Wall Street protesters about their campaign to win fair wages and working conditions for Walmart’s 2.1 million associates worldwide.

“We’re here today to let the people at Occupy Wall Street know that Walmart’s associates stand with them, we are the 99%” said Walmart worker Girshriela Green. “For too long Walmart has pushed its associates around and its time we got the dignity and respect we deserve.”

The workers are helping to build grassroots support for Walmart Free NYC’s campaign to hold Walmart accountable for their past statements and promises- promises the richest retailer in the world has broken time and again broken in urban expansion markets similar to New York City, according to a new report released by Making Change at Walmart.

The report, which can be found here, explains that:

• Walmart promised an African-American community leader that workers at one Los Angeles store  would be making $13 an hour, but workers report that in reality many make less
• Academics estimated that if consumers paid an additional .46 cents per shopping trip, it would allow Walmart to offer a minimum wage of $12 an hour
• Walmart associates often delay or forgo medical care altogether because they can’t get the time off or can’t afford the treatment
• 65% of all Walmart associates in 2001 were women, yet they made up only 33% of salaried management

“Walmart’s glitzy and expensive PR campaign won’t tell New York that they promised Los Angeles jobs and then never delivered, or that they promised higher wages than fell way short. We need to hold Walmart accountable, and that is what we are doing today,” said Stephanie Yazgi, Director of Walmart Free NYC. “We need Walmart to be held accountable for their past promises and need them to finally treat their workers with respect.”

After speaking to the people gathered at Zuccotti Park, the workers and Occupy Wall Street protestors marched on Walmart’s New York City Headquarters to demand the company keep its promises to workers in other cities before it’s allowed in to New York City.

In addition, the Walmart workers also met with key stakeholders in New York City to discuss Walmart’s many labor related issues and why the retail giant needs to be reformed. The workers are from a worker organized organization called OUR Walmart: Organization United for Respect at Walmart that stands up for their rights.

The workers

Girshriela Green: Girshriela Green is flying across the country tomorrow to tell New Yorkers about her experience working for the world’s richest retailer in Los Angeles- where her working-class community was courted by Walmart’s promises of hundreds of good jobs, much like East New Yorkers are now—but those promises failed to materialize. Girshriela was hired as a sales floor associate making $8.20 / hour. After three promotions, she makes $9.80 an hour, far less than the $13 an hour Walmart executives promised an African-American community leader in LA, and now, in New York.

Kenny James:  Kenny James is a former Walmart Support Manager from Renton, Washington. Kenny was on the management track, but chose to step down when he was told that in order to move up into higher management, he had to treat associates more poorly. Kenny has for several years tried to make Walmart a better place to work by educating associates, addressing unfair policies and challenging Walmart to do right by its associates. Kenny is a leader in Organization United for Respect at Walmart and is hopeful for the future of equality, respect and fairness at Walmart.

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New York -The Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, a top LGBTQ organization, slammed Walmart today following an explosive New York Times article that revealed the retailer’s e-commerce operation, through the company’s relationship with a marketing affiliate, has been helping to bankroll groups that actively oppose LGBTQ rights. (See New York times, “Retailers Are Put On Spot Over Anti-Gay Aid”, September 25, 2011)

“We are alarmed and offended by the news that Walmart is funneling money to well-known anti-gay groups and disrespecting so many LGBTQ Americans,” said Joseph Hagelmann III, President of the Stonewall Democratic Club of New York City, the largest and oldest LGBTQ political club in the city.

“Walmart is spending millions to win over New York City residents, but its officials have never reached out to us and have never marched with us,” Hagelmann continued. “Now we know why. Walmart’s actions and record on LGBTQ issues are simply indefensible. Walmart is a threat to New York City, the historic home of the LGBTQ movement, and we continue to oppose Walmart opening stores here.”

Walmart has long failed to support the LGBTQ community. Among the most disturbing facts:

Walmart Has Flunked National Tests of How Well It Treats LGBTQ Employees

Walmart Recently Allowed a Supervisor to Humiliate and Shame a Gay Employee

Walmart Does Not Adequately Protect Its Transgender Employees

Walmart Has Sold Anti-Gay Children’s Books in Many of Its Stores

Walmart’s Poor LGBTQ Record Stands Out Among Fortune 500 Companies

Walmart’s Current CEO Has Opposed Gay and Lesbian Adoption

“Walmart’s awful LGBTQ history is a problem that money and corporate spin can’t solve,” said Stephanie Yazgi, Director of the Walmart Free NYC campaign. “Walmart NYC’s campaign needs to tell their corporate offices back in Bentonville to sever all ties with groups that want to roll back decades of gains in LGBTQ rights. Walmart clearly does not share New York’s values. If the company did, it would not be helping to fund groups that want to trample on the rights and dignity of New York’s LGBTQ community.”

These reactions come as Walmart is reportedly desperate for growth in New York City and possibly looking to build more than 150 stores across the five boroughs, according to a major new study.

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Walmart Looking at NYC to Offset Declining U.S. Stock Price, Stagnating Growth

New York, NY –“The Walmartization of New York City,” a new study released today by ALIGN, a New York-based nonprofit organization, reveals that Walmart’s growth plans for New York City could lead the company to open an estimated 159 stores here, most of them smaller format stores designed for urban areas, a finding consistent with Walmart’s oft-repeated declaration that it is evaluating opportunities for new stores across the five boroughs.

It is the first study of its kind analyzing retail market share data, industry analyst reports, and Walmart’s own financial reports in order to show the large-scale roll out the company is likely planning in New York City and to explain the likely economic impact.

It looks closely at Walmart’s market share in the grocery industry across the U.S. and rigorously calculates the minimum number of stores Walmart would likely need to build in New York City in order to reach a corresponding level of market share here.

The study estimates that the economic impact of this Walmartization on NYC could be devastating:

A net loss of 3,980 jobs throughout New York City

The loss of $353 million in wages for retail workers whose jobs remain

Taxpayers footing a $4 million bill for health care benefits for 4,279 new Walmart workers

“Walmart is desperate for growth in New York City, because the company has saturated most non-urban U.S. markets and its U.S. stock has been stagnating,” said Josh Kellerman, an ALIGN researcher who co-authored the study with Stephanie Luce, an economics professor from CUNY. “But a few NYC stores will do little to address its weak economic outlook. So the company is looking to open many stores throughout NYC and control a significant portion of the largest consumer market in the U.S.,” he said.

As part of its campaign to enter New York City, Walmart spent over $2.1 million in lobbying expenses in the first half of 2011, six times as much as it spent in the last four years combined, the study shows. Meanwhile, over the last twelve months, Walmart’s stock has significantly underperformed competitors such as Costco and Kroger, primarily because its same store U.S. sales (a key economic indicator in the retail industry) have declined for nine consecutive quarters.

“This study makes it clear that what’s good for Walmart is not good for New York City,” said New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. “Millions of dollars worth of advertising can’t sweep Walmart’s record of killing jobs and small businesses under the rug. We have to protect our city’s middle class from companies that actively undermine it.

According to the study, Walmart has saturated non-urban U.S. markets to such a degree that it is beginning to cannibalize sales at its own stores. So it is now focusing on growth in urban markets it had once ignored. Walmart’s CFO, Michael Fung, recently pointed out that “Wal-Mart has twice the opportunity to grow in Los Angeles or New York than the opportunity in India and China combined.”

Eduardo Castro Wright, Walmart’s Vice Chairman, stated in 2009 that Walmart stood to increase its sales between $80 and $100 billion through expansion into urban markets.  New York City, as the largest consumer market in the U.S., likely represents the largest portion of this growth strategy.

Walmart’s share of the US grocery market is 21%.  Reaching that same level of market share in New York City’s dense retail environment would likely require 159 Walmart stores of varying sizes. The study estimates it would be 114 of the new Walmart Express stores averaging 15,000 square feet, 34 Walmart Markets averaging 35,000 square feet, and 11 Supercenters averaging 100,000 square feet. (See the study’s detailed methodology section for more information on how the calculations and estimates were developed.)

“Walmart has made lots of promises about creating jobs and investing in communities, but the company’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality,” said Reverend David Dyson of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. Given its power and influence, Walmart has an obligation to answer questions about its long-term impact on New York City. Walmart is hiding behind talking points, but New Yorkers see through the spin and want answers.”

About ALIGN

ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York’s mission is to create good jobs, vibrant communities, and an accountable democracy for all New Yorkers. Our work unites worker, community, and other allies to build a more just and sustainable New York. For more information, please visit www.alignny.org

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Coalition Also Kicks Off Virtual Campaign Urging New Yorkers to Email Related’s Stephen Ross To Keep East New York Walmart-Free

NEW YORK- Small businesses, community leaders, clergy and other members of Walmart Free NYC paid a visit to the developer Related’s Headquarters at the Time Warner Center today urging them to say “No” to Walmart.  The coalition sought a meeting with CEO Stephen Ross about Related’s reported negotiations with Walmart, but Related continued its refusal to meet. The coalition released a letter asking Related to cease any negotiations with Walmart and to meet with East New York residents to discuss potential retail sights.

The coalition also released a video of East New York residents asking Stephen Ross not to be “Related to Walmart” and urging viewers to email Stephen Ross asking him to keep East New York Walmart-Free (http://bit.ly/eastnewyorkersagainstwalmart).  At the same time, dozens of Walmart-Free NYC used Twitter to organize emails as well.

“Related needs to understand that Walmart is not what we need in Brooklyn or anywhere else in the five boroughs,” said Wanda Salaman from Mothers on the Move in the Bronx. “Our livelihoods should not be negotiated with behind closed doors, we have the right to know what Related and Walmart are doing.”

“Stephen Ross needs to hear us loud and clear: East New York does not want Walmart,” said said Maria Maisonet of East New York. “Related needs to finally come clean about Walmart and tell us face-to-face what they are doing- we deserve answers.

The delegation from all over New York City included representatives from Willets Point, Hunters Point South and other sites across the city for which Related may potentially submit plans.

Walmart Free NYC also released its letter to Stephen Ross. The letter stated: “We are deeply concerned that you are abdicating your responsibility by reportedly helping Walmart enter New York City via the Gateway II development site and other sites where you may be planning to lease space to the retailer.”

Also in the letter Walmart Free NYC asked Related to:

• Pledge to cease any negotiations with Walmart over sites in New York City, and disclose a list of all the sites where you have been negotiating possible lease arrangements with Walmart.
• Meet with East New York residents in a public forum to share your plans for potential retailers at Gateway II and engage in a dialogue with the community about the future of Gateway II.
• Schedule a series of public meetings to hear from New Yorkers across the city who are concerned about Walmart.  This set of meetings will include residents in the neighborhoods surrounding your current developments at Hunters Point South, Westside Yards, and Bronx Gateway; your proposed developments at Willets Point and Moynihan Station; and other potential developments.

Last week, Assemblywoman Inez Barron and UFCW Regional Director and Vice President Rich Whalen urged Comptroller Tom DiNapoli to conduct an independent audit of the proposed transfer of land and negotiated sale price of Gateway II Estates after details emerged that Related Companies purchased the land for less than one-half the originally agreed upon amount. Walmart is widely reported to be eying a store at the East New York, Brooklyn development.

According to the letter to the Comptroller released last week:

• Related agreed to pay $32.5 million in March 2009, after the financial collapse, for 21 acres of land in East New York, Brooklyn for its Gateway Center development project.
• In April, 2009, only one month after Related agreed to the $32.5 million price, the land was rezoned to allow for a new 630,000 SF retail mall in addition to the mall that had already been built in 2001. This rezoning decreased the amount of land available for affordable housing, while increasing the overall value of the land for Related because land that can be used for commercial development is presumably more valuable than land to be used for residential development.
• In 2010, at the request of Related, the deal was modified to reduce the per acre cost by 35%.

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New York— New York groups held a press conference today spoke out against the Supreme Court’s Dukes v. Walmart decision. This decision makes it harder for women employees who have been denied promotions or paid less than their male colleagues to seek justice and hold the corporate retailer accountable for its alleged actions. The class action would have made it easier for individuals with limited means to gain access to justice in the courtroom.

Attendees noted:

• The Supreme Court didn’t rule on the merits of the law suit so associates still have legal avenue to pursue their claims
• Walmart needs to enact fair policies to ensure families and workers are protected

In light of the Supreme Court ruling, these organizations believe it is critical that Congress acts now to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure women have additional protections in the workplace and that Walmart create improved policies that ensure full access to equal pay and promotional opportunities and training for associates to transition into management so women will never be systematically discriminated against solely based on their gender.

Several groups expressed outrage at the decision:

“No company should ever be able to treat women as second-class citizens in the workplace and get away with it.  Yet, today the United States Supreme Court has favored the rights of Wal-Mart over the rights of the 1.5 million women who spent decades getting paid less while doing the same work as men.  Wal-Mart’s history of systemic discrimination against women and record of shutting down small local businesses demonstrate that it does not belong in our City, period,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

“The Supreme Court today did not decide the merits of this case, that fight continues,” said Sonia Ossorio, executive director of the National Organization for Women in New York City. “We applaud the brave women who are demanding equal pay and equal access to promotions at Wal-Mart. They have shined a light on how Wal-Mart is cheating a million woman and American families.

“The Supreme Court’s decision underscores the need to strengthen federal, state and local employment discrimination laws to ensure  justice and fair pay for working women,”said Dina Bakst, Co-President of  A Better Balance.

“Once again this Supreme Court has put a significant new roadblock in place for workers to fight widespread wage discrimination. The Wal-Mart decision highlights just how much we need stronger laws to protect all American workers. We call on our federal, state and NYC elected officials act now: fight for and pass fair pay legislation,” said Beverly Neufeld , President New York Women’s Agenda, and Director Equal Pay Coalition NYC

“The Women’s City Club of New York is disappointed with the Court’s refusal to allow female workers to move ahead with their claims. The class action lawsuit is an important way for individuals to seek justice, and as one of the founding organizations of the Equal Pay Coalition we are concerned by the precedent this case could set in preventing future class action lawsuits.  The Court’s decision has dealt a broad blow to women and other victims of workplace discrimination, making it now more imperative than ever that we work together to end such discrimination,” said  President Ruth Acker.

“People in our society do not have the resources to battle large corporations individually. Prior to today’s Supreme Court decision, a result of of Walmarts legal maneuvering and avoidance of  accountability, individuals could collectively join forces and seek justice. Minorities, women’s groups, workers, consumers and countless other groups with a mutual complaint now face tremendous obstacles in seeking justice thanks to Walmarts actions. Once again, Walmart put profits before people and now New Yorkers, specifically those New Yorkers most vulnerable, are worse off for it,” said Rhonda Nelson, UFCW Women’s Network.

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NEW YORK – As Walmart continues to avoid answering hard questions to New Yorkers, the company has been spending significant amounts of money in political contributions and political-style advertising to try to buy New Yorkers’ love. Today, the company announced a charitable contribution in another attempt to buy their way into New York City.

An analysis of Walmart’s New York State lobbying data from the New York State Commission on Public Integrity shows it spent $1.85 million on lobbying (including political-style advertisements) in the first four months of 2011. In 2007 through 2010, the company spent $335,385.

A similar shift has occurred in political contributions. An analysis of data from the National Institute on Money in State Politics, shows that between 2003 and 2010, Wal-Mart contributed $562,877 to statewide candidates in New York. Overall contributions have grown dramatically each election cycle in advance of the company’s efforts to expand into New York City, beginning with a mere $4,020 in 2004 and reaching $273,000 by 2010.

The mega-retailer can’t boost its flagging U.S. sales unless it expands into the nation’s largest cities, so it’s trying to break its way into New York with new store formats and new products, and most importantly– a new image.

“Walmart can’t be trusted. The company is embracing progressive values in its public relations campaign to avoid tough questions about its history of alleged discrimination and putting local mom and pops out business.,” said Stephanie Yazgi, spokesperson for Walmart Free NYC. “Walmart’s convenient contribution won’t distract New Yorkers from its track record: the company is facing the largest gender bias class-action lawsuit in U.S. history, it has sold more guns than any company in the United States, and it failed The Human Right Campaign’s national LGBT scorecard.”

Walmart Lobbyist Spending[i]

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[i] http://www.nyintegrity.org/

At The Time, Walmart Said Firing Nelson Was: “..The right course of action”—What Has Changed?

NEW YORK- African-American elected officials unequivocally slammed Walmart today for working with infamous race-baiting political operative Terry Nelson’s firm FP1 Strategies- five years after they already fired him once for being behind the universally condemned racially tinged “Harold, call me” ad in the 2006 Tennessee senate race.  The ad received national criticism from all corners of the political world and was eventually pulled, after which Walmart severed its relationship with Nelson. However, Walmart, through its joint lobbying efforts with other retailers, is now working with Nelson’s new firm, a shocking reversal from five years ago when Walmart said they fired Nelson because ”we believe this is the right course of action.”

In reaction to the news that Walmart is working with Nelson, African-American elected officials roundly criticized Walmart and called for them to drop him, again:

Said Council Member Charles Barron: “First Walmart in its racist ways has been known to discriminate against African-American, black and brown workers. Walmart has been known to discriminate against women. And now to work again with a professional known race baiter is unacceptable. Walmart must not come into New York City.”

Said Council Member Letitia James: “It’s unbelievable that Walmart would work with a firm tied to someone like Nelson after firing him once for one of the worst ads in our lifetime. Walmart needs to sever the relationship once and for all and never bring him back.”

Nelson has a long history of transgressions. Aside from being behind one of the most widely condemned political ads in recent memory, Nelson also:

• Was affiliated with the 2002 phone jamming scandal in 2002 in New Hampshire
• Was involved in, although not indicted for, the Tom Delay money-laundering transactions

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References

Harold Ford “Call me, Harold” Ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkiz1_d1GsA

Nelson rehired: http://www.thestate.com/2011/05/01/1800075/coalition-targeted-amazon-plan.html

Nelson in jamming scandal: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0717AZinDC0717.html

Nelson in Delay case: http://news.findlaw.com/hdocs/docs/delay/delay100305ind6.html

Nelson fired: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E7DA153FF93BA15753C1A9609C8B63

Walmart etc… back “Alliance For Main Street Fairness”:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704396504576204791377862836.html

Alliance For Main Street Fairness is being repped by  FP1 strategies: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704396504576204791377862836.html

FP1 strategies = new firm created by Terry Nelson: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/lobbying-hires/148249-lobbying-world-

Activists promise to continue disrupting Walmart and its partners

New York, NY—New York, NY—A hundred singing and dancing activists converged on Bryant Park on Wednesday to protest Walmart for its record of mistreating women, African Americans and Latinos and the LGBT community, and to confront Walmart CEO Mike Duke in person.

New York Jobs with Justice and members of the Walmart-Free NYC Coalition, including RWDSU, the Retail Action Project, New York Communities for Change, and Make the Road NY, held up yellow frowny-face masks and surrounded the windows of the Bryant Park Grill, chanting “Walmart cheats, Walmart hates, Walmart discriminates!” for nearly an hour as Mike Duke spoke inside.

Amid the chanting, a brass band loudly performed a dance number in front of the windows called “Mr. Walmart,” modeled on Jean Knight’s  “Mr. Big Stuff,” with a drag-clad Lady Liberty telling a performer dressed as Mr. Walmart on stilts, “Who do you think you are?/ Mr. Walmart/ You’re never gonna get my love.”

“Walmart can spend as much money as it wants to buy its way into New York,” said Javier Valdes, Deputy Director of Make the Road NY, one of New York City’s largest community organizations.  “But that doesn’t change the fact that Walmart doesn’t share New York’s values.  They have settled a lawsuit for discriminating against black truck drivers, fired Latino workers who complained about being called racial slurs, and is facing the largest sex discrimination lawsuit in U.S. history.”

Walmart is reportedly looking to open many stores throughout the five boroughs.  One possible location is the Gateway II development in East New York, Brooklyn, which is being developed by the Related Companies, who was the focus of the first Anti-Walmart flash mob.  The site was subject to a lengthy community planning process, and Related’s recently reported move to introduce a Walmart into those plans without community consent have raised a flurry of opposition from concerned residents, community organizations and local elected officials.

At a recent Housing Preservation and Development hearing, concerns were raised that the City-sponsored appraisal of the land was incomplete.

According to event organizer Austin Guest of NY Jobs with Justice, “If Walmart opens stores in our city, there is no indication that they will stop their track record of killing local jobs, treating workers poorly, and eliminating competition from responsible employers. We will keep following Walmart and its allies to make sure that New Yorkers know what Walmart will bring with them into New York.”

For more information, visit www.walmartfreenyc.com.

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East New Yorkers Urge Related to Make the Right Choice

New York–  At an HPD public hearing this morning regarding the city’s controversial land transfer to mega-developer Related Companies for its Gateway II development in East New York, Brooklyn, dozens of East New Yorkers raised concerns about Walmart eyeing the site as it desperately tries to buoy its stalled U.S. growth by breaking into the New York City market.

According to testimony at the hearing, the appraisal – a key component of the land transfer – was incomplete.  “The current appraisal does not engage in a fundamental component of any adequate appraisal, which is to account for various building scenarios when calculating the value of the land,” explained Josh Kellerman from Jobs with Justice.  “Rather than look at all scenarios allowed under the zoning, it only looked at one scenario suggested by the developer, Related.”

“Instead of playing by the rules and participating in public hearings and our community’s zoning process, Walmart is trying to buy its way in with an expensive PR campaign,” said Val Holder, an East New York resident and community leader. “And now Related Companies appears to be taking a page from the company’s playbook, by refusing to answer on the record whether it’s in talks with Walmart, and if so, for which locations.”

In seeking zoning approval for the site, Related Companies skirted questions about Walmart, and now the developer is drawing mounting pressure for its flirtation with the unwelcome retailer. Today’s public hearing showdown comes on the heels of a flash mob at the developer’s headquarters on Friday afternoon, and a February request by elected officials that the developer not do business with Walmart.

“Why would Related Companies partner with a retailer like Walmart, with a track record of not living up to its claims? On minority hiring, wages, job creation, even LGBT issues—the slick rhetoric Walmart uses to win its way into cities doesn’t live up to the hype,” said Maria Maisonet, a New York Communities for Change member and community leader in East New York.

At the hearing, community leaders argued that instead of playing by the rules- participating in public hearings, and answering tough questions– Walmart launched a massive political and public relations campaign, promising to create new jobs with competitive pay. The retailer made the same promises to win approval in other cities—promises which have since been broken.

East New Yorkers urged Related Companies to put the needs of the community first, and instead choose retailers like Shoprite, who has publicly expressed interest in the site, and is more in-line with New York’s values.

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