Friday Morning One Liners

For nearly 30 years, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employed a video-production company here to capture footage of its top executives, sometimes in unguarded moments. Two years ago, the retailing giant stopped using the tiny company
.

The Neighborhood Retail Alliance writes on Local 1500's Building Blocks Project.

Elected officials held a pro-Willets Point redevelopment rally at City Hall this morning in a likely attempt to counter efforts in the City Council to oppose the multi-billion dollar, 61-acre project, at least as currently presented.

The New York Sun writes more on the Willets Point Rally.

The FTC is still pressing on with the Whole Foods and Wild Oats merger.

Workers say they are set to strike and shut down Bloomingdale's flagship Manhattan store for the first time in 43 years if contract negotiations are not resolved by Thursday.

Families are caught by spiking Grocery Prices.

A new estimate from the state Department of Labor puts the possible job cuts on Wall Street at nearly double the previous estimates. In an interview with Reuters, James Brown, a market analyst for the state agency, predicted that Wall Street would lay off a stunning 36,000 employees -- one fifth of its entire work force. That compares to the 20,000 that the city's Independent Budget Office predicted in March.

Politics

Here is Obama's speech, addressing the UFCW in Chicago this week.

And here is UFCW President Joe Hansen's statement regarding Obama's speech.

The Chicago Sun-Times writes on Obama's speech to the UFCW.

Obama received a lot of press for spending his day off with the UFCW.

Here is a chart of City Council members who hired relatives to do political work.

More and more articles regarding council members slushing funds to non profits. This one involves Seabrook.

The New York Sun asks 'Where is Gifford Miller?' amongst the current Budget scandal at the City council.

Los Angeles- Broadening efforts to create more higher-paying jobs, Los Angeles city officials put a new policy into place Wednesday that requires any project receiving funds from the Community Redevelopment Agency to agree to hire union workers.