Monday Morning Read,

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"It was labor that helped build the largest middle class in history. So, even if you're not a union member, every American owes something to America's labor movement,"
- Barack Obama, speaking at an AFL-CIO rally in Cincinnati.

A new study revealed retail jobs are expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, which begs the question: will they be good jobs?

A&P plans to split stores into four store types, 
Over the next five years, about 100 stores will be converted to price impact or discount stores. Currently, around 150 locations are operating as price impact stores, with plans to add an additional 50. By 2014, A&P will have 50 or 60 discount stores...The announcement is getting a lot of press.

Workers at Safeway's Edmonton distribution center returned to work Saturday afternoon, ending a six day strike.

UFCW Local 7 in Colorado and King Soopers are still in a deadlock today, as their contract expired at midnight.

The Teamsters call on Whole Foods to support Health Care reform.

Time Magazine: Wal-Mart's new plan to crush competition: Project Impact.

Politics
Crain's looks at the tremendous growth (and power) of the Working Families Party.

Liz Benjamin of the Daily News, says the Working Families Party has a target on their back, as several groups are rallying together to try and reduce their growing clout.

Gov. David Paterson said Saturday that he won't support the Legislature's proposed ethics bill, which he says would be like "rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.

Remember tomorrow is Primary Day get out and vote!

Welcome back Bottle Bill, Monday Morning Read...

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The heavily debated Bottle Bill is back for the attack, after a federal judge overturned the injunction that had previously halted the bill. The New York Times has more on how the State can start collecting in on what is estimated to be 10's of millions of dollars.

The Progressive Grocer covers the opening of Pathmark in New Dorp.

Last week, when Whole Foods stance on Healthcare was released, many customers are serious about boycotting the store.

Local

The New York Times writes that Long Islanders are hopeful that the new 'Lighthouse' project in Hempstead will bring jobs, development and much needed revenue to Nassau County.

Slumlords are getting $81 million of the stimulus, despite owning hazardous buildings with numerous code violations.

The Gotham Gazette looks at the City Council District 33 race, and the changes that candidates are facing.

New polls are showing that David Patterson is far behind Andrew Cuomo for NYS Governor.

Tim Bishop has a new challenger.

Another NJ Pathmark to close, Obama to visit Kroger, Wednesday Morning Read...

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Greenpeace says no to Trader Joe's seafood.

Ahold’s U.S. banners posted $5.2 billion in sales for the second quarter, which ended July 12, with gains at Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover but slowing sales at Giant-Carlisle, the company said in a trading statement Tuesday.

President Obama will visit a Kroger in Virginia.

Another Pathmark will close in New Jersey, this time in North Plainfield, as customers are shocked to hear the news that the store will close mid-August.

Another article on Wall Pathmark's closure [New Jersey] with customer reactions.

More: "A landmark for locals, Pathmark will close its doors after numerous attempts at revival."

St.Petersburg will get a Fresh Market, a company eager to expand into the NY area.

Wegman's proposes a new store for Rochester.

The MarketWatch writes an analysis on supermarket stocks during the downturn.

Survey: Chicago has the cheapest groceries.

On Monday, Governor David A. Paterson requested the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) designate 17 New York counties as agricultural disaster areas due to bad weather conditions this growing season.

Another new BJ's development in Massachusetts.
They've also signed a new 5-year contract with Wirpo Bags.

FreshDirect problem, cardboard boxes for every delivery no matter what the size. FreshDirect says next year they'll stop using cardboard boxes all together next year.

NYC: 1 in 5 resturants were not inspected.


Politics. Politics.
Councilman De Blasio is back on the ballot for Public Advocate.

Calling for a single-payer healthcare system in N.Y.

David Patterson's fate is a concern after the continued decline of polling numbers.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is still considered the favorite as he seeks a third term, but the incumbent's lead over NYC Comptroller William Thompson (D) has shrunk considerably in recent months. A new Quinnipiac poll shows Bloomberg ahead, 47% to 37%

Senate Panel Endorses Sotomayor
President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, moved closer to taking her seat on Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly approved her nomination and sent it on to the full Senate. But the contentious public hearings this month and Tuesday's largely partisan committee vote demonstrated that judicial confirmations remain a hotly contested political and ideological battleground with implications for Mr. Obama's future choices for the courts. The committee's vote was 13 to 6, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina the only Republican joining the panel's 12 Democrats in voting for the nomination.

Local 1500 to Bloomberg: Fix up your supermarket plan, King Soopers members reject contract proposal, Thursday One-Liners...

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End of a retailing era, Virgin Megastore shuts its doors in NYC.

Local 1500 tells Mayor Bloomberg to beef up his supermarket plan.

A Food Basics store will open at the site of a former A&P in Fairview, N.J., next week.

A&P is also debuting a new private label for kids.

Why Wal-Mart needs the Employee Free Choice Act.

UFCW Local 1776 members at Acme supermarkets will vote on a contract next week.

Overhill Farms, a major food-processing plant in the L.A. area, terminated more than 200 employees after an IRS audit finds that they had provided 'invalid or fraudulent' Social Security numbers, UFCW 770 calls it a 'desktop raid'.

Here's more on the firings of 254 employees.

UFCW 7 members at King Soopers have rejected the contract offer...On the contract offer:

Roxanne Heeney, a pharmacy technician at the King Soopers store at 6030 Stetson Hills Blvd. and an employee for more than 20 years, said the offer "really bums me out, that they are trying to decrease our benefits and not give us any wage increase. I can't make ends meet now. I want to avoid a strike, but if we have to strike, we will. I would like to see something that would help us maintain our retirement fund so we won't have to work until we're 95."

King Soopers in Colorado, has also filed a suit accusing union representatives of disrupting business and intimidating workers by sending groups of union representatives into stores to talk to workers.

They're set to meet today in court, as King Soopers tries to block the UFCW representatives from speaking to their members on the sales floor.

The Progressive Grocer has an indepth story on King Soopers allegations of "Union Hooliganism"

They're also reporting 'Fresh & Easy' to open four stores in July.

The UFT replaces Randy Weingarten.

A horrific accident took the lives of three workers and injured 41 others in an explosion and roof collapse at the ConAgra Foods Inc. facility in Garner, North Carolina, on June 9, 2009. The (UFCW) Local 204 represents 900 workers in that facility.

Politics

Howard Dean has endorsed both Brad Lander and Josh Skaller, only problem, they're running against each other.

Another poll confirms Patterson's unpopularity.

Senator Monnserratte is now turning to back the Dems.

NYSUT endorses Gillibrand.

The Food Safety Bill continues to advance in the house.

As the Senate reels, Espada says he gets 2 votes

Sen. Pedro Espada, the dissident Bronx Democrat in charge of the deadlocked Senate, is insisting that he can count himself twice to get a quorum to start passing bills. At the same time, he is contending that an investigation into his finances by prosecutors is payback for cozying with Republicans to take over the Senate. Meanwhile, allegations were flying that former Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith of Queens directed state money to a school attended by, in Espada's words, Smith's "out-of-wedlock child."

Gourmet Garage will open in about a month, New Farmers Market on Long Island, UFCW Local 7 Contract updates...

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Workers in King Soopers, Denver voted on the company's latest contract proposal on Tuesday, in a letter to members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, union President Ernest Duran said King Soopers’ proposal “slashes pensions, fails to preserve health care benefits, maintains the unfair two-tier system and penalizes the corporation’s workers.”

A Farmers / Flea Market will be opening every Saturday at SUNY Old Westbury on Long Island.

Woodhaven Lanes, well what was formerly Woodhaven Lanes, may soon turn into retail space in Glendale Queens.

The New York Times looks at how the recession has hit Jamaica Queens.

Smith’s Food & Drug yesterday came to a tentative agreement on a new contract with United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1564 of Albuquerque, N.M
Supermarket News has more.

Albertsons will close another store in Florida.

Gourmet Garage will open up at the former Balducci's in "about a month"

UFCW 1776 has until today to vote on Acme Markets' "last, best and final contract offer"

Politics

A New York Times/Cornell/NY1 poll shows seven in ten New Yorkers don’t want to elect David Paterson as governor in 2010.

Carolyn Maloney is persistent on running against Kristin Gillibrand.

Monday Morning One Liners...

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Kristen Gillibrand was on Long Island this week with Tom Suozzi, she acknowledged King Kullen for buying local products.

UFCW Local 7 files a complaint against their grocery stores.

Progressive Grocer reports they may strike soon.

Politicians are urging Costco to accept food stamps.

NY Times (Nicholas Confessore): Paterson's Order Will Help Unions Trying to Organize

Gov. David A. Paterson has issued an order making it easier for labor unions to organize thousands of workers at some of New York's largest new hotel and convention center projects, including hotels in Niagara Falls and at the Belmont Park racetrack in Nassau County and the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The directive, which was signed on April 24 and issued on Friday, will require the operators of projects that receive assistance like loans, tax breaks or property leases from state agencies or public authorities to obtain "labor peace" agreements with unions seeking to organize their workers. Under the agreements, workers would pledge not to strike, boycott or engage in other actions that would disrupt business or deprive the state of revenues.

C&S Wholesale Grocers was the winning bidder in last week’s auction of Bruno’s stores, agreeing to purchase all 56 locations from the retailer it supplies for $48.5 million.

Price Chopper, among a three grocers receiving technology awards this year.

Wal-Mart drops to number 2 on Forbes 500.

Laura Sen, the CEO of BJ's Wholesale Club gives her budget tips in a tough economy.

Politics

Bill Thompson accuses Mike Bloomberg of ducking debates.

GOP announces a candidate to take on Suozzi (Long Island)

Balducci's to close NY stores, Bloomberg is an Independent, Monday Morning One Liners...

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Balducci's will four stores in June, including both New York City locations.

The NY Post has some customer reactions and more on the closing.

The Minnesota Grocery Association is offering free re-usable bags to all customers as part of a campaign to make 'Green your Routine'

The RWDSU held a protest in New Jersey in front of an Auto Parts store where 50 union members protested a 2 year wage freeze and loss of pension funding.

Politics

Atlantic City - The manager of the local Wal-Mart and its exterminator were charged with animal cruelty after they allegedly used inhumane methods to take care of birds that had gotten into the store, the president of the Atlantic County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Thursday

Wendall Young IV, President of UFCW Local 1776 publicly debated the Employee Free Choice Act with Gene Barr, vice president of Pennslyvania's largest business association.

An executive who led what was once one of the country's biggest electrical wiring companies pleaded innocent Friday to charges that he bribed a union official. Former Petrocelli Electric chairman and principal owner Santo Petrocelli Sr. is accused of making secret payments for a decade to a representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

NY State AG, Andrew Cuomo is looking into charges that liquor stores have been threatening wine-makers who supported selling wine in grocery stores, a debate which ended last week.

Meanwhile, the battle of wine in grocery stores is far from over.

Dozens of migrant workers in Bradford, Markham, Leamington, and East Toronto have been arrested, detained and are likely slated for deportation at the Rexdale Immigration Holding Centre after a series of US style immigration raids carried out by CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency) throughout this week.

Daily News: Patterson must improve poll numbers or forget about 2010.

NY State passes $131 million dollar budget.

Newsday looks at how bad the budget is for Long Island.

The Independence Party has endorsed Bloomberg.

Adolfo Carrion is admist another scandal, spending campaign cash for a farewell party.

Former representative John Sweeney now faces a felony D.W.I. charge.

Ohio investigates Wal-Mart cutting 650 jobs, No wine in Supermarkets, Monday Morning One Liners...

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When Ohio gave Wal-Mart, the worlds largest retailer, a $1.8 million dollar job creation tax credit, they expected the jobs to be preserved. Friday, Wal-Mart announced they will be cutting 650 jobs, sparking the Ohio Dept. of Development to investigate if Wal-Mart reneged on their deal.

Albany: "No wine in grocery stores, beer taxes increase"

Howie Glickberg, "Out to conquer the New Jersey Market"

Gristedes has launched a new discount program.

Fresh & Easy launches 25 new wines.

Tom Suozzi signaled he’d run for governor again if David Paterson doesn’t seek re-election

The Times Union analyzes the budget.

What is in the new state budget?

Bloomberg opens campaign offices in 3 boroughs.

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Happy Friday Morning One Liners...

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A coalition of labor and community organizations accused drugstore giant CVS yesterday of stocking its San Diego County stores with over-the-counter medications and food that had expired.

UFCW 1657 will meet with prospective buyers of Bruno's Supermarkets who filed for chapter 11 last week.

UFCW Local 23's bargaining committee is set to begin negotiations with representatives of Kuhns Quality Foods on Friday, March 27th. It has been nearly two months since Kuhns first recognized the union workers at the Beulah Road location--the first one of Kuhns eight stores where workers enjoy a union voice in the workplace.

Grocery Union asks Governor Patterson to remove Bottle Bill from the Budget.

Workers at IGA stores in British Columbia this week authorized union leaders to call a strike as negotiations for a new contract continue.
Read more of this story

A&P finally introduces their 'Green Way' brand.

The membership of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1099 has voted to approve the merger of its union with UFCW Local 911, the final step in creating a new entity, Local 75, which will become effective April 1, union officials told SN Thursday.
Read more of this story

2,000 teachers' jobs are in jeopardy.

Newsday has more on job cuts in schools.

Wal-Mart still salivating over NYC, Patterson gets flack for cigg tax, Key Senator on Employee Free Choice

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Wal-Mart continues to a surge into Chicago, still salivating over NYC.

"Chicago and New York, I would say, are the two priorities for the company [Wal-Mart]."- Stock Analyst at William & Blair.

The federal agency charged with enforcing minimum wage, overtime and many other labor laws is failing in that role, leaving millions of workers vulnerable, Congressional auditors have found...We've seen 2 cases in the last month here in New York City.

A Bronx Hospital is fighting Interns and resident Doctors from unionizing, residents say conditions are so bad,they worry for their patients and their own safety.

Governor Patterson's office said Tuesday that the state plans to eliminate nearly 9,000 jobs, mostly through layoffs, after failing to get public employee unions to agree to cost-cutting concessions.

Doormen throughout Manhattan are being laid off in order to cut costs.

Here's more on A&P's new private green label.

A ShopRite & an Aquarium in Connecticut have teamed up to help feed fish and clean up the environment.

Connecticut shoppers react to their new plastic bag tax.

Politics

David Patterson's plan to raise revenue from fees on stores that sell cigarettes came under attack from both parties.

A new report on taxing the rich in NY concludes is a viable solution.

Tom Suozzi says taxpayers should 'revolt' over property taxes.

UFCW urges support of Employee Free Choice Act.

A key Senator, Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) will oppose the Employee Free Choice Act, Specter supported the bill last year.

The New York Times has more on Specter's decision.

& Here's the NY Times on Obama's address last night.

Proposed Wal-Mart in East Patchogue, BJ's to Brooklyn, Monday Morning One Liners...

Protestors slam the proposed East Patchogue Wal-Mart. [Newsday] More information head to the coalition website www.walmartli.org.

There will be a hearing on a proposed Stop and Shop in Hyde Park on Wednesday .Stop & Shop plans to move from its location at the corner of Route 9 and St. Andrews Road into a new building in the mall where the former Ames building is located on Route 9.

In an effort to acknowledge vendors and/or manufacturers for providing outstanding quality, professionalism and exceptional customer service, D’Agostino Supermarkets, Inc. has created the D’Agostino MVP-Most Valuable Partner Award.

BJ's Wholesale Club will anchor a plaza in Canarsie, Brooklyn.

Steve Forbes will be interviewing John Casimatidis this week.

Safeway workers across Manitoba voted 83% in favor of their new contract yesterday.

Politicos

Labor-Backed Contract Rules are renewed and advanced. [WSJ]

Peter King revokes his support of the Employee Free Choice Act.

Coney Island Zoning update.

NYC Mayoral race update, who will the Dems back?

President Obama pushes "Food Safety"

David Patterson's top policy advisor steps down.

Widen the wine sales? [Newsday]

Friday Afternoon One Liners...

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Wal-Mart "confident" on defeat of Employee Free Choice.

Should America expect more from Wal-Mart? [Bloomberg]

Report: 20 members fired in Arizona for "Union Activity".

Wal-Mart plans a new 'Hispanic' supermarket format.

Duane Reade has some successful 'fresh food' taste tests.

Save Mart Supermarkets in California said it has eliminated a handful of corporate and support staff to eliminate redundancies left over from its 2007 acquisition of 130 Albertsons stores.
Read more of this story

Public outcry on Food Safety and Sanitation increases.

Bruno’s Supermarkets has asked U.S. Bankruptcy Court here to void parts of its contracts with the United Food and Commercial Workers union, saying that successor agreements in the deals are an “impenetrable barrier” to a potential sale and survival of the chain.
Read more of this story

Aldi spends millions to expand to Texas.

Politics

NY Times on Jon Stewart and Jim Cramer, "Economic Meltdown is no laughing matter"

Anthony Weiner takes a step back from the Mayoral race, for now.

Patterson pushes the expansion of COBRA benefits.

Wal-Mart NYC rumors, BJ's gains, Patterson cuts salary...

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Wal-Mart NYC rumors spur up again.

Costco is pressuring suppliers for lower prices.

BJ's Wholesale Club is anticipating comparable-store sales increases of 5%-7% this year — after gains of 6.4% in 2008

Endorsements of a new "Food Safety Bill"

Wegmans is soliciting customer support for the state wine proposal.

AFL-CIO is in talks with Change to Win on reuniting.

Wal-Mart eyes Japan expansion.

Wal-Mart February sales soared once again.

Politics

David Paterson promises to cut his pay by 10 percent.

The Bottle Bill gets a public hearing, and another to come on Friday.

Citarella to Long Island East End, Gourmet Garage recalls peanuts, Wal-Mart pays $49,000,000 in back wages....

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A former IGA in eastern Long Island will become a Citarella.

More from the South Hampton Press on Citarella.

The Gourmet Garage has recalled peanuts.

Smithfield Foods has announced plans to close six plants and shed 1,800 staff.

Another poll concluded that New Yorkers want an income tax hike for the rich.

Gristedes buys Jefferson Market.

Changing of the guard at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart outpaces a weak economy.

Wal-Mart in South Carolina pays $49,000,000 in back wages.

Albertsons to close 9 stores.

Comparable-store sales fell 4% at Whole Foods Market here in the first quarter, the company said yesterday. Net income declined 17.4%, to $32.3 million, on flat sales overall of about $2.47 billion.
Read more of this story

Stop & Shop here will partner with Willard Bishop, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Modiv Media for a series of in-store marketing tests to measure the effectiveness of Modiv’s promotional delivery systems.
Read more of this story

Economist: Wages don't reflect increased productivity.

South Bronx rezoned, Layoffs at Bashas', Mike Duke, One Liners...

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Banks will be taking over the shops at the Atlas Park in Glendale Queens.

The Department of City Planning announced Monday that it will begin public review of the rezoning of the lower Grand Concourse in the South Bronx, to go mixed use.

Contrary to some expectations, supermarket prepared foods departments are not seeing much benefit as the result of the economic downturn, a financial analyst said Monday.

Wal-Mart's India invasion.

Bashas' grocery chain is laying off 350 workers.

Macy's cuts 7,000 jobs.

Judge cancels Whole Foods hearings.

LA Times OP-ED "Labor's real fight"

Advertising Age looks at Springsteen's Wal-Mart regrets.

What will Mike Duke do?

Sign a letter of support for Wal-Mart workers.

Politics

Suozzi: "Things are as bad as they can be"

Suozzi also has an editorial in the NY Post.

Steve Israel raised nearly half a million dollars at the end of 2008.

Republicans are gearing up to challenge Patterson.

Citi is exploring options on breaking their stadium pact with the Mets.

Whole Foods case thrown out, NYC Horse Carriage drivers have joined the Teamsters, Wal-Mart now owns Chilean supermarket industry, Monday Morning...

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The Fresh Market is laying off some workers.

A 20 year family run bodega in the Bronx is closing.

An 11-member union at an ExxonMobil gas station in Montville signed a one-year contract Friday with the company as the state-owned property is being marketed for sale.

Whole Foods' lawsuit against the FTC was thrown out of court on Friday.

Wal-Mart now owns over 58% of the Chilean supermarket industry.

NYC horse carriage drives have joined the Teamsters.

Jesse Olson, a former union vice president who played a major role in building and expanding the nation’s largest health care workers’ local, 1199 S.E.I.U. United Healthcare Workers East in New York City, died on Monday in Monroe Township, N.J. He was 84.

Politics
Stuart Applebaum released a statement regarding the Gillibrand appointment.

Gillibrand also pledged to find a common ground on gun issues.

Her goal is to "fill Hillary Clinton's shoes."

Peter King wants Patterson to justify his selection,

A Daily News probe has discovered that King funneled money for man hole covers that Con-Ed didn't want.

Governor Patterson's political career is on life support.

$3.4 Billion to NYC?

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Court to rule on Wal-Mart's unionized store closures, Peanut Butter recall, Politics politics politics...

Canada Wal-Mart workers vs Wal-Mart in the Supreme Court begins today.

Top Court to rule on Wal-Mart store closure today...

In response to the news that Salmonella was found in a package of Austin Quality Foods Toasty Crackers with Peanut Butter, manufacturer Kellogg Co. in Michigan has activated its sales force of several thousand employees, and engaged the help of a third-party retrieval company to rid retailers’ shelves of recalled Kellogg’s products.
Read more of this story

Politics

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says Hillary Rodham Clinton was not confirmed as secretary of state Tuesday because of a single senator's objection.

While Gov. David Paterson said Tuesday he had reached a decision on whom to appoint to Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat and will make the announcement by Saturday.

The Daily News has much more on his pondering.

Mayoral hopeful Bill Thompson returned a $500 donation to real-estate scam artist and Brooklyn developer Isaac Toussie, who was pardoned and then quickly unpardoned by then-President George Bush, campaign records revealed yesterday.

While Anthony Weiner though received $9,900 and has yet to return it.

Liquor store owners uniting against plan to let grocery stores sell wine.

Trader John's to be settled today, Aldi, Aldi, Aldi, Wednesday Morning One-Liners..

Image by Getty Images via Daylife
NY District Court is planning on hearing the Trader Joe's vs Trader John's case today.

Whole Foods Market, Inc., yesterday asked competitors in 29 markets to provide pricing and other confidential information to help it defend its merger with Wild Oats against a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission, according to a published report.

Wal-Mart's Executive VP of the Grocery Division was appointed to the Food Marketing Institute board of directors.

Wal-Mart was named the top retail brand.

Top Chef donates $100,000 to NY City Harvest.

A Syracuse paper tries to prepare NYC on the soon to be opening Aldi.

Here's more chains offering free antibiotics.

U.S. retail sales fell a sixth consecutive time in December, making a deep, broad drop that indicated worried consumers were adding to savings instead of spending at the height of the holiday season.

Politics

Patterson met with Cuomo yesterday on the vacant seat.

Democrats urged Patterson to choose someone with neither the name Caroline or Kennedy.

Obama's grandmother wants to bring him a traditional spear and shield as house warming gifts.

A federal judge rejected the notion to overturn term limit extension.

New York has beaten back a legal challenge to Gov. Paterson's "Amazon tax."A decision yesterday by Manhattan state Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten clears the way for Albany to force out-of-state online companies to collect an estimated $50 million a year in sales tax from New York shoppers. http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142009/news/regionalnews/court_oks_states_amazon_tax_150054.htm

Canada Justices to hear Wal-Mart v.s. UFCW, Trader John's update, Monday Morning Read.

Image by Getty Images via DaylifePenn Traffic Co., Syracuse, said Friday that it would close eight stores early next month as part of a strategy to invest behind its best-performing assets. The company said it would work with union representatives and employees to find the "best solution" for the affected workers.

The recession finally hits Wal-Mart.

Lee Scott thinks retailers specifically can help the plummeting economy.

Trader Joe's is suing Gristedes....Here's more at Bloomberg News.

In Minnesota, unionization gets a renewed push.

Canada Justices to hear WalMart vs UFCW.

Up to four stores at Atlas Park may close.


Politics

With Caroline Kennedy stumbling in her debut performance as Sen. Clinton's replacement-in-waiting, some are asking why Gov. David Patterson wouldn't pick New York's attorney general, Andrew Cuomo for Clinton's seat after she is named secretary of state.

Meanwhile Patterson & Kennedy meet to discuss the Senate.

A Queens assemblyman has proposed a four-day workweek for some state employees to help offset the $15 billion budget deficit faced by New York in 2009.

Just as the recession is throwing people out of work at an alarming rate, the unemployment insurance system in New York and many other states will start cutting off benefits this week for thousands of people who have been unable to find jobs since early last year.

Anthony Weiner, trying to fight his way out of Mayor Bloomberg's shadow.

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Aldi comes to NYC, Millennium Market opens another store, Happy Birthday A&P

Image via WikipediaAldi to open New York City store in 2009.

They're also in the midst of a discrimination suit for firing a cashier for refusing to work Sundays due to religious belief.

Khim’s Millennium Market, a natural and organic food store based here, has opened its fifth and largest location in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

A&P launched a mail order pharmacy program.

Borders Group Inc. named Ron Marshall, former Pathmark CEO, as its new chief executive Monday as part of a management shakeup aimed at turning around the struggling bookseller's balance sheet.

This year the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. is marking its 150th year in business, making it the oldest food-retailing company in the United States.

The Stop & Shop stores in Brooklyn raised $12,744 as part of The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company’s record-breaking year with Food for Friends. Stop & Shop’s 19th annual Food for Friends campaign surpassed its $1 million goal for 300 local hunger relief organizations throughout the Northeast.

The first Wal-Mart neighborhood market opened in Virginia...They also opened one in Florida today.

Wal-Mart also continues to violate Connecticut state tax laws, even after promising to comply.

The Animal Defence League of Canada is celebrating a "major victory" after Wal-Mart Canada agreed to pull a type of Chinese-made slippers that contained real rabbit fur from its shelves.

New York Gov. David Paterson's proposal to levy an 18 percent "obesity tax" on carbonated beverages in 2009 has spurred the beverage industry to register its objections.

Sandwhich chains are flourishing in the bad economy.

Racked.com looks inside "Trader John's"