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.

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.

Lee Scott said what?, Another tax loophole closes for Wal-Mart, FTC tells Whole Foods to rebrand Wild Oats, Trader John's

Image via WikipediaYesterday Lee Scott addressed the National Retail Federation in New York City, urging cooperation to solve the nations health care crisis.

Lee Scott, the outgoing chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores, asked business leaders to embrace such initiatives as universal health care, renewable energy and immigration reform during a presentation to attendees at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show here yesterday.

He [Lee Scott], also sees a new consumer mindset.

Local retailers throughout China are teaming up to battle Wal-Mart.

Another Wal-Mart Tax loophole may come to an end, this time in West Virginia.

The UFCW is gearing up for their Wal-Mart battle in Canada.

More info on Wal-Mart's new private label line "the Wal-Mart Great Value line"

And if that's not enough Wal-Mart news, they're also on the verge of setting up shop in Russia.

The FTC asks Whole Foods to re-brand Wild Oats.

Whole Foods is also putting off another store, this time in New Hampshire.

Wegman's CEO recognized for 'business ethics'

AdAge brings up a great point regarding the Trader Joe's, Trader John's lawsuit. "But in New York, no one's afraid to blatantly copy and/or steal a good idea -- hence Ray's Original Pizza, Ray's Pizza, Famous Ray's Original Pizza, Original Famous Ray's Pizza, New York's Rayriginal's Fizza, etc"

Progressive Grocer picked up the story also.

Food Marketing Institute’s new president and chief executive officer said the association is working diligently on a range of issues with Congress and the incoming Obama administration.

Politics

Caroline Kennedy still has a shot at the Senate seat says Governor Patterson.

Tom Suozzi met with Patterson on the Senate seat.

Anthony Weiner blames Mayor Bloomberg for New York City's growing problems, specifically the "boom-and-bust planning"

Democrats, first time in control of the State Senate since 1965 made some moves yesterday.

Elsewhere

A battle is raging on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where CVS is wooing cash-strapped shoppers with house-brand anti-wrinkle cream that’s as much as 30 percent cheaper than L’Oreal SA’s Advanced Revitalift.

Buying online to avoid sales taxes could end soon.

Zoo's and Aquariums may face the ax here.

Do the Rockerfeller Drug laws need reform?

Stop and Shop to offer free antibiotics, Happy New Year

Image by NNECAPA via Flickr
Stop & Shop, the supermarket chain owned by Royal Ahold NV, said it will offer some antibiotics free of charge to attract customers grappling with the US recession.

More from Supermarket News:
As a health benefit to its shoppers facing the cough and cold season, Stop & Shop Supermarkets here and Giant Food, Landover, Md., are offering free antibiotic prescription drugs, covering 36 generic antibiotics in nine basic categories, through its pharmacies.
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More than a dozen private companies, including Kind Kullen, and four trade unions in Nassau County have committed to hiring 200 military veterans in 2009, Suozzi said yesterday during a news conference in Mineola

A 70,000-square-foot ShopRite supermarket has opened in the Christina Riverfront district, Delaware, marking the area’s first major food retailer, Kenney Family ShopRites, operator of the new store, said Tuesday.
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Tuesday Morning Quick Clicks...

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Just days away from Thanksgiving, in one of the premier food-selling periods of the year, the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company said yesterday it was recalling all butternut squash sides that are packaged with the supermarket chain's prepared turkey and ham holiday dinners, in the wake of a recall launched by one of its vendors.

A Thanksgiving meal in NYC will cost more than any other city in the country.

Eric Gioia wants to know why Costco doesn't accept Food Stamps.

Stocks in supermarket operators — including battered names like Whole Foods Market and A&P — rebounded strongly Monday as markets reacted to news of Citigroup's bailout.
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Wal-Mart locations in California will pay consumers $3 at the register when they make a pricing error, according to terms that are part of a settlement over price-scanning errors announced Monday by officials here.
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Whole Foods Market has rolled out a selection of socially responsible holiday food and nonfood gifts that range from handmade Nepalese felted wool ornaments to organic cotton peace scarves.
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Politics (From the NY Observer)

Senator Chuck Schumer will exit the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee after two cycles as the chief of the campaign arm, Schumer’s office confirmed Monday afternoon.

The Times reports that Charlie Rangel helped maintain a tax loophole for a drilling company whose top executive donated $1 million to Rangel's eponymous CUNY center. Rangel previously opposed the loophole

Writing in Politico, Tom Suozzi floats an plan to have the federal government take over the local cost of Medicaid.