Wal-Mart eyes NYC again, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Amish Market leaves Atlas Park

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“Now, more than any other time in recent memory, New York City residents want and need better access to our stores so they are not forced to travel to New Jersey or Long Island to benefit from the savings Wal-Mart provides for working families,”... “Hopefully we will be able to bring a store to New York in the near future.” -a spokesman, Philip Serghini, in an e-mail message, in yesterdays Crain's.

Here is Wal-Mart once again using the recession as a frugal attempt to enter New York City.

BJ's in Red Hook development update by the Brooklyn Papers.

Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC) CEO Andrew Kimball provided details for the request for proposal for a new supermarket development. In addition to building a supermarket between 20,000 to 40,000 square-feet, the development must also include space for light manufacturing use on the second floor and it must be rated a green building LEED score of silver or higher. The BNYDC plans to choose a developer before the end of 2009.

Is Wal-Mart planning on making their own "girl scout cookies"?

The Amish Market is leaving Atlas Park.

Carolyn Maloney drops her senate bid.

DC 37 is expected to endorse Bill Thompson for Mayor.

AmazonFresh stays in Seattle, Pathmark hosts a Sylvia dinner, June One Liners,...

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AmazonFresh, a food delivery system that is only available in Seattle through Amazon.com, will halt any expansion plans and only remain in Seattle for the time being.

Pathmark will host 'Sylvia's Soul Tour', events aimed at raising money for the American Cancer Society. First dinner takes place at the Harlem store on June 5 from 3-7PM

UFCW Local's 21 and 44 have merged and will now be apart of UFCW 21.

Ohio's UFCW announces a government relations director.

Wal-Mart Stores has agreed to establish a “rigorous” price inspection and monitoring system in Arizona to ensure the state’s consumers have access to accurate and clearly posted prices, the policy comes out of a lawsuit filed in July 2006 when Wal0Mart had failed 526 pricing inspections out of 976 conducted by Arizona's Department of Weights and Measures.

Connecticut could ban the sale of plastic baby bottles, food containers and cups containing Bisphenol-A, following the approval of the ban in the Connecticut Senate...BPA, is used to harden plastic and make it shatterproof, also used to line the insides of food containers, is widely considered by scientists to be a serious health threat.

Wal-Mart workers in St.Paul are rallying to organize on Thursday.

There's talk of reppealing a big box ban in California.

In Colorado King Soopers union employees were at work without a contract Monday after their previous deal expired Sunday.

Politics

There are two bills moving through NYS Legislature that would eliminate some difficult hurdles for public employee unions to strike.

Here's some info on the "Farmworker Fair Practice Act" which would provide such benefits as, collective bargining rights for farm laborers, a minimum rest guarentee, and an overtime rate.

Sarah Palin will be honored in Long Island this week.

Andrew Cuomo won't challenge Governor Patterson.

Anthony Weiner endorses Bill Thompson for Mayor of NYC.

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)

Threat of Employee Free Choice downgrades stocks, Tuesdays One Liners...

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Both houses of Congress could introduce versions of the Employee Free Choice Act as soon as today, according to reports yesterday.
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Wal-Mart was downgraded from 'buy' to 'hold' by Citi, why? Fear of the Employee Free Choice Act. [Reuters]

Bloomberg News runs down the major players supporting and opposing Employee Free Choice.

South Bronx: One bank per 20,000 residents.

The Fresh Market names a new executive.

Whole Foods will sell 13 stores to settle FTC case.

NYC nearing a launch of new supermarket development plan.

Wal-Mart's Sam's Club has a new CEO.

Nassau and Unions develop plans to save jobs.

Wal-Mart continues large eyebrow raising donations that stir up rumors in Chicago.

Politics

Jack Cafferty: "The GOP is becoming a cartoon"

The Gotham Gazette grades NYC Council members.

Ruben Diaz Jr. launched his campaign for Bronx borough president yesterday with an event at Borough Hall.

Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson supports the millionaire tax.

Do you pay the same tax rate as Donald Trump?

Wage violations in NYC Supermarkets, Wal-Mart finally unionizes in Canada (again), Buying Sustainable fish at your grocery store...

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370 underpaid New York City grocery workers will be paid $750K. The owner of the three stores in violation Long Deng, owns stores throughout the metropolitan area. The three supermarkets that were cited for wage violations are:

1. New York Supermarket East Broadway at 73 East Broadway in Manhattan
2. New York Supermarket of Flushing at 43-53 Main Street in Flushing, Queens
   
3. New York Supermarket at 86-22 Broadway in Elmhurst, Queens

Read more at New York Times City Room.

After more than four years of legal wrangling, the Wal-Mart store in Weyburn, Sask., has been officially unionized.

Online grocer FreshDirect has introduced a Daily Produce Rating System, which it said gives shoppers "a foolproof way to ensure that the ripest fruits and crunchiest veggies are consistently delivered to their doorsteps."

The Boston Globe reports supermarket's top retailers with "sustainable fish" (Stop & Shop ranked 2, A&P 11)

Wegman's announced it will switch to 'high efficiency lighting'

Listen to Pat Purcell, Director of Special Projects on WBAI Radio's Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report.

Patterson told LIPA to go back to the drawing board on their proposed increases.

Bill Thompson reassured voters he is running for Mayor.