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February 3, 2011

Walmart to NYC? Hearing at City Hall Goes on as Angry Protesters Swarm Outside

By  Erin Durkin / New York Daily News


A Walmart war erupted at City Hall Thursday as politicians lashed out at the big box retailer - whose execs skipped the hearing but fought back with a publicity blitz.

Hundreds of protesters** angrily denounced Walmart and small business owners testified that they were afraid they'd close if the retail giant succeeds in opening its first city store.

Walmart supporters countered with boxes of petitions signed by 30,000 New Yorkers who want a store in the five boroughs.

"No matter what Walmart propaganda says, they are not a company that is good for New York City," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn, ticking off a raft of charges against the company - from hurting small businesses to discriminating against women and refusing to accept food stamps.

Walmart executives refused to testify at the Council hearing - but emailed out frequent "fact checker" updates questioning claims by academics and politicians who said that when Walmart moves into an area, the economy can take a hit.

**Including members of Make the Road New York (MRNY).

For original article, click here.


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Victory for Immigrant Families: Preventing Unjust Deportations in NYC

On March 18, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg signed new legislation to stop federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using NYC’s criminal justice system to deport thousands of New Yorkers.

Building on legislation we helped to win just over a year ago, Local Laws 21 and 22 prohibit not only the Department of Correction but now also the NYPD from spending millions of city taxpayer dollars to hold individuals on behalf of ICE agents for detention and deportation. Each year, thousands of New York families will stay together who would otherwise have been torn apart by overly aggressive, indiscriminate immigration enforcement.

At a moment when the country is debating immigration reform, with these laws, New York City sends a clear message to Washington that tearing apart thousands of immigrant families is bad policy.

With your support, we look forward to winning national reform that keeps families together. We thank our partners at the Center for Popular Democracy, the Cardozo Immigration Justice Clinic and the bills’ sponsors, NYC Council Speaker Quinn and Council Member Mark-Viverito, for their courageous leadership.


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