Albany Times-Union, Op-ed by Frank Natalie, July 24, 2011. Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently released an outline for how 10 regional economic development councils can better coordinate job creation efforts and craft long-term strategic plans for each region in New York. This could bring much-needed sanity to the Capital Region's economic development initiatives, but the devil is in the details.
The Epoch Times, By Tara MacIsaac, July 21, 2011. Wal-Mart Free NYC reported on Thursday that Wal-Mart representatives had met with development company Related Companies in Brooklyn this week. The group rallied in Brooklyn to protest any negotiations that might lead to the corporation securing a location in the city.
NY1, by Michael Herzenberg, July 21, 2011. Several dozen protesters hit the streets Thursday to denounce Walmart once again. This time they took aim at another company, as well, handing a letter to a representative of Related Companies to demand that it stop negotiating with Walmart to lease a property in East New York to the big box chain.
PolitickerNY, by Azi Paybarah, July 21, 2011. The legal options to block Wal-Mart from opening a store in East New York are rather limited. So, opponents are trying to win (or hold onto?) public sentiment that the big megastore will drive smaller, well-liked stores out of business. A labor-backed anti-WalMart group is out with a video today, featuring Councilman Charles Barron and other local residents talking about their appreciation for local store owners who go out of their way to help local residents.