Gotham Fights for New York Small Businesses

December 4, 2011
Going out of Business

A 75% tax on cigar and pipe tobacco has cigar aficionados running for the border and online shops as family-run small businesses close their doors. Making matters worse is that despite the tax hike, New York state is collecting fewer tax dollars on cigars than ever before. Gotham fights for small businesses and this is how we do it:

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A Community Grows in Brooklyn

November 1, 2011
Red Apple Supermarket Brooklyn

John Catsimatidis’ Red Apple Group opened a new supermarket in Fort Greene Brooklyn. Attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assenblyman Hakeem Jeffires, City Councilwoman, Letitia James and Democratic State Committee member Lincoln Restler. Video produced by Gotham Government Relations & Communications

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Harlem Fights Back Against Walmart

October 8, 2011
Brad Gerstman Harlem Walmart Presser

Gotham’s Brad Gerstman joins Harlem community leaders to speak out against Wal-Mart’s proposed infiltration of New York City. The retail giant would need to open 159 stores in order obtain the same 21% grocery market share it enjoys in the rest of the country, making Harlem a prime target. Hear what the community has to say about having Walmart as a neighbor.

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Video: David Schwartz on Wal-Mart

February 18, 2011
WPIX TV

David Schwartz talks to WPIX Morning News about Wal-Mart coming to Brooklyn.
 

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Announcing: Anti-Wal-Mart Group: New York Neighborhood Alliance

February 7, 2011
New York Neighborhood Alliance

In continued advocacy of local, long-standing retail New York shops & stores, Gotham Government Relations has led the way in the creation of the first anti-Wal-Mart group. The New York Neighborhood Alliance (http://www.nyneighborhoodalliance.com/) was formed to preserve the neighborhoods in New York City, in both character and economy. Brad Gerstman, Partner at Gotham, explains: “Wal-Mart will destroy how we live our lives and disrupt our daily routines,” he says. “Residents will undoubtedly completely change their shopping habits, and in turn would force theclosure of countless neighborhood shops — some of which have been around for decades and were passed down through generations of family. The last of the New York mom & pop stores will surely close.”

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Walmart Not Welcome In New York City Says Small Business Poll

January 16, 2011
No To Walmart Thumb

Walmart in New York City: Yes or No? A new poll asking precisely that question to 300 small retail shop owners throughout the city found that most answered a resounding “no.” The poll found that the small business community – including 73% of groceries and convenience stores – overwhelmingly rejects the idea of the largest retail business in the world setting shop in New York City.

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Atlanta Post: The Walmart Debate

January 3, 2011
Atlanta Post

Walmart sets their sites on New York City. Gotham Government Relations takes action to defend small businesses, jobs and decent wages.

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On The Radio: Brad Gerstman on Trump, Walmart

December 21, 2010
Brad Gerstman on the Radio Walmart

Gotham’s Brad Gerstman joined radio host, Curtis Sliwa to talk about Donald Trump for President and Walmart’s effect on small business.

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Walmart’s no Santa Claus for New York City

December 20, 2010
Walmart is bad for New York City

It seems that even the largest retail business in the world is not immune to a public relations faux pas once in a while. A Walmart internal email – sent less than a month before Christmas – directed its 3,800 stores to hike prices on 1,800 types of toys to maximize profits. Hardly a way for the retail giant to win hearts and minds of New Yorkers. “What New Yorkers have not been asked is if they would support Walmart knowing it would mean the disappearance of the stores they have patronized for years,” said Brad Gerstman, a lawyer with Gotham Government Relations, a Long Island consulting firm, who represents Gristedes supermarkets. “I have no doubts their answer would be no.”

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Video: Town of Hempstead Bans Smoking in Parks

December 16, 2010
Town of Hempstead

The Town of Hempstead voted to ban smoking in the town’s 100 parks and beaches. Gotham’s Ian Magerkurth weighed in on behalf of New York’s small business wholesalers and retailers.

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Wal-Mart’s War on Small Business – Gotham Fights Back

December 15, 2010
Walmart New York City

“Wal-Mart has a graphic history of eating up business communities on Main Street and when you think about the uniqueness of our neighborhoods in Brooklyn and the other boroughs, it is just mind-boggling that the City would even consider bringing in this destructive giant in this economy. We need to stand up for our business community and not allow the destruction of good union jobs, the loss of small business, the erosion of health care, the erosion of reasonable wages and the loss of the spirit and vibrancy that makes New York so special.”

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