New York City – Thompson: I’ll Brake Chains Of ‘Everywhere’ Stores

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    New York City – You’ll have to hike awhile to reach the nearest Starbucks or Duane Reade if city comptroller and mayoral candidate Bill Thompson has his way.

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    During a forum last week in Midtown, the Democrats’ front-runner argued that chain stores are ruining the fabric of the city and suggested imposing restrictions to keep them from proliferating.

    “If you look at neighborhoods all across the city of New York — East Side, Upper West Side, Brooklyn Heights and so many others — that were at one point wonderful because of the local businesses that were there and now it’s changed dramatically,” Thompson told a meeting of Democrats in Hell’s Kitchen.

    “Now those local businesses have been pushed out. It makes our city very different.”

    Banks were singled out as one of the worst culprits.

    “I never knew there was a need for that much money in having all those ATMs across the city of New York,” observed the comptroller.

    Thompson aides pointed to San Francisco — which has some of the toughest zoning rules in the United States — as a possible model.

    Under San Francisco’s “Formula Business Restrictions,” which have been upheld in the courts, individual neighborhoods get a chance to veto the establishment of a chain shop.

    Thompson didn’t go quite that far.

    But he did raise the idea of “retail retention zones” where large retailers would be blocked from renting space held by small mom-and-pop shops.

    Thompson also called for taxpayer subsidies to hold down retail rents.

    He pointed to a program begun in lower Manhattan after 9/11 that provided property-tax abatements of $2.50 per square foot and exemptions from the commercial-rent tax to businesses that relocated downtown.

    That raises the question of whether the city — facing a $5 billion deficit in fiscal 2011 — can afford new tax breaks.

    Mayor Bloomberg’s campaign declined comment.


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    23 Comments
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    mikes dinettes
    mikes dinettes
    14 years ago

    if you ever stop and think , no mom and pop store could pay those high rents that are being asked and goten from the chain stores .

    Yanky
    Yanky
    14 years ago

    Then the rents would go down and every neighborhood would look different without the Starbucks, Chase Banks etc.

    Bluh,Rosen
    Bluh,Rosen
    14 years ago

    As much as I cannot stand Bloomberg, this idea from Thompson shows how dangerous it can be the elect a fellow who is not from the business world.New York has such a large percentage of people living on government handouts a school system with a 23 billion budget that produces more criminals which cost a lot to feed and house and even more welfare recipients.Now this Thompson is trying to come up with money to “subsidize” rents!!! Many of the problems we have are because we subsidise rents,sec 8 for people who are then able to live here and cost us so much money through Medicaid,welfare , the school system.
    We don’t need to subsidize people who don’t give anything to humanity.
    Daloy Thompson.Daloy Obama.Daloy the Shlit’a

    Nothing more important to worry about?
    Nothing more important to worry about?
    14 years ago

    Larger chain-stores brings down prices substantially.

    In this economy where every penny counts, he has nothing more to worry about than making consumer prices higher?

    Thompson has no other worries except that consumers should pay higher prices?

    Bloomberg was a nightmare with his tickets blitz and fines for everything + his stupid bike lanes but Thompson seems to have no Sechel at all, to begin with, if he has nothing better to worry about???

    Whom is it better to vote for, a Rasha or an Idiot?

    Leaves me wondering if it’s better to vote a for a Smart Rasha Merushe who taxes us to death and tickets us to death with all kinds of fines and makes our lives miserable with bike lanes – or should we vote for someone who will not do all of Blomberg’s Rishus, but the price we pay is to get a Meyer has no Sechel at all whatsoever and no normal priorities, as to what is really important for the city and WHY we all want to get rid of Blomberg.

    Unless Thompson gets at least a DROP of brains, as to why we all hate Blomberg, and unless he addresses these issues, should we trade a “Rasha” for a “Dope”?

    I wonder which is worse?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    This is not just a problem in NYC. It’s an issue everywhere in the U.S. Local charm and local color, as well as small businesses are disappearing everywhere. I never shop at Walmart, and whenever possible, I try to patronize small, local businesses, but only if the service and quality is good.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    sounds like David Dinkins

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    Sadly, Mr. Thompson must’ve skipped or failed basic economics. Scary that we put city pensions in his hands. Chain stores have overrun mom and pop stores not because of their ambiance but because people prefer to watch their own pennies and not a storekeeper’s. Local charm, when it’s 20 to 50% higher than a Costco, isn’t charming if the quality is the same. Rents aren’t in the hands of the chains but in the hands of the landlords. Rents would not go down because it’s Mr and Mrs and opposed to Walgreens. The consumer is the bottom line here. They and they alone set the standard. Consumers watch out for what is best for them and then feed the nostalgic drivel to blogs.

    tommy-logic
    tommy-logic
    14 years ago

    Yeh right, kick the big chains out?!
    * they hire more then pa and ma stores
    *they have cheaper prices
    *city revenue increases due to more sales (bec its cheaper)
    *they too should be able to make money. Pa and ma aren’t better citizens.
    *they’r open 24/7, at least some of them. Pa and ma go to sleep at 6pm.no good.
    Remember, capitalism is all about competition, winning,fighting, etc. Letting only pa and ma stores rent and lease is equal to be on the welfare line (handout!)

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    “”I never knew there was a need for that much money in having all those ATMs across the city of New York,” observed the comptroller. “

    If there weren’t a demand for ATMs and pharmacy stores, then the companies wouldn’t be paying high rent to open these store. Obviously, people use these stores and that is why they exist. This guy is not qualified to be mayor.

    PMO
    PMO
    14 years ago

    Another communist NY politician. That’s right… big business is bad. Why not just drive all the big businesses out of NYC… then everyone can live on welfare in a purely communist society.

    Free markets and less obstruction of business bring money *IN*. There is a reason why the midwest and the southeast are attracting so many companies. NYC better wake up and realize it soon before it starts to look like Detroit.

    Aron
    Aron
    14 years ago

    City Comptroller & mayoral candidate Bill Thompson’s claim that there are too many chain stores & ATM machines does bring to light one true fact: there’s definitely one politician too many out on the streets!

    jt
    jt
    14 years ago

    read the rambam..he says you are supposed to care for the environment..not sayin the best way is to put bike lanes but the libs who r the majority in this city do think so. Its not rishus. and as far as the tickets go, that is the price you pay for living in the city. Look half of williamsburgh takes food stamps while driving brand new cars. Thats more along the lines of rishus. We are all takers

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I echo the write who said another David DInkins. I dont like Bloomy for his high handedness but THomson will be a disaster. NYC will go the way of Detroit, Philly, New Orleans and Wash DC. What is with this trend to Socialism in this country?? The COmmunists are becoming capitalists and we are becoming COmmunists??

    Sociologist
    Sociologist
    14 years ago

    Here we go with another Socialist….Next have stringer with him on the same ticket……..and winer…..i see we will pick the lowere evils in december….

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    14 years ago

    I hope that Eichler’s, Dougie’s and KD don’t get out of hand.

    G-dhelp-us
    G-dhelp-us
    14 years ago

    Wheres the third candidate… this so far a no win choice

    Bugsy Siegel
    Bugsy Siegel
    14 years ago

    All I know is on Avenue J, several banks opened up and they pushed out several restaurants and grocery stores as the banks were paying more rent than them. Like 30k a month.