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Neighbors Use Food Stamps. Not Costco
New York Times ^ | May 12, 2009 | Jim Dwyer

Posted on 05/12/2009 6:39:12 PM PDT by reaganaut1

This October, when Costco, the big warehouse chain, opens its first Manhattan store, it will occupy a brand new mall along the East River Drive at 116th Street that has been developed with $55 million in tax-free bonds and grants. The company will be eligible for millions of dollars in tax credits for creating new jobs.

But there’s one kind of government money Costco won’t take: food stamps.

That policy effectively cuts off more than 30,000 of its immediate neighbors in East Harlem, who receive food stamps. Throughout the city, 1.4 million people got them in April, an increase of 80 percent since 2002, city officials said. Most of the recipients have jobs, but their wages are so low that they qualify for the food stamps, now issued in the form of debit cards.

Even if those neighbors don’t get to shop at the store and take advantage of bulk food purchases, they will have plenty of chances to see — and hear — a critical part of the company’s warehouse operations: Costco just won special permission for its tractor-trailers to drive on residential streets in East Harlem between midnight and 5 a.m. to make deliveries.

“You’re moving to a neighborhood with thousands of people on food stamps, and you don’t accept food stamps, and you want to drive on their streets all night to deliver something they can’t buy?” said Viveca Diaz, an East Harlem resident who has objected to the delivery schedule.

So far, executives of Costco have made no public statements about why its stores — with the exception of one in Puerto Rico — will not take food stamps. They did not reply to four requests for comment. Many other big chains, including Wal-Mart, Whole Foods, B.J.’s and Sam’s Club, do take them.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; US: New York
KEYWORDS: costco; foodstamps
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To: reaganaut1
and you want to drive on their streets all night to deliver something they can’t buy?”

Taxpayers Streets!

21 posted on 05/12/2009 7:03:27 PM PDT by MaxMax (America's population is 304-Million. Obama must punish America for the other 4.7 Billion)
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To: reaganaut1
Perhaps those that are on food stamps can go to work at Costco, so they can spend their own money there with impunity!
22 posted on 05/12/2009 7:05:54 PM PDT by GatorGirl (Proud Citizen of the Gator Nation)
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To: reaganaut1

Costco is a big dem supporter, I don’t spend my dollars their either.


23 posted on 05/12/2009 7:07:14 PM PDT by Randy Larsen ( BTW, If I offend you! Please let me know, I may want to offend you again!)
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To: reaganaut1
That policy effectively cuts off more than 30,000 of its immediate neighbors in East Harlem, who receive food stamps.

No one is shut out. They can pay cash like the rest of us.

24 posted on 05/12/2009 7:08:04 PM PDT by TankerKC (01/20/09 = 09/10/01)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets

1.4 million in NYC get food stamps? Let me think. That’s about 20% of the city.....

And no NYT, don’t tell me most of them work. Fact is probably3 in 5 don’t work. 1 in 5 need it legitimately and the other 1 in 5 are low income elderly people.

I live in Cleveland the welfare capital of America and own a grocery store here. 36% of county residents get some kind of help that I pay for. The ones who walk in my front door with a card have been on the system longer than any supposed time limits. They drive late model cars/SUV’s pulling a boat around this time of year heading to the lake bragging they don’t HAVE to work. They’re also the ones standing in line when I go shopping at places like Walmart and Sam’s taking their sweet little time.....

As for Costco, HOORAY for not caving to lib insanity.

If Rudy were still mayor, no way in hell 1.4 million would be getting stamps, NO WAY!!!


25 posted on 05/12/2009 7:13:39 PM PDT by cleveland gop (LEBRON JAMES---2008-2009 NBA MVP!!! RIP Chuck Daly)
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To: nascarnation
1.4 million peeps in NYC on food stamps.

Let that sink in for a minute. Then think about Chicago, Atlanta, LA....

26 posted on 05/12/2009 7:16:08 PM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: reaganaut1

1.4 million take food stamps in NYC!!!

That’s 17% of the population that’s cant eat unless the government feeds them.

WOW!

NYC should be handed over to Somalia.


27 posted on 05/12/2009 7:16:59 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Because I am against Abortion - The DNC Controlled Fed Says I am terrorist.)
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To: NoLibZone

It’s the same, or higher here!!!

And Timmy Geitner wants to fix SS and MEDICARE?
He should worry more about WELFARE and MEDICAID??


28 posted on 05/12/2009 7:20:11 PM PDT by cleveland gop (LEBRON JAMES---2008-2009 NBA MVP!!! RIP Chuck Daly)
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To: reaganaut1

"Welcome to Costco....I love you."

29 posted on 05/12/2009 7:21:51 PM PDT by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: Lurker

1.4 million New Yorkers live and die at the whim of the FED.

If the government goes broke, NYC will be utter anarchy in 48 hours or less.


30 posted on 05/12/2009 7:22:16 PM PDT by NoLibZone (Because I am against Abortion - The DNC Controlled Fed Says I am terrorist.)
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To: reaganaut1
Costco just won special permission for its tractor-trailers to drive on residential streets in East Harlem between midnight and 5 a.m. to make deliveries.

You would prefer they were on the streets during rush hour maybe?

31 posted on 05/12/2009 7:22:25 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (When you're spinning round, things come undone. Welcome to Earth 3rd rock from the Sun!)
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To: reaganaut1
Costco needs to play this as
"We want to be good corporate citizens in this community. We won't accept food stamps so as to allow the existing local markets and bodegas to keep that portion of the local economy free from our competition".
32 posted on 05/12/2009 7:22:31 PM PDT by Obamageddon ("This will all end with show trials and piano wire")
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To: reaganaut1

you buy in bulk at costco.
Food stamps should be a short term cushion not a full time parasitical existence.


33 posted on 05/12/2009 7:24:29 PM PDT by hecht
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To: NoLibZone

bingo.


34 posted on 05/12/2009 7:33:04 PM PDT by RC one
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To: reaganaut1

Hey they can always get free food samples at Costco. Maybe the government could pay the annual membership fee for them.


35 posted on 05/12/2009 7:33:20 PM PDT by willk
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To: hecht

In my lifetime, welfare benefits have never, ever been a short term thing. It is the way people want to live who think they are better than those of us who think individual responsibility is pretty damn important.

In this city, there are so many lifers that walk through my front door everyday it makes me sick.....


36 posted on 05/12/2009 7:34:16 PM PDT by cleveland gop (LEBRON JAMES---2008-2009 NBA MVP!!! RIP Chuck Daly)
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To: muawiyah
When COSTCO starts running tractor-trailers through residential streets in the wee hours of the morning they may find a problem worse than shoplifting.

If they disturb the sleep of that scumbag Charlie Rangel, they're ok in my book, lol
37 posted on 05/12/2009 7:35:50 PM PDT by mkjessup (You're either with our Constitution, or you are with TKU ("The Kenyan Usurper"). CHOOSE!!!)
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To: goodnesswins

“EXACTLY....Costco is NOT a place for food stamp shopping....unless of course you abuse the food stamp program.”

Yep. I’m sure there’s someone in Harlem who would trade a carton of cigarettes for a gallon of olive oil.


38 posted on 05/12/2009 7:40:16 PM PDT by Rebelbase
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To: muawiyah
When COSTCO starts running tractor-trailers through residential streets in the wee hours of the morning they may find a problem worse than shoplifting.

We already have Fresh Direct making deliveries late at night with their rumbling trucks...then the guy clanks the boxes into the building by hand truck. Soooo noisy.
39 posted on 05/12/2009 7:45:31 PM PDT by Miss Didi ( "After all...tomorrow is another day." Scarlett O'Hara, Gone with the Wind)
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To: JMS

You can fill prescriptions as Costco without a card. Just flash your prescription at the door and tell them you want to use the pharmacy.

Costs are about 2/3rds or more less than regular drugstores.


40 posted on 05/12/2009 7:46:53 PM PDT by Wiseghy ("You want to break this army? Then break your word to it.")
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