Neighbors Use Food Stamps. Not Costco

New York Times ^ | May 12, 2009 | Jim Dwyer

[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.

[martinidon]

oh the horror! Not to worry, obama will soon issue a directive that they must take food stamps. And that $35 “membership” fee that most people pay will be waived for the less fortunate. We can't have those evil rich people the only ones experiencing free food samples everyday!

[Atlas Sneezed]

Aw, c’mon. What so bad about Food-Stamp-Shoplifters...

...er Shoppers!

[HereInTheHeartland]

I used to go to Sams club and it is ok, except all the employees look like they dread working there.

Costco is a totally different atmosphere; the employees look like they like working there.
And most of the customers speak English, which I find a good thing.

[packrat35]

You got to pay for a membership before they let you shop.

[holyscroller]

Costco was established to serve small business owners. Notice how many restaurants and “re-sellers” shop there. It was established to sell in bulk to “bulk” buyers. Hope they have good locks and security on those big delivery trucks. Driving through Harlem, they may be empty by the time they make it to the store. Remember during the L.A. riots, how stores were emptied out in minutes? I wouldn’t want to be a Costco driver in Harlem!

[jiggyboy]

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

Don't forget straight-up NY state employees (yes that includes firemen and policemen), that's probably at least another 5%, some additional number of retired employees, and you're easily up to 25%.

[JimRed]

...for what reason we are constantly cowered by 13% of the population I cannot fathom.

It is, in fairness, only a portion of the 13% causing the problems; but the squeaky wheel gets the oil!

[JimRed]

Don't forget straight-up NY state employees (yes that includes firemen and policemen), that's probably at least another 5%, some additional number of retired employees, and you're easily up to 25%.

Big diff, though; they EARN it!

[Lancey Howard]

The policy probably cuts down shoplifting enormously, thereby helping to keep prices low for the non-parasites who shop there.

[reaganaut1]

Er, I hear that the Costco store will soon be inundated with hundreds of “customers” who will fill their buggies with perishable food and take it to the checkout counters where they will go through checkout loading all the stuff in bags and when presented with the sum to pay, they will offer food stamps. Of course when told that Costco doesn’t accept food stamps, they will simply walk off leaving the stuff where it lays, requiring several staff to put the stuff back in the shelves and cabinets. Al Sharpton will lead this buying spree.

Wow, are you serious? Can you provide a link?

[mikey_hates_everything]

“Even if those neighbors don’t get to shop at the store...”

Don’t get to shop there? Who’s keeping them out? Where do you think those welfare recipients will be getting their HDTVs?

[Cheetahcat]

It is, in fairness, only a portion of the 13% causing the problems; but the squeaky wheel gets the oil!

But 98% voted to destroy America.

[JimRed]

But 98% voted to destroy America.

As did a huge number of morons who look like me!

[Cheetahcat]

But 98% voted to destroy America.
As did a huge number of morons who look like me!

Yes but not 98%!

[jiggyboy]

Quite so. I’m becoming a little jumpy about every employment report showing that the only increase in jobs is in government.

In California we have the additional burden of millions of illegals, which makes me start to wonder how high non-government employees will be taxed to pay everybody on the state payroll.

[MrB]

I don’t see massive numbers of people paying the “entry fee” of $35 in order to do such a protest.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

The new terminology is underhoused, non-employment-seeking fermented beverage consumers.

My in-laws are shopping at Costco on East 116 Street? You forgot to mention "cigarette grubbing" and "soap adverse". I love the British locutions, "work-shy" and "bone idle".