Rally Against Windsor Terrace Walgreens Draws Pols
An impressive array of politicians and about 200 residents protested yesterday in the parking lot of the now-defunct Key Foods at 589 Prospect Avenue in Windsor Terrace, the same date Walgreens’ lease on the spot started, reported Windsor Terrace-Kensington Patch and DNAinfo. Borough president Marty Markowitz, a Windsor Terrace resident, joined the rally, as did…
An impressive array of politicians and about 200 residents protested yesterday in the parking lot of the now-defunct Key Foods at 589 Prospect Avenue in Windsor Terrace, the same date Walgreens’ lease on the spot started, reported Windsor Terrace-Kensington Patch and DNAinfo. Borough president Marty Markowitz, a Windsor Terrace resident, joined the rally, as did Councilman Brad Lander, State Assemblyman James Brennan and State Senator Kevin Parker. Locals are demanding a grocery store to replace the one that closed in June, the only supermarket in the neighborhood. In the meantime, they’ve been driving to Key Food on 5th Avenue and Fairway Market in Red Hook. Residents are calling for a boycott of Walgreens when it opens in the space, said NY1.
Windsor Terrace Sends Message to Walgreens [Patch]
Windsor Terrace to Walgreens: Stay Out of Our Neighborhood [DNAinfo]
Brooklyn Community Protests Walgreens Move to Supermarket Location [NY1]
Photo by Windsor Terrace-Kensington Patch
Lets not confuse the situation. The boycott arose out of spite after the core of this movement went to the politicians to have the deal blocked. When told there is nothing to be done (imagine, companies who are legit!), they recruited unsuspecting sheeple who like a good david vs goliath protest.
About being important to the “Community” is an insult the majority.
The slogan ‘Green Beans not Walgreens’ – with a fresh market on PPW that rivals Union Market – is rather revealing. Too expensive? What prices do you think the next highest bidding supermarket would be offering? Will you in turn boycott them and so on all the way down to C-Town?
Furthermore, the programs available to needy seniors in New York City is unrivaled in the country.
Ironically, the turnout of the latest “boycott rally” seemed to match the number of local residents who shopped at Key Foods.
Is it really a shocking outcome Walgreens was the high bidder to lease the space?
You start off by requesting that we “not confuse the situation” and then go ahead and do that. The community around the Key Food, nor its employees, did not learn of the store closing until it was published in the press. Shocked, some to learn that the property would likely no longer be a full service supermarket, we looked into every option to see if the deal was final or not. In that process we learned that other supermarkets were interested, we started a grassroots effort to get what most in this community needs. To date we have collected boycott pledges from more than 1/3 of Windsor Terrace residence and many more are being collected. The politicians support our cause because their offices have been flooded with calls; supporting us does not benefit them. If C-Town or another supermarket moved in, we would welcome them with open arms.
As far as the fruit storer on PPW, to claim that the store rivals Union Market is a joke. It is not a supermarket, it is a typical mom and pop fruit store with questionable quality and limited stock of items. Perfect convenient store, but that is it.
With regard to our rally, I was there, and I am guessing you were not. We had over 200 residence show up at 10 AM on a weekday with signs to protest between downpours of rain. That is a pretty impressive showing for a small community in the middle of the summer.
And shame on you for deferring our elderly people to city services instead of fighting for their right to shop at independent neighborhood supermarket. What was your point anyway? They are old, they should use public assistance?
I don’t care if you don’t support our needs or have a different view, but don’t present misinformation as fact or attempt to present the individuals working this fight every day as “unsuspecting sheeple”. It is misguided anger and childish.
I am shocked by the comments on this post. Clearly posters do not live in Windsor Terrace and have not talked with the neighbors deeply effected by the loss of the only neighborhood supermarket. Like the 80 year woman down the block from me with emphysema that does not drive and now must rely upon kind neighbors to get to a supermarket for her basic needs. Windsor Terrace is a small, isolated community without many amenities in walking distance. Many residence do not own cars, nor drive. In addition, Windsor Terrace already has two family owned pharmacies and it would be a blight on Prospect Park West if Walgreens forced them to close their doors. The Key Food, while not an ideal market, provided folks with basic fresh food needs. The community is annoyed and disappointed in Mr. Gehler’s greedy business decision and have sent him a letter. We have also reached out to Walgreens to help meet the needs of our community, especially our elderly. They have refused. While the lease is legal and that is part of free enterprise, so is our communities right to boycott. Raising our concerns in a public forum, including Walgreens part, is our right as Americans. Every day individuals make choices about where to shop, and some businesses go out of business as a result. Our community is committed to keeping a Supermarket in our neighborhood because it it best for our neighbors. You can fight and more important, you can win. You just need to try….
I am shocked by the comments on this post. Clearly posters do not live in Windsor Terrace and have not talked with the neighbors deeply effected by the loss of the only neighborhood supermarket. Like the 80 year woman down the block from me with emphysema that does not drive and now must rely upon kind neighbors to get to a supermarket for her basic needs. Windsor Terrace is a small, isolated community without many amenities in walking distance. Many residence do not own cars, nor drive. In addition, Windsor Terrace already has two family owned pharmacies and it would be a blight on Prospect Park West if Walgreens forced them to close their doors. The Key Food, while not an ideal market, provided folks with basic fresh food needs. The community is annoyed and disappointed in Mr. Gehler’s greedy business decision and have sent him a letter. We have also reached out to Walgreens to help meet the needs of our community, especially our elderly. They have refused. While the lease is legal and that is part of free enterprise, so is our communities right to boycott. Raising our concerns in a public forum, including Walgreens part, is our right as Americans. Every day individuals make choices about where to shop, and some businesses go out of business as a result. Our community is committed to keeping a Supermarket in our neighborhood because it it best for our neighbors. You can fight and more important, you can win. You just need to try….
My wife & I moved to WT 15 years ago before prices went out of whack. We’re both artists as are many of our friends and we can’t afford Faiirway. Just for the record, I ride my bike everyday to work and the grocery store and you’re hipster snobbishness sheens through.