Clashes at raucous hearing on East Patchogue Wal-Mart

BY PATRICK WHITTLE [e-mail] More than 300 demonstrators for and against a proposed East Patchogue Wal-Mart came to Brookhaven Town Hall Thursday night for a raucous hearing before a board vote to decide a key zoning change for the big box store.

[who cares]

wh\ite tra\sh long islanders.

[FELLOW LIer]

oh please...like they can't drive 15 minutes in any direction and hit another store! Kmart & Target are less than 10 miles from that site.

Yes, just what the world needs...another discount dump.

[JUSTICE]

Walmart should use the empty Home Depot building at the corner of Rte. 112 & Sunrise Hwy.
OR
the empty Bellport outlets.
Why destroy hundreds of acres of forest and wildlife?

[Sterling Ultra]

Very True. Almost all the South Outlet Mall on Station and Sunrise now sits empty. Why tear down more trees and put up another parking lot? These two locations are a stone's throw apart.

[Someone]

FELLOW LIer wrote:

oh please...like they can't drive 15 minutes in any direction and hit another store! Kmart & Target are less than 10 miles from that site.
Yes, just what the world needs...another discount dump.

Target is insanely close to that area - about 4-5 miles. We do not need Wal-Mart at that location.

[brentwood]

I know living on Long Island it could be a nightmare for older residents and people less fortunate with no transportation to get to and from stores. The store in Commack has been a blessing. ALL residents have to think of the people who can't get around or have to go to the local 7-11 to buy over priced milk.....parents to buy small travel packages of diapers. Conidering the travel aspects for local residents with no transportation...it would be a blessing!

[fed-up]

Walmart- find another more appropriate spot.
Why not the empy Home Depot on Sunrise and 112?

[Not a good idea]

I understand how it feels to not have a grocery store nearby, within short driving distance. However, implanting a WalMart into a community is like using a machete to slice butter. Way more than any community needs. There are many good, solid stores on LI. The community leaders must begin discussions with these LI stores in order to bring them into their community. WalMart may bring 250 jobs, but they will also cause many local businesses to close down due to not being able to compete. In addition, WalMart's nonfood inventory is produced and brought in from China, India, etc, where salaries are very small. This sends US investment dollars out of the US, not a good idea either.

[Truth will prevail]

I live work near the Walmart in on Rte 347 in Islandia, and I understand it is one of the busiest in the chain. There is never a traffic problem because of that store even at Christmas season.
Why is Johann McConnell Lobbying in patchouge where she does not belong?
She lives in Yaphank, is a washed up school teacher from the West. She has been on the take, lies and will do anything to win here cause, along with John here lying husband.

[Voice in the rabble]

Some residents, including Johan McConnell, president of the South Yaphank Civic Association, accused La Bonne Vie of creating an illusion of public support for the Wal-Mart by asking residents from the apartment complex to speak at the hearing.

What does south Yaphank / Shirley have to do with East Patchogue? For many people Walmart is the only thing that is affordable. They have a high success rate and will probably do very well in that location. If other stores cannot compete, then they should not be in the market.

[One Who knows]

Truth will prevail wrote:

I live work near the Walmart in on Rte 347 in Islandia, and I understand it is one of the busiest in the chain. There is never a traffic problem because of that store even at Christmas season.
Why is Johann McConnell Lobbying in patchouge where she does not belong?
She lives in Yaphank, is a washed up school teacher from the West. She has been on the take, lies and will do anything to win here cause, along with John here lying husband.

Obviously, you do not live near the Islandia Walmart because it is on Vets Hwy (454) not 347 and yes there is traffic jams at Christmas. I work near the store so I like to go in for a few things on my lunch hour year round so yes I am there a lot. Walmart should not be built on hospital rd. it should be built where the closed Home Depot is or the empty Outlet Center. Both places are just eyesores.

[liner]

Truth will prevail wrote:

I live work near the Walmart in on Rte 347 in Islandia, and I understand it is one of the busiest in the chain. There is never a traffic problem because of that store even at Christmas season.......

How can you compare 347 with Hospital Rd?

[FELLOW LIer]

I used to live over there and it causes traffic all year, not just at the holidays. i don't know what you're talking about!

Not to mention the place is a dump, like most WalMarts end up being, and when I used to shop there almost every time I was in the store there would be an announcement about a lost child in the store. Parents must be too busy shooting up in the bathrooms to watch their own kids.

Plus half the people who worked there spoke like they had marbles in their mouths...couldn't understand a word half of them said, and NO THEY WERE NOT FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY! Just illiterate Americans who don't know how to speak proper English!!!

Truth will prevail wrote:

I live work near the Walmart in on Rte 347 in Islandia, and I understand it is one of the busiest in the chain. There is never a traffic problem because of that store even at Christmas season.
Why is Johann McConnell Lobbying in patchouge where she does not belong?
She lives in Yaphank, is a washed up school teacher from the West. She has been on the take, lies and will do anything to win here cause, along with John here lying husband.

[Grandpa]

There are one billion reasons why there is an organized opposition to Walmart. They are non union and the unions salivate over the prospect of over $1BILLION a year in dues that it would throw into their coffers if they were able to unionize it. It has nothing at all to do with anything else. Money talks, ya know.

[Slappy Sanchez]

They should consider building the Wal-Mart in Mastic somewhere to keep the trash in one area.

[Gary]

To all the people suggesting that it be built where the old Home Depot is... Home Depot OWNS that property and they pretty much never sell a property once they own it. I used to work there part time before it closed and this is how I know this. If they are going to build a new Walmart they should definitely do it at the south side outlets in Bellport. I think there is only one store left there at this point anyway...

[Father Oblivion]

Grandpa wrote:

There are one billion reasons why there is an organized opposition to Walmart. They are non union and the unions salivate over the prospect of over $1BILLION a year in dues that it would throw into their coffers if they were able to unionize it. It has nothing at all to do with anything else. Money talks, ya know.

Not a math teacher are you? Please show the rest of the class how you get to a billion dollars

[Stephanie]

I agree with Justice. There is no reason why Walmart cant use the abandoned Home depot. It is an Eyesore and it has plenty of parking and space for walmart. Its probably big enough for a super walmart. Have they even thought about using that empty lot? There is also other locations they can build on. The closed doen movie theater off of sunrise service road.

[grimm]

Sunrise Hwy Eastbound goes from 3 lanes to 2 at Hospital Rd -- the traffic there is always backed up at rush hour and it's a real pain come summer as it is. Hospital Rd has a narrow two-lane bridge crossing Sunrise. To put a Wal-Mart there would be utterly irresponsible to anyone ever likely to be taken to Brookhaven Hospital.

Once the situation becomes untenable, who foots the bill to widen Sunrise and to widen the bridge?? How much will locals appreciate the increased traffic through their neighborhoods? But what do they care, the people who want this don't actually own their homes.

If people are that desperate for cheap crap made in China, then they should move next to a Wal-Mart.

[acer]

The new Amerikan economy continues.