I have long fought to keep Wal-Mart out of New York City. In Congress, I issued a report explaining why Wal-Mart is bad business for New York. Wal-Mart, the report shows, violates labor rights, human rights and seeks to destroy local businesses.

According to the New York Post (7/20/05), Wal-Mart is now re-invigorating its aggressive ad campaign to come to NYC.

Mayor Bloomberg has refused to stand up for New York’s local businesses. In fact, when the City Council spoke out against Wal-Mart earlier this year, the Mayor told them to mind their own business. This is just another example of the Mayor’s record of defending big business over the needs of middle class New Yorkers. I stood with union leaders, workers, community activists and neighborhood shopkeepers to say "no" to Wal-Mart when it tried to move into Rego Park.

We were successful and, as Mayor, that is exactly what I will do again.

In New York, we don't allow porn shops in residential areas and we don't allow gambling anywhere, despite the fact that both of these are very profitable industries. This is because we recognize that profits are not more important than values.

The same standard should apply to retailers like Wal-Mart that violate labor and immigration laws, and threaten to destroy our neighborhood businesses.

Earlier this year, The New York Times asked  “Will Wal-Mart take New York?” (2/10/05).

To this I have one simple and firm response: not if I’m Mayor.

— Anthony Weiner