Letter: Plenty of Walmarts in Patchogue area
Walmart donated $75,000 to Hempstead's Interfaith Nutrition Network, a nonprofit that operates soup kitchens on Long Island, to help with supplying food for the holidays. (March 29, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
As a Patchogue resident, I'm writing to express my concern that a Walmart store almost as big as two football fields is proposed for Hospital Road in East Patchogue ["Concern over Walmart," News, May 20].
Walmart faces various charges of trade and labor violations. While that behavior is reason enough not to allow this employer in our community, Brookhaven and East Patchogue do not need another Walmart. There are five Walmart stores within 15 miles of this site.
The environmental and community effects of this project would be devastating. Hundreds of trees would be torn down, and East Patchogue is ill-equipped to deal with the traffic.
Proponents argue that the project would revitalize East Patchogue's downtown. It would do just the opposite. Walmart would be in direct competition with the small businesses that are the heart and soul of this town. What East Patchogue needs is economic assistance to stimulate local businesses, not a corporation to take their customers away.
Ed Adams, Patchogue
