From Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who weighed in without mentioning Walmart's name:

"I congratulate the Related Companies, Shop Rite, and UFCW for reaching a deal to bring the retailer to Gateway Plaza. Shop Rite will bring quality food to this area of Brooklyn as well as good jobs with an economic impact that will be felt throughout the five boroughs. I welcome this company’s newest location with its history of responsible business practices, supporting its workers and the communities they serve. This deal is a win for New York City.”

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio was a bit more direct about the Walmart situation:

“New Yorkers need good jobs—and that’s precisely what we’ll get with the deal this week. Our neighborhoods deserve far better than a company with Walmart’s track record. Walmart has never been the answer for our city, least of all at a time of high unemployment, declining incomes and struggling small businesses. I congratulate Related, ShopRite and UFCW for delivering a plan that truly meets our economic needs.”

As was Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer:

"The deal reached this week with Shop-Rite is a model for what can be achieved in cities across the country - by working collaboratively and standing strong, Americans can create healthier neighborhoods and expand economic opportunity without betraying the Middle Class. Without a Walmart in their midst, residents of Brownsville have access to healthy fruits, vegetables and groceries from a retailer that respects working New Yorkers."

Although their names were not included in the release, two other top mayoral contenders, former Comptroller Bill Thompson and current Comptroller John Liu, have been sharply critical of Walmart in the past. Mr. Thompson, for example, went so far as to blame the company for the plight of the middle class.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg is very supportive of Walmart's right to build anywhere in the city where it meets basic zoning requirements, but should he be replaced by a Democrat, the retailer almost assuredly will no longer have a friend in City Hall. Unions and labor are among Walmart's biggest critics, and with their influence in low-turnout primaries that select nominees in extremely Democratic electorates, New York pols campaigning for higher office are often receptive to their positions.

For its part, Walmart said it remains committed to expanding its presence into New York City. “We were unable to agree upon economic terms for a project in East New York,” Steven Restivo, a company spokesman, told The New York Times. “We remain committed to bringing new economic development and shopping options to New York City, especially in the neighborhoods that need them most.”

Elected officials opposing Wal-Mart!

Opposing Wal-Mart was already a pretty easy position to take in New York City Democratic politics, but thanks to The New York Times' report of an extensive bribery scheme on the part of the company in Mexico, and similarly extensive efforts to cover it all up, that position just got a whole lot easier.

At a press conference earlier today, a plethora of officials, including three top tier mayoral candidates, blasted Wal-Mart for its various sins. And each of them emphasized that they do not want the superstore within the boundaries of New York City, thank you very much.

Declaring Wal-Mart's corporate boardroom a "crime scene," Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer "wished them luck in their upcoming criminal investigation" and stated, "They've disgraced the United States of America."

"We're not here today to say no to big business, we're here today to say no to bad business, and that's what Wal-Mart is," former Comptroller Bill Thompson contended. "You go back and look at the history of Wal-Mart: child labor allegations, discrimination against women, [and] discrimination against seniors. That's Wal-Mart."

"Wal-Mart is one of the biggest reasons why middle class is in decline in this country," Public Advocate Bill de Blasio said. "These are bad guys. They are bad actors. They do not belong in New York City."

While Assemblyman Rory Lancman, a candidate for congress in Queens, took an even sharper tack and called for the Justice Department to investigate political and charitable contributions Wal-Mart has made in New York, just in case they've been bribing government officials like they did in Mexico.

"We know they know of price of buying government favors in Mexico and I think all of us are deeply concerned that they may know the price of buying government favors in the United States and possibly New York," he said. "I think that the Justice Department should examine very, very closely those who have accepted contributions from Wal-Mart."

Update: Wal-Mart's communications team requested a quote favorable to them also be present in this post. Here's one from company spokesman Steve Restivo:

“Our track record as a good corporate citizen is well known and in large cities like New York, residents continue to choose to shop and work at Walmart. As a result, we continue to evaluate opportunities here to make access to our stores more convenient for customers.”

Watch the Wal-Mart hate bonanza below:

(Photo: Getty)

After The New York Times uncovered the internal reaction of Wal-Mart's top executives to an extensive bribery scheme in Mexico, depicting the company in a fairly negative light, a variety of New York City politicians latched onto the report in order to further their arguments against the superstore ever setting up shop in the city. The group of elected officials who have sent out statements on the issue includes three top mayoral candidate in 2013, as well as a congressional contender in Queens, demonstrating the salience of rhetorically torching the company in local politics.

Saying that "Wal-Mart has once again revealed it's true colors," Council Speaker Christine Quinn was particularly critical of the company in her statement:

"The corporation's tactics of bribery, scheming and corruption are the latest in a litany of despicable business practices including discrimination, worker mistreatment and predatory pricing. This is precisely the type of business we do not want in our communities and I remain committed to fighting against Wal-Mart's corporate poison from entering the five boroughs.

Wal-Mart's actions in Mexico should be fully investigated and they must be held fully accountable for any laws, American or Mexican, that were broken."

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who was actually first out of the gate in sending out a statement reacting to the report, echoed Ms. Quinn's thoughts:

"New York City cannot open its doors to a company that sanctions bribery and then covers it up as a part of doing business. Walmart is notorious for breaking its promises to communities, but these new revelations show Walmart is just as willing to break federal laws. New Yorkers should be put on notice: there is no tactic too underhanded for Walmart to try in order to open here. If we are going to prevent the loss of thousands of New York City jobs and avert a race to the bottom in retail wages, we need to redouble our efforts to keep Walmart out."

As did Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer:

"A company that tries to bribe its way into a community has no place in New York City. Once again Wal-Mart has shown itself to be a bad corporate actor and a bad neighbor, a company whose black marks already include predatory pricing and blatant disregard for the rights of working men and women."

Meanwhile Assemblyman Rory Lancman, who's running for congress in in a race that has seen opposition Wal-Mart cited as a key issue in labor endorsements, connected the bribes in Mexico to the company's surge of charitable contributions to New York City causes:

"This morning's New York Times story regarding allegations that Walmart orchestrated a $24 million bribery campaign to gain favorable treatment by the Mexican government should be a wake up call for New Yorkers who have witnessed Walmart's aggressive lobbying effort and recent streak of opportunistic 'philanthropy' in our city. Elected officials in New York have an obligation to stand up for workers and small businesses in our city and send Walmart a clear message, that whether it's through politically-motivated charity donations, campaign contributions or outright illegal bribes, our city is not for sale."

This evening, the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union--one of the leaders of the anti-Walmart fight--are hosting a concert featuring Indie artists Caithlin de Marrais (formerly the frontwoman of the acclaimed Ranier Maria) and Yellowbirds at Union Hall  in Park Slope.

"We have a creative collective that is about getting cool and buzzed about bands and artists excited about the campaign against Walmart," said RWDSU spokesman Dan Morris. "There is lot of interest in this campaign and in this fight."

A poll by The New York Times showed that 62 percent of residents favor Walmart opening in the city. 

According to a recent report, the mega-retailer has been in talks with the developer The Related Companies about opening a store in East New York, however the deal would require state approval.

The anti Walmart coalition is preparing a series of concerts designed to raise public awareness about the store's plans, and are planning a concert in the near future called "Riffs of Resistance: Brooklyn Bands Against Walmart."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said he favors the right of the store opening in the city, but a host of leading lawmakers, including all of the front-runners for 2013, have come out against the idea.

You want to shop at Walmart.

That's the message in a new mailer the big-box retailer is sending to New York homes today that seems to imply that the store shares the same values as shoppers at the Park Slope Food Co-Op.

The mailer shows a basket of freshly picked apples where below it is written, "Care about a sustainable future? So does Walmart." The backside of the mailer touts Walmart's efforts to reduce hunger.

The mailer comes at a time when the store continues to look for a site to build their first store in the five boroughs, something that the City Council has vowed to block.

Walmart declined to say how many homes the mailer would go to, but asked about the thinking behind it, Steven Restivo, director of community affairs for the store said,

For months, we’ve been communicating with New Yorkers in all the ways they get their information and it’s clearly making a difference.   As recent polling has shown, New Yorkers are increasingly aware of the core benefits we can bring to the city – jobs and low prices – but still, not as many know about our commitment to sustainability and efforts to eradicate hunger.  This city-wide mailer is the start of making sure folks have the whole picture.

More here

Mailer Sustainability

"The mayor needs to step up and renounce Walmart's awful decision," said Jackie Rowe Adams of Harlem Mothers Saved. "We have seen what guns have done to our communities, and bringing in a Walmart to our communities would send the wrong message- that we condone their gun sale policies which put people's lives in danger."

Walmart has indicated that they would like to build their first retail outlet in the five boroughs, but so far a number of elected officials have tried to block them. Mayor Bloomberg has said that the government should not interfere with a private company's rights to do business whereever they see fit.

"As the largest seller of firearms and ammunition in America, Wal-Mart does not belong in New York City," said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. "I urge Mayor Bloomberg to continue his leadership on gun control by joining the fight against Wal-Mart coming to our City."

The advocates note that Walmart decision to expand its gun sales and expand into New York City come as the retailer has faced 7 consecutive quarters of same store sales decline. Five years ago, the store agreed to stop selling hunting rifles and bullets at all but a third of its stores.

"The Walmart charm offensive ends today with news that the conglomerate plans to expand considerably the sale of weapons and ammunition," said Manhattan borough president Scott Stringer. "If the city wants to remain a leader on gun control, we need to take a hard stand against Walmart's decision and make it clear that any corporation that looks for new markets to sell guns and fosters a culture of violence is not welcome in New York."

UPDATE:

The Bloomberg administration passes along a statement pointing out that Walmart is actually a responsible gun seller since they go beyond the federal guidelines in order to insure that guns stay out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill.

"With Congress and the Administration unable to put in place common-sense rules to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, drug addicts and the mentally ill, our coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns reached out to Wal-Mart, and the company voluntarily agreed to go above and beyond what federal law requires to prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands," said John Feinblatt, Bloomberg's chief policy advisor. "If every gun dealer in the country adopted Wal-Mart's approach, or if Congress required it, thousands of lives would be saved every year."

And Steve Restivo, the director of community affaris for the big box retailer, points out that Walmart will not sell any guns or ammunition should they open a store in the five boroughs.

"Walmart will not sell firearms in any future New York City store.  We're proud of our participation in 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' and will remain committed to the safe and responsible sale of firearms in areas of the country where they are sold."