Monsey Davids Slay Wal-Mart Goliath

We were seeing the handwriting on the wall when National Realty, the developer of the proposed Wal-Mart super center in Monsey began to drag its feet with responding to the Town of Ramapo's request for additional traffic data-something about trying to square a circle. Now it is finally definitive-with a letter sent to the Town from NR saying essentially "No Mas." The community message to the Alliance: "Mazel Tov."

In the letter, the developer told Ramapo; "...it has become apparent to National Realty and Development Corp. that the concerns of the Township cannot be met and the project will not be approved." As a result NR has officially pulled the plug, and the united community/labor and business effort to defeat the project is a rousing success.

Once again, the Walmonster meets legitimate community opposition and it folds its tent; with Monsey added to the Alliance honor role in the region along with Rego Park, Queens and Tottenville on Staten Island-and as much as all of these communities differ, they are united in the belief that the super center model is not good for their neighborhood quality of life.

Shout outs here go to the elected officials like Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, Spring Valley Mayor Darden and his town attorney Bruce Levine, and former legislator David Fried. All joined with us in insuring that the development would not go forward. And it goes without saying that UFCW Local 1262 and the UFCW regional office (with the vivacious Kate Keller) played a key role in aiding and abetting the Orthodox community's efforts to defeat the Walmonster.

Needless to say, all of this success rested on the tireless work of scores of local Monsey businessmen and community leaders. Numerous rabbis lent a hand and voiced their opposition, to the point that the local critical mass pushed a united political front that ended in success. Hats off to all!