The New York Association of Grocery Stores, NYAGS is a coalition of local New York City grocers fighting to stay alive as special interests and big chains continue to encroach on the businesses our families have maintained for decades. We have formed NYAGS, New York Association of Grocery Stores in order to stop the assault against grocery stores as well as the food service industry all over New York by the Mayor and other government officials. NYAGS will play a substantial role in being the lead advocacy group in redefining how the city treats our retail establishments throughout NYC. NYAGS will promote unity and financial stability to small business throughout NYC.

“The city continues in its quest of becoming a nanny state in regulating every aspect of the lives of the citizens of New York City and in the process, crushing small business” said David Schwartz. “NYAGS will vigorously protect business throughout New York from over reaching and unnecessary regulatory measures. NYAGS will help unite the fight against the recently announced Big Soda Ban by the NYC Board of Health”, said Brad Gerstman.

As Wal-mart continues their push to enter the New York City market and liquor stores continue to block the entrance of wine into grocery stores, we’re fighting to stay in business during these tough economic times. With only 2000 liquor stores in New York State why do their businesses need to be protected while ours do not?

The initial issues to be taken on by NYAGS are:

  • Fight back against the ‘Nanny-State” and stop Mayor Bloomberg’s soda ban
  • Enable wine to be sold in Grocery stores
  • Pass legislation to preclude the unconstitutional ticketing of trucks delivering to grocery stores
  • Fight for the prospect that all tobacco products must be sold in brick and mortar NY stores and not Indian reservations, internet and black market.
  • Restore fairness in taxation of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco products and motor fuel
  • Fight against all legislation and regulation that mandates what your customers can and cannot eat
  • Any regulation of tobacco should be done by the FDA and not New York State
  • Fight the Wal-Mart entry into the NYC marketplace
  • Fight against tax credits which favor new supermarkets that enter the NYC market where the employees are non-union and put the existing stores at a disadvantage

{ 0 comments }

Video: NY State Senator Marty Golden on NYC Tobacco Tax

{ 0 comments }

New York City’s James Gennaro Problem

The New York City Council and the Mayor have created the largest black market in the history of the city of New York. This video sets the record straight that Councilmen Jim Gennaro and his cronies keep creating ridiculous law after law, in an effort to destroy grocery stores and other small businesses. The new [...]

Read the full article →

Queens Tribune: Smoking Age Increase Raises Eyebrows

“Raising the cigarettes smoking age from 18 to 21 does nothing in terms of consumption. The problem is when you raise it to 21; you’re fueling the black market even more. The black market for cigarettes is tremendous already,” Brad Gerstman, spokesperson for the New York Association of Grocery Stores, said.

Read the full article →

Politicker: Tobacco Retailers Rage Against ‘Houdini’ Mayor Michael Bloomberg

“This mayor must be the great Houdini–he must be Houdini–because in 2001, when he took office, we were selling 42 million cartons of cigarettes in the City of New York,” the representative, David Schwartz, contended. “The great Houdini waved his magic wand and all of a sudden, in 2013 we’re selling 7 million cartons of cigarettes.”

Read the full article →

Bloomberg Seeks to Ban Cigarette Displays, Analysis with David Schwartz Partner of Gotham Government Relations

Wall Street Journal Warp

Bloomberg Seeks to Ban Cigarette Displays in NYC’s Stores, Analysis with David Schwartz, Partner at Gotham Government Relations & NYAGS on The Wall Street Journal Daily Wrap.

Read the full article →