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

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Official Announcement

News from State Senator Marisol Alcantara

**PRESS ADVISORY**

Wednesday, March 15th

Contact: Michael Carter, 612-356-7160,

  Para espanol, llamar Vanessa Agudelo, (914) 482-1241

 

City Hall, NY – State Senator Marisol Alcantara (D-Manhattan), Assemblymember Luis Sepulveda, and State Senator Ruben Diaz, will rally with bodega owners from the Bodega Association against unequal enforcement of liquor laws by the State Liquor Authority (SLA). They will stand together at 3:00 PM on the City Hall Steps on Thursday, March 16th, where they will unveil state-level legislation that will force the SLA to equally enforce liquor laws instead of favoring big-box stores over small businesses like bodegas. This follows an investigative report finding unfair practices and subsequent continued special treatment of big box stores over local small businesses.

 

WHEN: 3:00 PM, Thursday, March 16th, 2017

WHERE: City Hall Steps, City Hall Park, New York, NY 10007

WHO: Senator Marisol Alcantara, Assemblymember Luis Sepulveda, Senator Ruben Diaz, The Bodega Association.

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A Heastie decision on plastic bag fees

Assembly speaker cites curious rationale for blocking city’s eco-friendly law. Blog by Eric Engquist.

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Earth-loving New Yorker slams senator for blocking bag fee

Manhattanite David Camacho says Simcha Felder is “on the wrong side of history”. OP-ED from Crain’s New York.

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State must stop NYC’s bag fee

The City Council’s latest social-engineering experiment will provoke class warfare. OP-ED from Crain’s New York.

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Albany Blocks NYC’s Plastic Bag Fee

Last year, the New York City Council voted to impose a fee for single-use shopping bags. But on Monday, the State Senate passed legislation putting a moratorium on the city’s law. On Tuesday, the Assembly followed suit. If the governor signs it, it will derail what city officials say is a common-sense environmental measure.

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