The surveyed stores generated 148,331 calls for police service, or an average of 269 police incidents per store. And 2,909 of those calls were for violent or serious crimes, the report said.
"Once again, we have evidence that Wal-Mart is not a good citizen in the communities where it exists," said Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum at a City Hall press conference with Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn, Queens) and Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. "This is why we have to keep them out of New York City."
Appelbaum said the survey demonstrates that Wal-Mart stints on security measures and parking lot patrols.
"Wal-Mart must invest in adequate security and public safety measures, and stop being a magnet for crime in our communities," he said.
Based on the survey, the report estimates that Wal-Mart's national chain of more than 3,857 stores generated 1 million police responses in 2004, at a cost of $77 million to taxpayers.
The survey conducted by WakeUpWalMart.com is the latest salvo fired in a propaganda war between the retail chain and an alliance of unions, community organizations, business associations, elected officials and other groups.
Responding to the press conference, Wal-Mart representative Mia Masten said, "Another week, another protest - organized by a union that is struggling to survive and supported by elected officials who claim they care about the city's working class."
Weiner stressed that Wal-Mart is determined to make inroads in urban areas, including New York City.
Last year, a developer dropped Wal-Mart from a planned shopping mall in Rego Park, Queens, because of strong opposition from City Council officials. And Wal-Mart's pursuit of two possible sites on Staten Island appears to be in limbo.
"No sales or leases have occurred," according to City Councilman Michael McMahon (D-S.I.), who was not involved in the City Hall press conference.
