Brooklyn pols vow to block Related from bringing Walmart to East New York

A group of Brooklyn politicians have vowed to block the Related Companies’ acquisition of a 20-acre plot of land for its Gateway II shopping center until the developer guarantees that Walmart won’t be allowed to lease space in the new development, the Brooklyn Paper reported. The land is off the Belt Parkway and Erskine Street in East New York, and while Walmart “doesn’t have a contract with Gateway II… they’re trying to sneak in behind the curtain,” said City Council member Charles Barron, who represents the area. The project would be as-of-right, however, and Walmart is making efforts to “offset the misinformation that’s been perpetrated from our detractors,” a spokesperson for the retailer said. Walmart recently sponsored a poll that said 76 percent of borough residents would want to see the big box store open in Brooklyn. [Brooklyn Paper]