Thursday, October 28, 2010

Flea market vendors lose at Aqueduct

From The Real Deal:

It's easy to spot the winners in the long-awaited deal to put hundreds of video slot machines in a new racino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens. New York state gets a $380 million licensing fee and future tax revenue to bank on, while Malaysian gaming company Genting gets to put 4,500 video slot terminals just three miles from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Meanwhile, the local economy gets a big shot in the arm from a project expected to generate 1,300 construction and 800 permanent jobs.

To find the probable losers, look no further than the South Ozone Park racetrack's sprawling front parking lot. There, 1,000 vendors stage the city's largest flea market on Tuesdays and weekends from April through December. For those small business operators, mostly immigrants, the flea market is their first toehold on the path to prosperity. With the flea market facing possible closure, the vendors' prospects are uncertain, and they may find their lives upended.

22 comments:

Mike D. Mayor said...

Damn!!! Where'm I supposed to sell my bedbugs...er fleas!

Anonymous said...

And where will I buy my knock-offs and counterfeits! Anybody ever check that all the flea market vendors and workers actually have green cards, work on the books, etc. etc. Bet not.

Anonymous said...

They will find another venue. If progress to pay state bills is slots, then so be it.

Anonymous said...

The flea market can move to the Citi Field parking lot. It's huge, and unused from September to April. It's also accessible by subway.

Unknown said...

Good Riddance! The stuff is cheap knockoffs, used junk and pirated videos and music. There may be a few legit vendors mixed in but they can find other legit means of selling their stuff.

Anonymous said...

I stopped going to that Flea Market when i needed to bring along a translator.

Auntie Invasion said...

Why do we need to create toeholds for illegal immigrants on their way to prosperity? Why don't we create real jobs and housing for Americans? Remember those? the ones who don't have to come here illegally?

How about some toeholds to economic prosperity for people like me?

I really don't understand the guilt tripping for people - illegal immigrants- who are obviously only concerned with their own economic health. and their extended families.

Auntie Invasion said...

"For those small business operators, mostly immigrants, the flea market is their first toehold on the path to prosperity. With the flea market facing possible closure, the vendors' prospects are uncertain, and they may find their lives upended."

solution? deportation back home.

Astorias Finest said...

Everyone has been bashing the flea market about the counterfeits, the used junk and the immigrant vendors.
Their is always going to be at least one person who doesn't speak perfect American in any business or public place.

As a market vendor, a business owner (one of the many in the flea market) and an American citizen.

First, get your facts right before the bashing begins. In order for you to be a monthly vendor at the flea market you have to have a tax id. We all know that in order for you to obtain a tax id you have to be a citizen.

Second, how come I don't see people discussing that if the casino does get built property taxes will go up, houses will be foreclosed and the community will suffer.

Third, I believe alot of people do use craigslist to buy used or new things. The only differenc between craigslist and the flea is that you do it out of the comfort of your home.

Fourth, CntrySigns thank you for thinking about the vendors but for the legit vendors finding another way of selling their stuff is a little more difficult then you may think. Have you walked around Queens to see the GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SIGNS.

Fifth, Deportation back home? Deportation is not the solution. Many people come to the states to find a better way of life.

Helen said...

"Attorney General" Andrew Cuomo could have been investigating the legality of this gambling operation instead of reaching for the Governor's mansion. NY State's managed to lose money on OTB and the racetracks, doubt if legalized gambling will profit anyone other than the lawyers, principals and politicians involved.
Flea market vendors at least know how to run a small business and to collect the taxes for the privilege.

Anonymous said...

Astorias Finest, why on earth would you dignify the other poster's comments with an answer?

Haven't you been on the internet long enough to realize that more often than not, comment sections on blogs and at news sites-- especially those that are unmoderated-- are a haven for stupid ignoramous trolls to rant, rave, and scream ignorant things to their heart's content?

Most of these ranters have never even BEEN to the flea market. They're just bigots who troll this and other blogs finding *any* story having to do with a group they dislike, so they can rant like fools. Yet nine times out of ten they probably have virtually no first-hand knowledge or experience of the thing they're commenting on.

So don't worry about them or what they think. They're just stupid trolls.

Anonymous said...

Astorias Finest, why on earth would you dignify the other poster's comments with an answer?

Haven't you been on the internet long enough to realize that more often than not, comment sections on blogs and at news sites-- especially those that are unmoderated-- are a haven for stupid ignoramous trolls to rant, rave, and scream ignorant things to their heart's content?

Most of these ranters have never even BEEN to the flea market. They're just bigots who troll this and other blogs finding *any* story having to do with a group they dislike, so they can rant like fools. Yet nine times out of ten they probably have virtually no first-hand knowledge or experience of the thing they're commenting on.

So don't worry about them or what they think. They're just stupid trolls.

Anonymous said...

Is there an echo in here?

Anonymous said...

Is there an echo in here?

Anonymous said...

Yeah right. Tax ideas with fake Social Security numbers. Who the fuck do you think you're fooling?

And besides, most of this stuff is imported from China. Who's jobs are we protecting? Communist China and illegal immigrants that's who.

YOU get YOUR facts straight, Astoria's Finest. You give my neighborhood a BAD NAME.

Anonymous said...

You got me so pissssssssssssssssssssssssed Little Miss Finest I made a boo boo.

- Tax ID's

Hate to not get my facts straight here.

Anonymous said...

Don't have to be a citizen to get a tax id number.
Have green card, can get one.
Having a tax id number does not mean taxes are paid anymore than having a ss card means taxes get paid.
Have shopped there. Have had to demand receipt on many occasions.
Know people who work there off the books.
Every knockoff sold robs the legitimate manufacturer.
And the litany could go on and on.

Anonymous said...

Damn!!! Where'm I supposed to sell my bedbugs...er fleas!

The U.N.! that's where!

Anonymous said...

Everyone has the right to their opinion but reading some of these reviews makes me sadden and displeased. My parents are vendors at the market. They have worked here for several years. It this place which have given me the opportunity to attend college and Grad school. My parents made the sacrifice by spending cold winters and scorching summers selling here only to see their everyday income taken from them. This country was built by immigrants and these days it’s all about upper class or political leaders mandating how to make more money for themselves. What about the middle class or such class does not exist anymore? What will happen to my parent’s daily income? Are they unemployed like the rest of the state / country?

Anonymous said...

Your parents have lost their "lease" and like others who lose leases will have to vend elsewhere. There are commercial strips nearby to the racetrack with empty stores.

Astorias Finest said...

In regards to the smart guy,

"Yeah right. Tax ideas with fake Social Security numbers.
Who the fuck do you think you're fooling? And besides,
most of this stuff is imported from China. Who's jobs
are we protecting? Communist China and illegal immigrants
that's who.

YOU get YOUR facts straight, Astoria's Finest.
You give my neighborhood a BAD NAME."

&

" You got me so pissssssssssssssssssssssssed Little Miss Finest I made a boo boo.

- Tax ID's

Hate to not get my facts straight here."

LMAO Little Miss Perfect ? How do you know if Iam a man or woman? &
I give your neighborhood a bad name? I was born and raised in
Astoria, Queens. You know "Little Greece", "Little Egypt"
or as you like to say IMMIGRANTS. But using "Who the fuck do you think you're fooling?"
is a good thing for any neighborhood with that language. TISK TISK Now who gives
the neighborhood a bad name ?


Lol Communist China and illegal immigrants I'm going to assume your 100% Native American ?


PS We have some well mannered, educated and RESPECTFUL people on here to DISCUSS the flea market closing.
To bad their is always one person to give this website a bad name.

Anonymous said...

The blog is called Queens Crap no need to use crappy language we are all adults not little kiddies. So lets keep the bad language out of this.

There are no moderators here so keep it detained.