Alison Elsheikh's Albany Street store had been open for business only a few months when a person with a notebook entered and began jotting down notes about what she was selling.
Elsheikh, who owns Lucky Market, soon discovered that the person had opened a business near hers and was offering much of the same merchandise.
"It's hard when you have a lot of stores close to each other because you get into a competition," Elsheikh said.
She said she supports Mayor Gary McCarthy's effort to temporarily halt the opening of convenience stores to allow city and planning officials time to study the glut to see if local zoning regulations need to be revised.
"Even some of the stores are complaining that there are too many of them, that they can't make any money," McCarthy said recently. "They are proliferating throughout the city."
City Corporation Counsel John Polster said on Tuesday that the City Council will determine the duration of the moratorium.
The council will research the matter and confer with zoning and planning officials on a wide range of issues, including potential regulations on how far apart from each other convenience stores should be located.
The moratorium "would prevent any applications to the planning and zoning board," said Polster. "We have areas where there is the potential for convenience stores to be located next to each other. We don't need that."
Elsheikh said she agrees with Polster, and she has some suggestions for city officials. "Each store has to have something unique," she said. "If every store has the exact same thing, they are all taking away from each other."
On Monday, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling for a public hearing on April 28 on the moratorium, part of McCarthy's campaign to get businesses to comply with local and state laws.
Last week, Lucky Market was among the businesses that the city inspected, unannounced.
Building Inspector Eric Shilling said Tuesday that the coordinated effort involving the police and fire departments was to ensure that business owners have the proper paperwork, including insurance certificates and updated contact information, and that they are not violating laws that would jeopardize the safety of their patrons.
McThug policy is anti-businesses that don't donate campaign money to him! If you want to stay in business start donating money to McThug this is the only way you will stay in business. Heck ask the Downtown/Plex businesses they are in business because they donate lots of money to McThug!
Most of those small stores are drug fronts and has jack sh1t to do with merchandise like chips, beer, tobacco.
"In the beginning of a change, the Patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a Patriot."
The Police needs to do their job! Lets not declare selective enforcement it is just a waste of taxpayers dollars. Businesses should not be targeted they should all be treated fairly and equal. Lets go after the Pizzeria's they don't wash their hands that is a crime! Put up or shut up!
Years ago they blamed the neighborhood bars and had a moratorium on them.
After they ran them all out of business, they had a new problem.
Increased drinking and driving.
Yeah, shut the neighborhood gin mills so the only ones left are his rich political cronies downtown
Now shut down neighborhood businesses to help this rich political cronies downtown.
Come down heavy handed on the good landlords over stupid things like size of house numbers in an attempt to eliminate competition to the downtown tax exempt rich political cronies of the mayor who will be collecting rents and not paying any taxes.
But remember "the mayor and his dem team are doing a wonderful job in the city."
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
"the mayor and his dem team are doing a wonderful job in the city." Wasn't this called the "Little Miracle" we all know what happened to Susan Savage when she ran her campaign on that catch phrase . She lost badly! This is what's in store for McThug as well!
Word of advice McThug keep saying how great things are in schenectady you are doing a wonderful job The more you say things are great the OUT OF TOUCH YOU SOUND AS A LAME DUCK MAYOR PANDERING TO DOWNTOWN CRONIES! THE PEOPLE SEE WHO YOU ARE FOR AND WHAT YOU ARE FOR! THAT IS FOR THE RICH AND FOR MONEY!
HECK, ANTHONY SHITVATELLO CEO TRANSFINDER CALLED YOU HIS HERO THE OTHER DAY!
Yeah, shut the neighborhood gin mills so the only ones left are his rich political cronies downtown. Now shut down neighborhood businesses to help this rich political cronies downtown.Come down heavy handed on the good landlords over stupid things like size of house numbers in an attempt to eliminate competition to the downtown tax exempt rich political cronies of the mayor who will be collecting rents and not paying any taxes. But remember "the mayor and his dem team are doing a wonderful job in the city."
Keep voting anti-business DEM machine! The problem is not Union College, small business, medium business nor large business. The problem is and continues to be the tax anything that moves, anti-retail idiots in City Hall running Schenectady into the dirt. In 2015 the party is over. The way they blocked Walgreen's on Brandywine, which is still a dirt lot, is sickening. We don't need $80,000 a year in new property taxes. Naah, raise the oppressed homeowners taxes and fees again no one will say nuthin. Show up at City Hall on Thursday for the Union Hockey parade to boo these fiscal incompetents.
Benny your right my friend! People should show up at Union and boo these political pr**ks! Don't forget to bring your shoe's!
ROTFLMAO!! Bring two shoes. Why is the parade ending at City Hall? McCheese spends all his time trying to tax Union which is totally exempt UNDER FEDERAL LAW. None of these City Hall morons had anything to do with this glorious victory. The biggest for Schenectady since the Little League Championship in 1954. Of course, it is also Holy Thursday and Bravo to Vince Riggi for putting our faith before a dog and pony show to prop up a total failure.
Better the parade should end at Clinton Ditch where we can toast the coaches, AD and College Presidents that made this day possible. Millions of people heard of Union College {NY} for the first time because of this national hockey championship. GO UNION! BOO McCheese Today!
It ended at City Hall because McThug wants a photo opportunity. We all know that McThug hates Union College and Roger Hull. Why is he kissing a$$ now? Union will always support the Alliance/Republican Party!
It was a hoot. Everyone in the crowd of pro-Union supporters was asking why Tonko and McCheese were there. Saw Mayoral Candidate King and unemployed John Moonboot too. Instead of working on a real budget with God forbid serious cuts we get this circus. The Victory Rally should have been on campus and keep these DEM tax nuts away. They blame Union for exactly what Proctor's is doing. Except Union is really an educational institution not a money losing theatre on a tax dodge. BTW, all the major Downtown business fled under Karen Johnson's "leadership". Because of her we have a retail free, food desert in the City.
The Gazetto editorial came out it support of this McCheese "plan". These idiots want to close stores that might sell the paper? Meanwhile the online Gazetto poll finds all of 5% support the City ban on new business. Racist, anti-business, anti-revenue generation. Perfect for what passes for "leadership" in the cesspool of Upstate New York. The worst taxes, potholes, schools and politicians. Keep the implosion going-keep reelecting the same DEM morons over and over. Until they pull a Brucker (highest DEM vote getter in the City) and flee the tax hell they created.
Logged
Keep voting anti-business DEM machine! The problem is not Union College, small business, medium business nor large business. The problem is and continues to be the tax 
