In New York City, few topics spur such polarizing debate as Walmart — savior of some clamoring for local employment, scourge of others who cite poor labor practices and a detrimental impact on local economies. I've listened closely to both sides of this argument and taken the time to look at a broader picture that is being drowned out while the Walmart battle rages: the planned Gateway II shopping center with its full spectrum of retailers — not just Walmart — effectively doubling the number of merchants in southern East New York. The Fiscal Policy Institute puts unemployment in East New York at a staggering 19.2 percent. The Community Service Society's recent study shows that only one in four black men ages 16 to 24 had a job from January 2009 to December 2010. A study conducted by my office shows 68 percent of my constituents have trouble making ends meet and 70 percent are concerned about the lack of local employment. East New York was ravaged by disinvestment and crime during the '70s and '80s.