Save Our South End Pharmacy

ATTN: Stefano Pessina, Chief Executive Officer

Ornella Barra, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Corporate Social Responsibility Chair
Consumer Relations
Corporate Social Responsibility
Walgreen Company
200 Wilmot Rd., MS #2002
Deerfield, IL 60015

September 6, 2018

Re: Objection to the Closure of Rite Aid located at: 310 S Pearl St, Albany, NY 12202

Dear Mr. Pessina:

We are writing to express our concern and disappointment over the recent discussions to close a beloved store in our
community that so many people depend on.

It took many years of local advocacy, partnerships and hard work to get a Rite Aid pharmacy in the South End of Albany,
New York. Our store, located at 310 S. Pearl Street serves as much more than a chain pharmacy retailer, it is a walkable
place that people of all ages in our community go to get their prescriptions, consult the friendly pharmacists, pick up
over the counter medications, purchase general merchandise, and purchase groceries. It also serves as a place of
employment for numerous people in our community. Furthermore, many of the people who rely on prescriptions and
groceries from this Rite Aid are seniors and many are people who do not have access to reliable transportation.

According to your website, your purpose is to “Champion the health and well-being of every community in America.”
Based on the information we have received, it is our understanding that there are plans to close this location. By closing
this location, you are removing one of the only places in the South End that residents depend on for their health and
well-being.

After reviewing your “Corporate Social Responsibility Report” published on the Walgreens website, there are a few
things that we would like to point out:

“We support health and wellbeing in the communities where we operate, through our drug take back program,
pharmacists specially trained to speak with people about cancer, free HIV testing days, flu shot vouchers and
fundraisers for numerous health-related organizations. And we help provide lifesaving immunizations to remote areas
of the globe through our ongoing partnership with the United Nations Foundation.”

It is apparent that you are aware how needed these services are, and the importance they add to each community. We
do not think you fully understand how many people depend on this location, and the services it provides. How can you
ethically remove these much needed services from our community?

The report also states:

“As a leader in the retail pharmacy industry and provider of healthcare services we believe that giving to and
supporting organizations that provide health services to underserved communities in the countries where we have
business operations and in other regions around the world in one of the areas we can have the most impact. For this
reason we partner on a large scale with organizations that deliver vaccinations, vitamins, medical supplies and other
health-related services to communities both inside and outside the areas served by our stores and distribution
networks.”
The South End of Albany has historically been underserved. There are many of us who are fighting to improve the lives
and create opportunities for those who are living here in the South End. Have you looked at any data regarding our
community? Have you considered how many people depend on this store? Do you know how many services are
provided to the community through this store? Do you know what types of medications are dispensed from this store?
This is one of the areas in Albany and in Upstate New York where you can have the most impact, as this is an
underserved community in great need.

The report further states:

“Walgreens Boots Alliance strives to be a responsible neighbor in the local communities we serve and to have an
impact on global health through large-scale, long-term initiatives. Our business of making medicines, general
merchandise and services available to customers and patients embeds us in communities around the world where we
are a significant local employer. Our conveniently located stores put professional pharmacists at the heart of
healthcare in the communities we serve and our online channels provide further options for our customers. We focus
on community initiatives that park excitement and engagement among our customers and employees aiming to be an
impetus for local and global change. As world citizens we feel strongly about extending our Corporate Social
Responsibility work beyond the communities that we directly serve, leveraging our scale to provide vital health
services in hard-to-reach areas.

The initiatives we support are aligned to our three Community Goals:

• Support the health, wellbeing and vitality of the communities we serve

• Enable young people to achieve their potential wherever they are in the world
• Develop and mobilize our resources and partnerships in the fight against cancer”

These goals correlate directly with what your store claims to strive for, and what our community desperately needs and
depends on. An opportunity has presented itself to Walgreens to be part of the South End community, and apparently it
has been rejected. We ask: Why?

Without any other full service pharmacies located in the neighborhood and very limited pharmacy and grocery options
in the South End, this is going to have devastating repercussions on our community. If this location closes, it will not only
affect our residents’ health and wellbeing, but it will create a vacant and abandoned building – and so many of us are
working so hard to beautify our community, generate economic growth and create opportunities in our community. The
closure of this store will cause more damage to our community than you can imagine.

There is widespread support to keep the location open and operating - there was even excitement about the possibility
of it becoming a Walgreens.

We implore you to reconsider and invite you to visit our store and our community – see for yourself what a necessity it
is, and how many of our people depend on this location.

Attached you will find signatures of elected officials, community leaders, and community residents that do not want you
to close this location. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us. We look forward to hearing from you before any
further decisions are made.

To respond to the letter please contact the follow individuals:

• Sam Fein, Albany County Legislator, 6th District: samfein6@gmail.com, 518-362-8380

• Dorcey Applyrs, Albany Common Council Members, 1st Ward: dorceyapplyrs@gmail.com, 518-894-8981
• Willie White, Executive Director, AVillage…, Inc.: avillage5@aol.com, 518-859-4305

Sincerely,

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Samuel I. Fein Steven T. Longo Mayor Kathy Sheehan
Albany County Legislator Executive Director City of Albany
6th Legislative District Albany Housing Authority

Dorcey Applyrs
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Neil D. Breslin Hon. John McDonald Hon. Dorcey Applyrs
New York State Senator New York State Assemblymember Albany Common Council Member
44th Senate District 108th Assembly District 1st Ward

Willie White Daniel P. McCoy

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Willie White Hon. Daniel P. McCoy Hon. Patricia Fahy
Executive Director Albany County Executive New York State Assemblymember
AVillage…, Inc. 109th Assembly District

William M. Clay Jahmel Robinson

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. William M. Clay Hon. Owusu Anane Hon. Jahmel Robinson
Albany County Legislator Albany Common Council Member Albany Common Council Member
th
Chairman, Legislative Black Caucus 10 Ward 5th Ward
12th Legislative District



David Gordon Marc Johnson Kelly Kimbrough
__________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Rev. David Gordon Rev. Marc Johnson Hon. Kelly Kimbrough
Pastor Pastor Albany Common Council Member
House of the Lord Outreach Ministry St. John’s Church of God in Christ 4th Ward

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________

Hon. Merton D. Simpson Hon. Lucille McKnight Hon. Joyce Love
Albany County Legislator Albany County Legislator Albany Common Council Member
2nd Legislative District 1st Legislative District 3rd Ward




Corey Ellis Darius Shahinfar JoAnn Morton
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Corey Ellis Hon. Darius Shahinfar JoAnn Morton
President, Albany Common Council Treasurer President
City of Albany South End Neighborhood Association

Dominick Calsolaro Eric Fagans Debra Fagans

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Dominick Calsolaro Eric Fagans Debra Fagans
Former Albany Common Council Member President Volunteer Executive Director
1st Ward South End Neighborhood Tutors South End Neighborhood Tutors

Wanda Willingham Norma Chapman Derek Johnson
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Wanda Willingham Hon. Norma Chapman Hon. Derek Johnson
Deputy Chairwoman Albany County Legislator Albany Common Council Member
Albany County Legislator 4th Legislative District 2nd Ward
rd
3 Legislative District

Vivian I Meadows
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Rev. Alphonso H. Meadows, Jr, Vivian I. Meadows Carmen Duncan
Pastor, Walls Temple AME Z Church First Lady, Walls Temple AME Z Church Chief Coach & Founder
27 Delaware St, Albany, NY 12202 South End Resident, 12202 Mission Accomplished
South End Resident Transition Services
39 Delaware St, Albany, NY 12202



Ira Bethea David Traynham Alfredo Balarin
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Ira Bethea Rev. David F Traynham Hon. Alfredo Balarin
South End Resident Pastor Albany Common Council Member
Community Activist New Horizons Christian Church 11th Ward

Gail Hammond Tony Gaddy

_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Gail Hammond Hon. Catherine M. Fahey Tony Gaddy
Coordinator Albany Common Council Member UpState Black Chamber of Commerce
Historic Pastures Neighborhood Watch 7th Ward




Susan Rizzo McKinley Johnson Holly Katz
_____________________________ _____________________________ _____________________________
Hon. Susan Rizzo Rev. McKinley Johson Holly Katz
Chief City Auditor President President
City of Albany The African American Clergy Mansion Neighborhood Association
United for Empowerment (TAACUFE)