Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) today has issued the following statement urging local residents to support area small businesses next Saturday, November 26, 2011, as part of “Small Business Saturday”:

“As a former small business owner and merchant leader, I am encouraging area residents to join in the holiday shopping spirit and shop locally next week as part of Small Business Saturday. It is so important that we shop in our neighborhood stores and support the people and the economy of our hometown.

We have so many fine shops along our commercial streets, stores that offer such great merchandise, and so I encourage you to by that special someone their gifts on the avenue, not at the mall, or on the internet. By shopping close to home, we are supporting our businesses that keep our neighborhood strong and employ so many of our neighbors.

On Small Business Saturday, let’s make an effort to spend our money in the community. As a general principle, we should always think first if maybe an item we are looking for could be found locally. We should always try to buy those items from one of our many great local stores.”