OK I was on another discussion and I'm wondering...
Is any one else bothered by the big deal made about wallmart coming to Chicago, when what we really need is GOOD long term jobs here....
Why isn't daley trying to bring back at least SOME manufacturing here? I mean with so many people unemployed the cost of labour MUST be down, I know Schwinn is nothing more than a name BUT there must be some companies that would be willing to try, also since the price of land is down....How about SRAM? they are headquartered here.
So are we just a bunch of blind sheep that want our kids to play with lead painted toys from China because they are a buck? Or is anyone willing to pay more to have a non lead painted toy?
Isn't there a big drywall company with offices here in Chicago ? Why did China drywall show up in the south east with mystery stuff in it that MAY be toxic ?
I just think it's time for a real change
Tags:
Oh, but wait a minute!!! Where is that "build bikes in Detroit" guy when you need him from a while back! :) haha
Well I think since Chicago is still in the USA I don't see it as two issues, I get what your saying about inside city limits. I guess I just don't understand how can a retail store can pay taxes and turn a profit why cant a factory?
Yeah factories in the downtown area will never happen, but what about the already existing empty or under used buildings?Some people are not just hoping the mayor will solve their problems by appealing to a big corporation, but exactly doing that.
Oh, wait! Let me go through the Archives to find it. It was popcorn all the way...I just looked at that discussion, Arrak I think one of our problems is your sign off about him...."haha"
The advantage of a city for a retail store is residential population density, people like to shop near where they live. The city offers no such advantage to a factory. Most of the other things you mention are reasons why manufacturing would be advantageous for Chicago, and I agree with your points, but they aren't reasons why Chicago would be advantageous for manufacturing. Believe me, there's lots of unemployed folks everywhere right now.
I continue here because I'm not really so much opposed to your plan as much as I'm trying to understand what it is. I'm truly interested. When Daley goes to suck up to Schwinn and other large-scale manufacturers, what do you think he should be saying to them that says "here's why you want to be in the Chicago city limits as opposed to some other place in Illinois or the US"?
Rick norris said:Well I think since Chicago is still in the USA I don't see it as two issues, I get what your saying about inside city limits. I guess I just don't understand how can a retail store can pay taxes and turn a profit why cant a factory? Yeah citys would have to make tax breaks that are long term and low but why not?
Is it better to be getting a buck or two than nothing?
The advantage a factory would have is that they would manufacture for export, bring outside money into the country, a store generally sells in it's own area (I am excluding nich type stores that may export throught the internet, or othwer ways)
As far as why Chicago..because I live here. There are already empty factory buidings in areas. On the west side I believe there are still ample RR spurs for freight. There are lots of un emplyed people in this city.
If more people worked (example) on the west side there would be a demand for public transportation, at some point the goons(sorry 'nother subject) our wonderfull city leaders would provide busses because those bus lines would be profitable.
If we go with the idea of manufacturing in far rural areas, then we become more car dependent to get people from the city to work. Because lets face it with out a big sidetrack discussion that is what will happen.
The idea, or I guess MY idea is to bring jobs to the masses, instead of moving the masses to the jobs.
I think Daley does, to some extent, want manufacturing jobs to move to Chicago. AFAIK, that's what the TIF industrial corridors are all about, specifically encouraging manufacturing (mostly light industry) in areas that aren't considered suitable for residential or retail development. They also offer job training, which leads to one problem with your proposal: many of the people who would have at one time been employed in manufacturing, have no relevant job skills to speak of. I think a valuable use of Chicago's money would be to offer vocational programs for non-college-track kids; as you rightly point out, not everyone is going to become a doctor, but that doesn't mean that they are unemployable.
Furthermore, there's no reason why working retail has to be shitty. My mom worked retail for the same company for almost 30 years-- they offered health insurance, a decent wage, and flexible scheduling and time off when my sister and I were little. They weren't even unionized, it was just a decent company to work for. Wal-Mart could be a good employer if they offered a living wage, health insurance, and advancement opportunities. Oh, and if they had avoided the whole sexist assholery bit. Since retail, by its very nature, can't be shipped out of the country, why not focus on the rights of current service industry workers?
Rick norris said:Yeah factories in the downtown area will never happen, but what about the already existing empty or under used buildings?Some people are not just hoping the mayor will solve their problems by appealing to a big corporation, but exactly doing that.
Like Michael Perz said: entrepreneurs create jobs, not politicians
Your linky is broken. Is this about that Chief Marketing Officer lady that got hired and fired at Walmart within six months or so? I remember reading that and thinking the sexual harassment was just an excuse. The real reason that the Walmart board realized that it was a mismatch of epic proportions and they needed to get rid of her. Hiring a fast moving ad executive at stodgy, cheapskate Walmart? What were they thinking?
203 members
1 member
270 members
1 member
261 members