Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
“They can’t afford to pay me what I’m worth; they can’t even match the pay at my last job. It makes me sad. I always thought that, in 10 years, I was going to be awesome. Now here I am, just trying to survive.”-Valerie Colter, typical Californian
California: Southern California Edison laying off 410 people in October! In San Francisco, iconic Candlestick Park being torn down, its fixtures being auctioned off! Los Angeles County reports a 57% drop in manufacturing jobs since 1990! Esmael Adibi, of the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research at Chapman University, said companies can’t handle the high cost of doing business in the Golden State: “They look at stuff like taxation, energy costs and housing costs, and it becomes a business decision.”
Connecticut: In Stamford, after 24 years Littlejohn’s children clothing store shutdown. The co-owner blamed a lot of factors that have crashed their sales since 2008, but she said the final straw was when the greedy landlord jacked up the rent: “…an unattainable rent increase. It was honestly too much of an increase. It would be very difficult, really, or impossible to continue.”-Anda Weyher
Florida: In Polk County, Chapters Health System killing 89 healthcare jobs at their LifePath Hospice, Good Shepherd and Chapters’ palliative care and pharmacy programs. Hospital officials directly blamed Obama Care (Affordable Care Act) for drastically reducing payments for people on Medicare and Medicaid, which make up 92% of Chapters Health System’s clients! In Miami, reports that the Portugal based Too Big to Jail Espirito Santo Bank will be sold off. The bank was bailed out by the Bank of Portugal, but is still a failure. The ADP Regional Employment Report says new job creation fell 40% from July 2013 to July 2014!
Moved from Pocatello to Chubbuck in 1999, this Sears is finally dead!
Idaho: In Chubbuck, Sears Holdings finally decided to put their dying Sears store, at the Pine Ridge Mall, to death. The store will close in October. Also in Chubbuck, the 24 years old Carmike Cinema 7 was sold off to property developers and will be torn down. Word is that the owner does not think it’s worth it to convert the theater over to digital.
Illinois: In Libertyville, the owner of Encore Theater group announced this is the last year of performances. He took a job with another theater group. The Chicago Bears American style football team have failed to pay Cook County $4.1-million USD in ticket sales tax! The back due taxes go all the way back to 2003!
Indiana: In Summit City, after 40 years Rustic Hutch shutdown two furniture stores. What housing market recovery? In Evansville, Springleaf Finance announced they are shutting down their mortgage operation, 170 jobs lost!
Massachusetts: Tewksburry based Market Basket grocery stores killing jobs in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Any striking worker that refuses to come back to work is now fired.
Michigan: In Minnesota, reports say a Office Depot is closing, but corporate officials refuse to comment. In Ann Arbor, law school Thomas M. Cooley’s warned it could shutdown, blaming an 11% drop in enrollment (DSS, Disapearing Student Syndrome). Who said the internet is killing brick-n-mortar ops? After six years internet news source AnnArborChronicle.com to stop regular publishing in September. United Airlines killing 109 jobs at the Detroit Metro Airport, in October!
New York: Cargo ship operator Eagle Bulk Shipping now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. Company officials blame their financial dire straights on a crash in import/exports ever since 2008.
North Carolina: United Airlines announced they will kill 71 jobs at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport, in October. In Greensboro, Kmart announced it is shutting down in November, 69 jobs lost.
Texas: What construction market recovery? BidClerk reports 2nd quarter 2014 construction funding crashed by $12.2-billion compared to 1st quarter 2014.
Virginia: In Roanoke, First & Sixth Restaurant shutdown.
Washington: In Seattle, 15 businesses forced to shutdown because of construction of the Elliott Bay Seawall. City officials swear it will only take nine months to complete, but history shows construction projects almost always take longer than stated. However, city officials are paying the business owners compensation to ensure they can come back once the construction is done.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shutdown. It doesn’t count people who get a severance for being laid off.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security…That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013