Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
Arizona: In Scottsdale the Los Sombreros Mexican Restaurant shutdown. In Mesa, the Lo Fi Coffee shop shutdown.
California: The U.S. Postal Service shutting down their Bakersfield mail processing plant: “The only reason they haven’t done it yet is because they need congressional approval.”-John Flores, American Postal Worker’s Union
Colorado: Wisconsin based Quad Graphics shutting down their Loveland operations by the end of October, 137 jobs lost! Administrators blame the bad economy, but is it really because Quad Graphics failed in its takeover bid of rival Courier Corporation?
Connecticut: In Milford, after 14 years Loading Dock Wine & Spirits shutdown, the family owners blame the evil ‘lawmakers’ for “the ever changing CT. Liquor laws favoring large non-family owned businesses”.
Florida: In Miami Beach, after 11 years Mansion Nightclub shutting down next week. The corporate owners have been shutting down and selling off their nightclubs in The Sunshine State because they can make more money selling the property. Virginia based tax-sucker Orbital ATK shutting down its Clearwater operations by Spring 2016, blaming reduced military spending, at least 99 jobs lost. In Boca Raton, the Cheese Course restaurant shutdown. In Fort Lauderdale, the Chow Sushi & BBQ shutdown.
Illinois: Chicago based nuclear power company Exelon warned of “potential position reductions at the executive level and below” blaming skyrocketing operating costs and revenues that can’t keep up. What construction industry recovery? The Quincy Lighting & Home Center shutdown after 67 years of sales. Apparently a new business is moving in. Recently announced layoffs at farm vehicle maker Deere (at their Davenport Works and Harvester Works) has the operators of Riverbend Foodbank scrambling: “The increase in request for food in our community has definitely happened.We know that in order to feed every individual in our community who are going hungry we actually need to triple the number of meals that we provide…”-Nancy Renkes, director
In Normal, the Naturally Yours Grocery store shutdown: “We just weren’t getting enough business and are disappointed.”-Donna Dierks, manager
In the homie state of Barack Obama, lottery winners are now being given IOUs instead of their cash winnings. The latest victims are a husband and wife who won $250-thousand USD with a scratch-off ticket. Instead of getting cash they got a letter from the Illinois Lottery saying they’ll be paid as soon as the state ‘lawmakers’ can create a budget for the new fiscal year: “Due to the ongoing budget situation in Springfield, some lottery winner payments have been delayed. All winners will be paid in full as soon as the lottery and the Illinois comptroller have the legislative authority to do so.”
Indiana: In Fort Wayne, Darlington Holiday Warehouse shutting down its seasonal flagship Airport Expressway store. Despite forcing loyal southside customers to drive the nearest store on the northside, administrators said shutting down the southside Airport store would “make a better shopping experience for everyone.”
Kentucky: In Louisville, after 97 years (surviving The Great deflationary Depression and numerous recessions) The Vernon (aka Vernon Lanes) bowling alley shutting down after Halloween. The bowling alley was put up for sale in April, but so far no takers. “October 31 is going to be the last day. It’s going to be a big party. Kentucky Blues Society is going to come down. We’re gonna blow it out!”-Scottie Lawler, assistant GM
Maine: After 46 years Goff’s Hardware shutdown. The owner is funding his retirement with the sale of the property, lamenting “Most of these mom-and-pop places have gone by the wayside. Everybody wants bigger. More.”
Massachusetts: Brigham and Women’s Hospital eliminating 1-hundred jobs as Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) is expected to cause them to lose $10-million this year! ACA is causing operating cost to go up 4% while revenues barely went up by 1%. In Westford, printer Courier Corporation shutting down, 2-hundred jobs lost! Is it connected to the $216-million takeover by rival RR Donnelley?
Minnesota: Minneapolis based retailer Target eliminated even more jobs, this time 235 tech jobs gone without warning this morning, 35 open jobs closed, and 40 international jobs eliminated! News reports said that the CEO said last month that future job cuts would not be “huge”.
Mississippi: The police state city leaders of Columbus want to crack down on crime by forcing convenience stores and grocery stores to close early. Here’s an idea; how about create high paying jobs to keep people with too much time and not enough money busy? Police statists always go with draconian measures that actually push the economy further down the death spiral!
Missouri: In Kansas City, Poco’s restaurant shutdown after a short run. Local news reports say the property, across the street from a Costco, has become a revolving door for failed restaurants. Natasha’s Mulberry & Mott shutdown, but the owner swears she’ll return. After only two months Texas Tom’s shutdown, but critics said the food was terrible. After three years Empire Deli & Pizza was evicted by the city of Saint Louis. Also in Saint Louis, the Queen of Sheba restaurant and Stefano’s Restaurant shutdown.
New Jersey: Hunterdon County shutting down their county jail, due to lack of taxpayer funding. Instead county leaders will pay neighboring Somerset County $90 per day for each Hunterdon inmate they house.
New York: For the second year in a row Ithaca College has to layoff employees due to Disappearing Students Syndrome. At least 40 jobs will be eliminated this school year. The Big A-hole, I mean Big Apple New York Shitty, I mean City shutting down seven pre-kindergarten schools days before school starts! City administrators admitted the schools violated health codes, and claim they will place the children of the 175 families affected into other schools! Interestingly three of the shutdown schools are Christian and one is Muslim.
Texas: The Sam Houston Race Park shutdown due to arguments by state ‘lawmakers’ as to how to force taxpayers to fund the gambling operation. Houston based oil company ConocoPhillips announced they will eliminate about 1-thousand 8-hundred jobs, more than 5-hundred jobs in The Lone Star State will be targeted! Does it have anything to do with reports that Warren Buffett wants to buy the Phillips 66 spinoff? In Austin, the non-profit Ecology Action of Texas recycling center shutting down two weeks ahead of schedule, in order to give themselves plenty of time to vacate the premises. In El Paso, Houchen Community Center shutting down their Child Care Development Center in Segundo Barrio by the middle of September, blaming “a lack of income and increasing costs.” Local news reports say tax filings from the past few years show Houchen Community Center is losing money.
Virginia: In Gloucester, Cox Communications shutting down their The Cox Solution Store due to lack of sales, saying that location sees only 15% of the customers that their other Solution Stores see. In Culpeper, after three years Apple’s Closet clothing consignment store shutdown: “There are different seasons in our lives and this season is over.”-Bridgette Williams, owner
Wisconsin: Electronics retailer Best Buy continues to shut down stores, this time their Fond du Lac store, 60 jobs affected by the beginning of November! Best Buy reps told local news that it was because they see no recovery in the economy: “We chose not renew the lease at this location in part because the entire retail node has experienced a decline.”-Megan Boyd
31 August 2015: Property speculators massacring mom & pops!
WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification
Former employees who receive severance are not counted as unemployed
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) no longer issues mass layoff reports: “On March 1, 2013, President Obama ordered into effect the across-the- board spending cuts (commonly referred to as sequestration) required by the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended. Under the order, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) must cut its current budget by more than $30 million, 5 percent of the current 2013 appropriation, by September 30, 2013. In order to help achieve these savings and protect core programs, the BLS will eliminate two programs, including Mass Layoff Statistics, and all ‘measuring green jobs’ products. This news release is the final publication of monthly mass layoff survey data.”