Category Archives: Business/Economics

Business/Economics

Shit hitting the fan! Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania economic Failed States! HP accelerates mass layoffs! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 27 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard (HP) changed its plan to eliminate 3-thousand jobs!  Originally they were going to spread the job culling over three years, but now the economy is so bad they will dump all 3-thousand jobs by the end of this year!!! In Modesto, Memorial Medical Center eliminating 96 jobs by the end of April claiming lack of money, and despite advertising that they have 1-hundred vacant positions to fill!   In Los Angeles, employees of bankrupt American Apparel walked off the job: “They are laying off workers, cutting out their hours, their pay and their rights, and now they can no longer afford living!”-Stephanie Padilha, employee

Colorado: Englewood based Sports Authority adding their Denver warehouse to recent store shutdown announcements.  72 distribution jobs lost by the end of April.  Sports Authority recently defaulted on a massive interest payment and announced it must shutdown 140 stores!

Connecticut:  Without warning two Shoreline Health & Fitness gyms shutdown last night!  The owners would only say they’ve “sold off their assets” and to contact state authorities for refunds!

Florida: U.S. Department of Justice accusing Herard Tax Services of preparing fraudulent tax returns.  Investigators say the false tax filings have cost U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars since 2009.

Georgia: Duluth based computer company NCR moving jobs out of Peachtree City, to Ohio and Texas.  Local news reports say as many as 1-thousand 2-hundred Peach State jobs affected!

Illinois: Chicago State University has warned all 9-hundred employees of impending layoffs due to ‘lawmakers’ failing to create a new budget!

Michigan: After 45 years Bacchus Wine & Spirits shutdown: “We were given an offer to buy the license, the building and the land that was enough to make it worth it.”-Dean Caplan

Mississippi: United Artists Clinton Center 10  in Clinton and  United Artists Northpark 14 in Ridgeland being shutdown by the owner.  Local news reports gave no reason, but it should be noted that the owner is a property developer.

New York: The state ‘lawmakers’ have failed to come up with a new budget, but promise to somehow pay SolarCity GigaFactory contractors $80-million USD!  Contractors Quakenbush just laid off 122 people, and Mader Construction laid off at least 75,  due to not being paid by the Failed Empire State!  The Riverbend site in Buffalo was employing 1-thousand people, but local news sources say failed ‘lawmakers’ haven’t paid the contractors since November 2015!!!  NYC based Too Big to Jail JPMorgan Chase revealed they expect their investment-banking revenues to crash by 25% just in their 1st quarter of 2016! In Hamburg, God powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ Immaculate Academy.  It’s blamed on lack of students, “changing realities within the congregation” and only one Nun on staff.  The Smithtown Board of Education forced to shutdown Branch Brook Elementary School by 2017.  Administrators revealed that student enrollment has been declining since 2009.   The restaurant known for having its walls plastered with autographed dollar bills, 69 Bayard Restaurant, shutdown with no explanation.  Local news said the restaurant has a history of changing owners frequently.

North Carolina: News reports out of India say Too Big to Jail Charlotte based Bank of America is preparing for “significant” job cuts around the world, more than 5% of its workforce.

North Dakota: In Bismark, Box Office Video shutting down by mid-March.  However, don’t blame internet streaming, the owner said in the past year rentals actually increased, but her rent is about to increase as well (that’s why she’s shutting down).

Ohio: Wood basket maker Longaberger shutting down their iconic basket shaped Newark HQ.   The company can no longer afford the property tax and is moving to a cheaper location.  News reports say the company hasn’t paid their property tax and the county is about to foreclose.  Also, the basket shaped HQ once employed 5-hundred people but as of last year there were only 68 employees left! 

Oregon: In Portland, after 23 years The Celtic Corner shutting down, the 83 years old owner says he’s finally ready to retire!

Pennsylvania: Penn State University warned all 1-thousand 1-hundred Ag Ex employees of mass layoffs, due to the failed state ‘lawmakers’ failing to pay the 2015-16 agricultural extension subsidies!  For proof of Failed State-ism, news sources are reporting that some ‘lawmakers’ have revealed that tax revenues are so tight they must choose between funding higher education and grade schools!

Virginia: After 64 years Nationwide Insurance about to complete its exodus from Lynchburg, a total of 340 jobs lost!  The property was sold to Liberty University, who claims they will set up a internet based ‘distance learning’ operation in the former insurance building.

West Virginia: The Cross Lanes Fruth Pharmacy shutting down by the end of April, 14 jobs lost due to lack of drug sales.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

26 February 2016: “That’s a lot of people getting hurt!”

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.”

Business/Economics

Sears Kmart update 27 February 2016: While sales crash, customers steal work clothes & stores are literally given away, Sears exec spends millions on new home!

Sears Holdings revealed that the end of year holiday (mainly ‘christian’ holiday) sales sucked! Sears stores experienced a 6% drop in sales, but Kmart got whomped with a 15.6% crash in sales for 2015.  Sears Holdings lost $580-million USD, just in their 4th quarter of 2015!  As a result more than 4-hundred headquarter jobs have been eliminated!

To save money Kmart is now going to source its products from other failing retail operators, via bankruptcy sales!  This will negatively impact the wholesale market, accelerating the economic death spiral of the country.

While the Sears empire burns, executives are fiddling with their money. Illinois newspapers revealed that Sears’ chief content integration officer, Paul Hayward, bought a $3.3-million six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, mansion in Winnetka.  However, he and his wife claim most of the money came from the sale of their other mansion in Kenilworth.  In fact, they claim they sold their Kenilworth home at a loss.  They bought the Kenilworth mansion in 2007, for $3.8-million.

And for proof we’re in a depression; a middle aged man in California stole work boots at gun point, in the City of Industry Sears store!

In the Great White North; Sears Canada has given away eight money losing Sears Home furnishing stores to its rival Leon’s!   This comes a month after Sears Canada announced it would ramp up the shutdown of stores.  Executive chairman Brandon Stranzl said when it comes to shutdowns “anything and everything” will be considered!

10 February 2016: No more Sears Auto Centers? More lies about “competition”! Once again, taxpayers hit for failed Kmart! 

Here’s the updated list of U.S. store closings that I’ve been compiling since the end of 2011, new closing revelations in BOLD:

Arizona: The Prescott Valley Kmart shutting down by April 2016. No word on how many jobs lost, but one employee was quoted by local news as saying “Walmart won.” Local news reports say there is a Now Hiring sign posted on the Kmart store front. Reports that the Glendale Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Scottsdale Sears/Great Indoors, Chandler Sears/Great Indoors. Recently revealed Arrowhead Towne Center Sears sold-off then rented back! Chandler Fashion Center Sears sold-off then rented back!

Alabama: Prattville Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 70 jobs lost. Florence Kmart in March, 64 jobs lost in 2016. A local news report said the employees knew nothing about it and were shocked to hear it from the news media! Dothan Kmart (south side of Ross Clark Circle) shutting down in March, 56 jobs lost in 2016. Gadsden Kmart (50 jobs lost), Mobile Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Auburn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Anniston Kmart (no word yet on how many jobs lost), Birmingham Eastwood Kmart (70 jobs lost), Decatur Mall Sears (91 jobs lost), Fort Payne Kmart, Northport Kmart (68 jobs lost), Dothan Sears (68 jobs lost), Huntsville Kmart (73 jobs lost), Sears Store and Auto Center at the Bel Air Mall in Mobile (more than 100 jobs lost).

California: Anaheim Kmart shutting down, 107 jobs lost in 2016! The Chula Vista Kmart, San Mateo Sears and Citrus Heights Kmart shutting down between March and April 2016, a total of 3-hundred jobs lost! El Monte Sears (at least 40 jobs lost. Damien Arrula, El Monte’s economic development director, said the store manager had lied about what was going on: “The general manager of the store had just indicated to me that they were remodeling.”), two San Diego Sears (more than 80 jobs lost), Pleasant Hill Kmart (more than 50 jobs lost), Torrance Kmart, Fairfield Kmart (63 jobs lost), Lampert owned OSH taken over by Lowe’s home improvement in bankruptcy court, at least 17 of 99 stores to be closed down (935 jobs lost!), Rancho Cordova Kmart (97 jobs lost), San Clemente Kmart/Sears/Kmart on Camino de Estrella (58 jobs lost), placed on an official hit list in 2011 the Oceanside Kmart on College Boulevard finally being shut down, Banning Kmart (91 jobs lost) recently revealed that Sears Holdings is still paying rent on the abandoned property, Laguna Hills Mall Sears, San Diego Mid-City Kmart (73 jobs lost), Hemet Kmart (77 jobs lost), Oakland Sears repair center (75 jobs lost), San Mateo Kmart (82 jobs lost to an apartment building connected to public transportation), Hesperia Kmart building sold at a loss to a vulture capitalist REIT, no word on if the Kmart will be shutdown. Customers complain that the Kmart employees have a bad attitude, gee I wonder why? Yuba City Kmart (63 jobs lost), Rocklin Kmart (at least 63 jobs lost, the store had just posted “Now Hiring” signs), San Leandro Kmart (102 jobs lost), San Jose Mercury News says the El Centro Kmart to shutdown in January, the website Foursquare says the Covina Kmart is now shutdown (other sources say it will shutdown in December), Cupertino Sears and Auto Center (98 jobs lost), somebody posted on yelp* that the Diamond Bar Kmart was shutting down in December (confirmed by Armijo Newspapers), Westfield Topanga Sears (122 jobs lost), it looks like the Blythe Kmart is being slowly shutdown despite denial by Sears Holdings. San Mateo Kmart being demolished to make room for 599 unit apartment complex, as part of the the Hayward Park Caltrain Station project. Atwater Kmart (74 jobs lost), Los Banos Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Colorado: Broomfield Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Glenwood Springs Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lone Tree Sears/Great Indoors, Longmont Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Pueblos’ South Side Kmart (52 jobs lost), Denver Kmart (number of jobs lost have not been made public at this time, but could be at least 40), Colorado Springs Kmart at Powers and Palmer Park boulevards (57 jobs lost), Fort Collins Sears (67 jobs lost), Denver-Cherry Creek North Sears store & Auto Center (66 jobs lost).

Connecticut: Waterbury Big Kmart, Torrington Kmart (73 jobs lost), Enfield Sears Optical (no word on jobs lost), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (employees say the shutdown was a surprise, I guess they don’t read Blind Bat News), Wallingford Sears Appliance & Hardware (at least 13 jobs lost).

Delaware: Dover Kmart (at least 72 jobs lost, some reports said 100), Seaford Sears (30 jobs lost), Claymont Kmart (87 jobs lost).

Florida: The Lutz Kmart shutting down by March 2016, 62 jobs lost. The 46 years old Daytona Beach Kmart, on International Speedway Boulevard, is shutting down by mid-March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Fernandina Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Callaway Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Orange City Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Deland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Stuart Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), West Palm Beach Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Port St. Lucie Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Crystal River Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), New Smyrna Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint Augustine Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Pompano Beach Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jacksonville Kmart on 5751 Beach Boulevard (71 jobs lost), second Kmart in Jacksonville on 4645 Blanding Boulevard (83 jobs lost), Ocoee Sears (102 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on Airport Boulevard closed in 2011, Pensacola Kmart on Mobile Highway closed in February 2013 (69 jobs lost), Pensacola Kmart on East 9 Mile Road will close in May (73 jobs lost), Hialeah Kmart (67 jobs lost), Bonita Springs Kmart (67 jobs lost), Mount Dora Kmart (100 jobs lost), Lake Mary Kmart, Panama City Beach Kmart (54 jobs lost), Winter Park Kmart (100 jobs lost), Niceville Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winter Haven Kmart (92 jobs lost), Palm Bay Kmart, Oakland Park Kmart (112 jobs lost), Clearwater Sears Auto Center (21 jobs lost), Zephyrhills Kmart (70 jobs lost), Winter Springs Kmart (69 jobs lost), Naples Kmart (72 jobs lost), New Port Richey Kmart (58 jobs lost), ‘redevelopment’ of Aventura Sears & Auto Center into an “open-air village” (unknown how many jobs affected), Kmart on Northeast 108 Street being annexed by Miami Shores, Sears Holdings threatens to shutdown Kmart as a result of higher local taxes. The property that’s home to an operating Kmart, on South Green Bay Road in Racine, was foreclosed by the local Sheriff and sold-off for $2.5-million, no word on what the new property owner will do with it. Fort Myers Kmart (67 jobs lost). Dicks Sportings Goods subleasing space in an existing Sears store in Palm Beach Gardens.

Georgia: The 37 years old Carrollton Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016. Dublin Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 71 jobs lost. Milledgeville Kmart shutdown in April 2016, 60+ jobs lost. Mount Berry Square Mall (Rome) Sears and Auto Center shutting down in March 2016, 86 jobs lost. Macon Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Buford Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Douglasville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Atlanta Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Columbus Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Jonesboro Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Cartersville Kmart (74 jobs lost), Hiram Kmart (53 jobs lost), Marietta-East Cobb Kmart, Warner Robins Kmart (77 jobs lost), Coweta County Kmart distribution center (164 jobs lost), one of the last two North Augusta Kmart to be torn down by new property owner from Canada, Sears Holdings denies the Kmart will shutdown.

Guam: Sears Hometown Store.

Hawaii: Iconic 25 years old Nimitz HWY Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart shutting down in March 2016, 141 jobs lost! Honolulu Sears (owned by GGP, 372 jobs lost! GGP spending $573-million chopping it up into smaller store spaces), Kauai Sears (41 jobs lost), Iwilei-Honolulu Kmart for lease (no confirmation of store closing).

Idaho: Boise Kmart on Fairview shutting down by mid-March 2016, 56 jobs lost. Pocatello Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Lewiston Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Rexburg Kmart (63 jobs lost), Chubbuck Pine Ridge Mall Sears shutdown by the end of October/beginning of November 2014 (the remaining 28 jobs lost).

Illinois:  Eliminated 401 Hoffman Estates HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales! 151 of those jobs were already vacant.   Morton ‘green’ Kmart shutting down by the end of April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Canton Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Alton Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Melrose Park Sears parts and repair center (50 jobs lost), Zion Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Lawn Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), McHenry Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Peru Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lombard Sears/Great Indoors (at least 40 jobs lost), Fairview Heights Kmart (81 jobs lost), Freeport Kmart (45 jobs lost), Pontiac Kmart (more than 47 jobs lost), Homer Glen Kmart (82 jobs lost), Streator Kmart (45 jobs lost), Lombard Kmart (70 jobs lost), Naperville Kmart (98 jobs lost), Calumet Sears (164 jobs lost), two Sears stores in Grand Crossing area of Chicago (247 jobs lost!), Mount Vernon Sears (68 jobs lost), Moline Sears (at least 60 jobs lost), Homewood Kmart (185 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (91 jobs lost?) revealed is now a perpetual closing sale Kmart At A Discount store, Champaign’s Market Place Mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (60 jobs lost), Montgomery Kmart (81 jobs lost), Mattoon Sears (more than 40 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North State Street (160 jobs lost), Chicago Sears Craftsman Experience store, Galesburg Sears (46 jobs lost), White Lake Township Kmart (42 jobs lost), Orland Park Sears Appliance, Collinsville Kmart (84 jobs lost), Crystal Lake Kmart (at least 77 jobs lost), Danville Sears store & Auto Center (63 jobs lost), Forsyth Sears store & Auto Center (45 jobs lost), Peoria Kmart (73 jobs lost), Forest Park Kmart (107 jobs lost), Chicago Sears on North and Harlem avenues, supposedly it’s being replaced (most likely at taxpayer expense) with a new building and it will become a Sears-Mariano’s store, Bloomington Kmart (79 jobs lost), Hoffman Estates Headquarters 100 jobs eliminated, another 15 corporate jobs eliminated elsewhere, Chicago-Wicker Park Kmart (106 jobs lost), abandoned Market Place Mall Sears location to be occupied by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Field & Stream. 58 Chicago area stores up for lease or sale. North Mayfair Kmart (99 jobs lost), Chicago Kmart at 5033 North Elston Avenue (99 jobs lost). By the way, Illinois elected officials gave Sears Holdings/Hoffman Estates a $150 million USD tax break to keep their headquarters in the state. The tax break was not tied to any promise not to close stores.

Indiana: In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutting down in April 2016. Terre Haute Kmart by April, 62 jobs lost. Anderson Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Saint John Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Sears (49 jobs lost), South Anthony Kmart (70 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on South Anthony Boulevard (70 jobs lost), FairOaks Mall Kmart, Logansport Sears (43 jobs lost), Muncie Kmart (59 jobs lost), Fort Wayne Kmart on Coliseum Boulevard North (69 jobs lost), Decatur Kmart (49 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Madison Avenue (131 jobs lost), Indianapolis Kmart on Washington Street (139 jobs lost), Bedford Kmart (62 jobs lost), Indianapolis (Evansville) Sears & Auto Center at Washington Square Mall (91 jobs lost), Greenwood Kmart (78 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (68 jobs lost), Bloomington Sears to be replaced by Whole Foods grocery store.

Iowa: Ottumwa Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 38 jobs lost. Cedar Rapids Kmart on 16th Ave (at least 40 jobs lost), Davenport Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Burlington Kmart (50 jobs lost), Coralville Sears (94 jobs lost, this is a store sold to GGP earlier in the year), Cedar Rapids Kmart on Collins Road NE (56 jobs lost), Mason City Kmart (50 jobs lost), Clive Kmart (at least 49 jobs lost), Ames Kmart (44 jobs lost), Fort Dodge Sears (no job loss numbers made public, yet. The Auto Center was secretly shutdown in September), 56 years old Mason City Sears & Auto Center (more than 100 jobs lost). Davenport Kmart (59 jobs lost), Belvidere Kmart (67 jobs lost).

Kansas: North Topeka Kmart shutting down in 2016, 49 jobs lost. Lawrence Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Merriam Kmart-then Sears-then Kmart (jobs lost unknown), Wichita Sears store & Auto Center (103 jobs lost), Manhattan Sears & Auto Center (number of jobs lost were never revealed).

Kentucky: Middlesboro Sears (in September 2012 the Sears store re-opened under independent ownership, official grand re-opening scheduled for November), Winchester Kmart, Hazard Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lexington Fayette Mall Sears (114 jobs lost!), Newport Kmart (81 jobs lost), Cannonsburg Sears and Sears Auto Center (no employee info given), Louisville Dixie Highway Kmart/Sears/Kmart shutdown and now being taken over by Kroger basically to sell the same crap the old Kmart did! Madisonville Kmart (39 jobs lost), Owensboro Sears store & Auto Center (52 jobs lost).

Louisiana: Slidell Sears (77 job lost), Gretna Kmart (94 jobs lost), Metairie Kmart secretly sold off, no word if it will be shutdown, Laplace Sears Hometown Store.

Maine: Lewiston Sears (60 to 70 jobs lost), Presque Isle Aroostook Centre Mall Sears (63 jobs lost), Aroostook Centre Mall Sears Auto Center leased out to VIP Tires & Service.

Maryland: Ellicott Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Gaithersburg Sears/Great Indoors, Landover Sears rebuild & call center (115 jobs lost), Baltimore Kmart on Wabash Avenue (107 jobs lost), Parkville Kmart (102 jobs lost), California Kmart (71 jobs lost), Sears Hometown Store in Perryville.

Massachusetts: North Reading Sears Hardware store closed, lease not renewed, Milford Kmart (80 jobs lost), Kingston Kmart (73 jobs lost). Braintree Kmart on Grossman Drive shutdown. Also, the Braintree South Shore Plaza Sears store is renting out an entire floor to Ireland based Primark. Even with the lease to Primark there is still 4-thousand square feet of vacant space in the Sears store. The Sears at the Auburn Mall shutdown on Black Friday due to electrical fire. The store was experiencing electrical problems, an investigation is underway.

Michigan: The Bradley Kmart has a new owner who is shutting it down in 2016. Retailer Meijer bought the Kmart property for $5-million USD. The Kmart will be shutdown in May, but the new Meijer store won’t be ready until 2018. The Sears and Auto Center in Fort Gratiot shutting down by mid-March, 48 jobs lost. Ironwood Kmart by mid-April, 47 jobs lost. Sears/Great Indoors, Brighton Sears Grand/Essentials, Harper Woods Sears Full line, Monroe Sears Full line, Adrian Sears Full line, Washington Township Kmart, Chesterfield Kmart, Woodhaven Kmart, Saginaw Kmart on Bay Road, Flint Kmart on Dort Highway (46 jobs lost), Gaylord Kmart (48 jobs lost), Sterling Kmart (58 jobs lost), Bloomfield Township Kmart and Sears, Bad Axe Kmart (61 jobs lost), Ypsilanti Township Kmart (83 jobs lost), Petoskey Kmart (45 jobs lost), Saint John’s Kmart (48 jobs lost), White Lake Township “Store of the Future” Kmart (42 jobs lost), Grand Blanc Kmart (49 jobs lost), Lapeer Kmart (56 jobs lost), Southgate Kmart (155 jobs lost), Detroit’s Telegraph Road Kmart (115 jobs lost), Waterford Township Sears (no word on how many jobs lost), Rochester Hills Kmart (77 jobs lost), ‘perfect Kmart town’ of Port Huron Kmart (188 jobs lost), Flint Kmart on Miller Road (81 jobs lost), Burton Kmart (85 jobs lost), Madison Heights Kmart (179 jobs lost), it’s now official the last remaining Saginaw Kmart (on Gratiot Road) will remain shutdown after its roof collapsed during a snowstorm back in January 2014 (Sears Holdings claims only 18 people worked there at the time of the collapse!), Ann Arbor Kmart (59 jobs lost), Iron Mountain Kmart (54 jobs lost), Bangor Township Sears aka Bay City Mall Sears, the Auto Center was already secretly shutdown some time ago (at least 47 jobs lost), Big Rapids Kmart (about 50 jobs lost). Vacant Wyandotte Sears Auto Center is being renovated at a cost to taxpayers of $1-million & 20-thousand, plus 15 years worth of tax breaks valued at $2-million! Shakopee Kmart distribution center shutdown and sold-off for $17-million in 2013, now it’s finally getting a new tenant; snowmobile and electric cart maker Polaris Industries will rent out a fraction of the building to use as their new parts warehouse. The Kmart Plaza in Sandusky sold to “A group of investors”, no word on what will happen to the Kmart store.

Minnesota: Dundas Kmart by April 2016, 32 jobs lost. Thunderbird Mall Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 48 jobs lost. Willmar Kmart, Duluth Kmart, New Hope Kmart, White Bear Lake Kmart, Bemidji Kmart, Monticello Kmart, GGP owned Sears Auto Center in the Apache Mall closed (10 jobs lost), the entire Sears store in the Apache Mall being sold off, Fergus Falls Kmart (40 jobs lost), Fergus Falls Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Alexandria Kmart (46 jobs lost), Grand Rapids Kmart (61 jobs lost), Seritage is selling off three Sears Auto Centers in Minnetonka, Brooklyn Center and Saint Paul, Marshall Kmart (57 jobs lost), Oakdale Kmart (77 hourly wage employees losing their jobs, unknown how many salaried employees will become unemployed), Winona Kmart (67 jobs lost), Minneapolis city officials trying to shutdown profit making Nicollet Avenue Kmart, to make way for a new road. Anoka Kmart (47 jobs lost), Blaine Kmart (60 jobs lost), Burnsville Kmart (62 jobs lost), Waite Park Kmart (57 jobs lost), Northeast Minneapolis Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale, Coon Rapids Sears Hometown & Outlet store now for sale.

Mississippi: The 44 years old Greenville Kmart shutting down in April, no word on job losses. Jackson Sears Full line, McComb Sears Full line, Columbus Sears Full line, Gautier Sears (71 jobs lost), Waveland Gulfport Kmart (32 jobs lost), Pass Road Gulfport Kmart (52 jobs lost), Pascagoula Sears at the Singing River Mall, Olive Branch distribution center (unknown how many jobs lost).

Missouri: Lee’s Summit Sears Grand/Essentials, Saint Louis Sears Full line, High Ridge Kmart (59 jobs lost), Ellisville Kmart (55 jobs lost), Springfield Kmart on South Campbell Avenue (60 jobs lost), South Belt Kmart (64 jobs lost), Florissant Kmart (100 jobs lost), O’Fallon Kmart (76 jobs lost).

Montana: Missoula Kmart (50 jobs lost), Great Falls Kmart (closed “until further notice” due to fire, 63 jobs on hold), Great Falls Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost) due to great sales (ironically) the shutdown date has been moved from 07 December 2014 to 23 November, Bozeman Kmart (37 jobs lost), Missoula Sears store and Auto Center (57 jobs lost).

Nebraska: Grand Island Kmart (55 jobs lost), Omaha Kmart near West Maple Road (50 jobs lost).

Nevada: Sparks Kmart distribution center (100 jobs lost).

New Hampshire: Nashau Sears Grand/Essentials, Keene Sears Grand/Essentials, Portsmouth Kmart (30 jobs lost), Claremont Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New Jersey: Lodi Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 75 jobs lost. Lawnside Kmart (about 80 jobs lost), Howell Kmart (57 jobs lost), Berlin Kmart, Dover Kmart (92 jobs lost), Randolf Kmart (91 jobs lost), Paramus Kmart (74 jobs lost), Closter Kmart (102 jobs lost), Vineland Kmart (74 jobs lost). After 18 years Sears Holdings shutdown their Roselle Sears Hardware store due to “landlord issues”.

New Mexico: Las Cruces Kmart (58 jobs lost), Albuquerque Kmart on Central SW (80 jobs lost), Rio Rancho Kmart (59 jobs lost).

New York: Staten Island Mall Sears Auto Center will shutdown in February, 20 jobs lost. Lindenhurst Sears Hardware, North Babylon Sears Hardware, Hauppauge Sears Hardware, Depew (Lancaster?) Kmart (68 jobs lost), Colonie Kmart (72 jobs lost), Fulton Kmart (51 jobs lost), Clifton Park Kmart (74 jobs lost) now revealed to be turned into a Town Center with more than 200 apartments at an estimated cost of $50-million, Latham Kmart (61 jobs lost), East Greenbush-Rensselaer Kmart (70 jobs lost), Tonawanda Sears Appliance and Hardware, Bronx Sears (91 jobs lost), BBN reader reported that the Ithaca Sears and Auto Center shutdown and one month later it’s been officially confirmed (at least 37 jobs lost), DeWitt Kmart (92 jobs lost), Auburn Sears (51 jobs lost), Massena Sears and Auto Center (51 jobs lost), Staten Island Mall Sears leased out to Ireland’s Primark, Bay Shore Sears and Sears Auto Center (144 jobs lost), New Hartford (Sangertown Mall) Sears & Auto Center (109 jobs lost), Lancaster Kmart sold for $1.7-million to Dave’s Christmas Wonderland. Herkimer Sears Hometown, Saranac Lake Sears Hometown the ‘independent’ co-owners said Sears Holdings forced them to shutdown. Melville Appliance Repair Division (31 jobs lost).

North Carolina: Cary Kmart (71 jobs lost), High Point Sears, Moorehead Sears, Rocky Mount Sears, Statesville Sears, Durham Kmart (79 jobs lost), Asheville Kmart (53 jobs lost), West Smithfield Kmart (59 jobs lost), Winston-Salem Kmart (69 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (58 jobs lost), South Ashville Kmart on Hendersonville Road, Raleigh Kmart (88 jobs lost), Garner Kmart, Cleveland County mall Sears (56 jobs lost), Charlotte Kmart (89 jobs lost), Conover Kmart (74 jobs lost), Raleigh Kmart on Capital Boulevard (53 jobs lost), High Point Kmart (71 jobs lost), Boone Kmart (41 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart (96 jobs lost), Gastonia Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), Kinston Kmart (64 jobs lost), Cary Sears (66 jobs lost), Greensboro Kmart distribution center (130 jobs lost), Greenville Kmart (75 jobs lost), Kinston Sears Hometown Store shutdown with little notice, Lexington Sears Hometown Store.

North Dakota: Jamestown Kmart (45 jobs lost), Dickinson Kmart (41 jobs lost, despite a “Now Hiring” sign on the front of the store).

Ohio: The 28 years old Sears and its Auto Center in New Philadelphia shutting down by mid-April 2016, 46 jobs lost. Without warning the Medina Sears Appliance & Hardware Store shutdown. Warren Kmart on Parkman Road NW will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. Zanesville Kmart shutting down mid-April 2016, 47 jobs lost. Steubenville Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 65 jobs lost. Boardman Kmart by April 2016, 81 jobs lost. Chagrin Falls Kmart, Springfield Kmart, two Toledo Kmarts, Medina Kmart, Columbus Kmart, Columbus Sears/Great Indoors, Zanesville Sears (67 jobs lost), Trotwood Kmart (71 jobs lost), Austintown Sears auto parts and service on Interstate Boulevard, London Kmart (no word on number of jobs lost), Trotwood Sears (67 jobs lost), Westlake Kmart/Sears (at least 57 jobs lost), Xenia Kmart (at least 57 jobs lost), Norwalk Kmart (52 jobs lost), Blue Ash Kmart (77 jobs lost), Northwood Sears at Woodville Mall (36 jobs lost), Conneaut Kmart (43 jobs lost), Anderson Township Kmart (71 jobs lost), Brooklyn Kmart (200 jobs lost), Columbus Lockbourne Industrial Parkway Sears distribution center (200 jobs lost), also in Columbus, Sears Product Rebuild-Call Center (112 jobs lost), Marion Sears Auto Center (at least nine jobs lost), Springfield Kmart #3767 (68 jobs lost), Fairborn Kmart (66 jobs lost), Solon Sears & Auto Center (at least 53 jobs lost), Tiffin Sears Hometown Store. Also, Van Wert Sears franchise bought out by Kirk Berryman, owner of Computer & Networking Technologies (CNT), who plans on moving the store to a new location. Fairlawn Sears Appliance & Hardware, Macedonia Sears Appliance & Hardware, Lorain Sears Appliance & Hardware, Elyria Sears Appliance & Hardware, North Olmsted Sears Appliance & Hardware, Sheffield Village Sears Appliance & Hardware, Akron Sears Appliance & Hardware.

Oklahoma: Oklahoma City Sears (98 jobs lost, GGP owned, GGP wants a $2 million sales tax rebate, claiming it’s needed to offset capital investments needed to bring the space up to the standards for potential new tenants), Shawnee Sears (31 jobs lost), Sand Springs Kmart (52 jobs lost), Muskogee Sears (60 jobs lost), Enid Sears and Auto Center (at least 38 jobs lost), Tulsa BigKmart (51 jobs lost).

Oregon: Roseburg Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Tualatin Kmart Center (new property owner from California is tearing everything down for new shopping center, so far no indication the Kmart will be part of the new shopping center), Milwaukie Kmart (61 jobs lost), Coos Bay Kmart (25 jobs lost), Bend Sears (48 jobs lost), Klamath Falls Kmart (64 jobs lost), Albany Kmart (64 jobs lost), Portland Sears Homes Services (no notice), Albany Sears (57 jobs lost), in October a BBN reader warned that Oregon City Kmart was being quietly shutdown, confirmed on 06 November 2014 by Sears Holdings (70 jobs lost). Ontario Kmart (55 jobs lost).

Pennsylvania: Reports that the Exton Kmart will shutdown, no word on job losses. Upper Darby Sears Full line, Pottstown Sears Full line, Pittsburgh Kmart, Wilkins Sears, Warminster Kmart (85 jobs lost), Shippensburg Kmart (46 jobs lost), Moon Kmart (143 jobs lost), Bethlehem Township Kmart (62 jobs lost), Philadelphia Gallery Mall Kmart (120 jobs lost), Philadelphia Kmart on Orthodox Street and Castor Avenue (169 jobs lost), Levittown/Middle Township Kmart (87 jobs lost), Waynesboro Kmart (43 jobs lost), Sanatoga-Lower Pottsgrove Kmart (65 jobs lost, the store was also advertising for new hires!), West Mifflin Sears store & Auto Center (88 jobs lost), Rochester Kmart (78 jobs lost), Frazer (Pittsburg Mills Mall) Sears and Auto Center (97 jobs lost), Bloomsburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Frackville Sears and Auto Center (84 jobs lost), North Cornwall Township Sears (51 jobs lost), King of Prussia Sears and Auto Center (no word on number of jobs lost), Lebanon Sears (51 jobs lost), Scotland Chambersburg Mall Sears and Auto Center (62 jobs lost), the upper level of the Willow Grove Mall Sears store to be leased by Primark, King of Prussia Sears store leased out to clothing retailer Primark, East Towne Mall Kmart (51 jobs lost), Frackville Kmart in the Skuylkill Mall (80 jobs lost), Mount Pocono Kmart (66 jobs lost), Fairless Hills Sears Hardware. Granite Run Mall shutdown, meaning the Sears and Sears Auto Center now apparently on a month to month (possibly day to day) lease are soon to follow. Brookhaven Kmart (89 jobs lost).

Puerto Rico: Vega Baja Kmart (206 jobs lost).

South Carolina: Sumter Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Orangeburg Sears (57 jobs lost), Columbia Kmart on Fort Jackson Boulevard in 2012, Columbia Kmart on Bush River Road in 2009, Columbia Kmart on St Andrews Road (66 jobs lost), Irmo Kmart (no info on how many jobs lost), both Greenville Kmarts (140 jobs lost between the two), Mount Pleasant Kmart (43 jobs lost), Harbison Sears & Sears Auto Center in the Columbiana Centre mall (97 jobs lost), Aiken Sears & Sears Auto Center (at least 54 jobs lost), Inlet Square Mall Kmart (50 jobs lost), West Ashely Kmart (69 jobs lost), Myrtle Beach Kmart (59 jobs lost), Easley Kmart (62 jobs lost).

South Dakota: The Pierre Kmart shutting down by the end of March 2016, 45 jobs lost. The Michell Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 52 jobs lost. Spearfish Kmart (51 jobs lost), Sturgis Kmart (57 jobs lost).

Tennessee: The Murfreesboro Kmart shutting down by the end of April, 43 jobs lost. A Memphis Sears and Auto Center (on Poplar Avenue) shutting down in April, 109 jobs lost! Clarksville Kmart shutting down in April, 68 jobs lost. Cleveland Kmart shutting down by mid-March 2016, 67 jobs lost. Antioch Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Cleveland Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Oak Ridge Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Hendersonville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Morristown Sears (about 70 jobs lost), Clinton South Kmart, Franklin Cool Springs Galleria Sears (92 jobs lost), Memphis Hickory Ridge mall Sears (job loss data not revealed), 48 years old Nashville Kmart on Nolensville Pike to close by January 2014 (57 jobs lost), Franklin Kmart (33 jobs lost), Dickson Kmart (65 jobs lost), talks in progress to end lease for Bellevue (Nashville) Center Mall Sears, Nashville Bellevue Center Sears & Auto Center (at least 44 jobs lost).

Texas: Two Sears parts and repair centers closing in The Woodlands (117 jobs lost), rebuild center in Garland (58 jobs lost), Farmers Branch Sears/Great Indoors, Houston Sears Great/Indoors, Dallas Sears home appliance parts distribution center (77 jobs lost), Simon Property Group owned McAllen Sears store & Auto Center (so far no word on how many jobs will be lost), recently revealed Palestine Sears Hometown (franchise owner quit to work as assistant manager at a local Dollar General). Wichita Falls Sikes Senter Mall Sears (56 jobs lost).

Utah: 35 years old Richfield Kmart will shutdown in April 2016, 63 jobs lost. North Logan Kmart shutting down by April 2016, 58 jobs lost. Murray Sears (local news media in Utah never reported the closure, but they reported that the building was demolished), Orem Kmart (no details reported), Woods Cross Kmart (54 jobs lost), Provo Kmart demolished in anticipation of yet another AtHome furniture store.

Vermont: The Bennington Sears Hometown Store shutdown. Rutland Sears store & Auto Center (65 jobs lost), South Burlington Kmart (66 jobs lost).

Virginia: The Cedar Bluff (50 jobs lost), Covington (36 jobs lost) and Virginia Beach on General Booth Boulevard (no job numbers reported) Kmarts shutting down between March and April 2016! The Sears Hometown Store in Culpeper shutting down by the end of the month. Norfolk Sears (at least 40 jobs lost), Midlothian Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Richmond Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Lynchburg Sears (84 jobs lost), Fairfax Kmart (no word on how many jobs lost), Christiansburg Sears (59 jobs lost), Norfolk Kmart on East Little Creek Road (77 jobs lost), Manassas Kmart (71 jobs lost), Stafford Sears Hometown, Newport News-Denbigh Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Wise Kmart (58 jobs lost), Harrisonburg Kmart (79 jobs lost), Winchester Kmart (91 jobs lost), Dale City Kmart (69 jobs lost), Chesapeake Sears and Auto Center (82 jobs lost), Front Royal Kmart (88 jobs lost), Pembroke Mall Sears renting out part of their store to DSW & Nordstrom Rack, Sears Holdings say they’re still looking for a “third tenant” for their occupied space. The current nearby Sears Auto Center will be rented out to REI. Colonial Heights Kmart (113 jobs lost), Virginia Beach Hilltop Square Shopping Center Kmart (82 jobs lost).

Washington: Eatonville Sears Hometown store. Walla Walla Sears Full line (in August 2012, it was reported that an independent owner of Sears Hometown stores will open a store in Walla Walla), Lacey Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost), Kelso Sears (47 jobs lost), Lakewood Kmart (59 jobs lost), Bellingham Sears (92 jobs lost), Seattle Kmart (85 jobs lost), East Wenatchee Sears (59 jobs lost), Puyallup Kmart (51 jobs lost), Oak Harbor Kmart (68 jobs lost), Sodo Sears and Sears Auto Center (79 jobs lost), Everett Kmart (65 jobs lost), Marysville Kmart (at least 40 jobs lost).

West Virginia: Oak Hill Kmart (59 jobs lost), Morgantown Kmart (100 jobs lost), Bluefield Sears store & Auto Center (64 jobs lost).

Wisconsin: Superior Kmart shutting down in April 2016, 42 jobs lost. West Baraboo Sears (at least 40 jobs lost, local village officials say the store generated 3% of local tax collections), Rice Lake Kmart (about 71 jobs lost), Brookfield Kmart (56 jobs lost), Racine’s Regency Mall Sears (52 jobs lost), Fort Atkinson Kmart (51 jobs lost), Greenfield Kmart (107 jobs lost), Portage Kmart (78 jobs lost) and Hales Corner (129 jobs lost), Chippewa Falls Kmart (79 jobs lost), Menomonie Kmart (at least 50 jobs lost), Ashwaubenon Kmart recently revealed now owned by Green Bay Packers, will be torn down (80 jobs lost), Shawano Kmart (55 jobs lost), Fond du Lac Sears (42 jobs lost), Glendale Sears store & Auto Center (86 jobs lost), Janesville Kmart (70 jobs lost), Glendale Sears Rebuild center (67 jobs lost), Sheboygan Sears & Auto Center (at least 31 jobs lost), Eau Claire Kmart (93 jobs lost), Plymouth Kmart (59 jobs lost before Xmas), Sheboygan Sears Rebuild Center (30 jobs lost), Wauwatosa Kmart (103 jobs lost).

In April 2015, Sears Holdings (through Seritage Growth Properties) and General Growth Properties (GGP) became 50/50 joint owners of 12 Sears stores.

Here’s a list of 11 Sears stores 100% owned by GGP:

Iowa: Coral Ridge Mall (it’s official the Sears is closing, see above), and Mall of the Bluffs

Texas: The Woodlands Mall (this does not involve the two repair centers being closed by Sears)

Florida: West Oaks Mall

Utah: Fashion Place, and Provo Towne Centre (note the evil British empire way of spelling town & center. Due to a favorable lease agreement the GGP owned Provo Sears will continue to stay open under Sears Holdings management)

Oklahoma: Quail Springs Mall (it’s official, the Sears closed, see above)

Hawaii: Ala Moana Center (closed, see above)

Washington: Bellis Fair Mall (Bellingham store, see above)

Minnesota: Apache Mall (see update above, GGP will close Sears store by 2014)

Illinois: Market Place Shopping Center (see update above, GGP closing store)

Business/Economics

“That’s a lot of people getting hurt!” Connecticut officially an economic Failed State? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 26 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: Bentonville based Walmart eliminated an undisclosed number of HQ IT jobs, saying “…It’s something we’ve done before and will continue to do, just like any technology business.”  In other words, this round of layoffs were not part of their bigger plans to shutdown stores and eliminate thousands of jobs.

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; insurance software company Zenefits eliminated 250 jobs without warning, saying the bad economy is forcing them to “refocus”!  San Francisco based interactive entertainment company Kabam revealed how many jobs they are about to kill; at least 76 jobs lost by the end of March.  Boeing continues to issue mass layoff WARNs, this time 92 jobs across three cities gone by mid-April.  What automotive industry recovery? Affinia Brake Parts issued a new layoff WARN saying 111 people will lose their jobs at the Chowchilla factory, by mid-April!  That’s on top of the 43 jobs Affinia eliminated this month.  In Yountville, event eatery to the elites The Pavilion at The Vintage Estate issued a mass layoff WARN, 326 jobs lost by mid-April!  TGI Friday’s shutting down their Laguna Niguel restaurant, 51 jobs lost by the end of April.  New York based clothier BCBG Max Azria Group eliminating 71 jobs in Vernon, by the end of April.  It sounds like a shutdown, but the WARN listing says “layoff”.   In Hayward, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals shutting down by the end of July, 43 jobs lost.  Right wing news media outlet Freedom Communications issued a mass layoff WARN for their Santa Ana operations, 969 jobs lost by the end of March!  Maslow Media issued layoff WARNs, 38 jobs across three cities lost by mid-April.

Connecticut: As I’ve written before crashing tax revenues are a sign of a depression. State tax collections are crashing and burning according to the state Office of Fiscal Analysis.  The current budget is now short $266-million USD, while the planned budget for next fiscal year is already short $900-million!  

Florida:  Basketball star Vince Carter shutting down his six years old Daytona Beach restaurant.  Employees found out on Wednesday that they’ll be unemployed tomorrow!

Illinois: American Coal revealed they’ve eliminated 101 jobs at their Galatia mine, last week!

Indiana: In Schererville, Sears Hardware shutting down in April.

Iowa: In line with recent warnings, farm vehicle maker Deere (John Deere) eliminating an additional 1-hundred jobs at factories in Davenport and Dubuque!   And in Dubuque, after five years Crust Italian Kitchen & Bar shutting down tomorrow, 30 jobs lost.  The owner said she was offered a better paying ‘regular’ job with a company in Chicago.  Donut King shutting down their West Des Moines store by mid-March, due to the greedy property owner selling out to a property developer.  Donut King hopes to find a new affordable location.

Maryland: In Reisterstown, after 40 years Ski Shoppe shutting down, the owner would only say they’re “going out of business”.

New Jersey: God powerless to stop ‘his’ Catholic Saint Francis Life Care from issuing a shutdown WARN for their Franciscan Oaks nursing home, 257 jobs lost by the end of April!   It’s been for sale since 2014.  God also powerless to stop ‘his’ Quaker Cadbury Senior Lifestyles from shutting down, 255 Cherry Hill nursing home jobs lost by the end of April!

Pennsylvania: In Olyphant, France based Technicolor eliminating 50 more jobs, on top of recent mass layoffs.  A production line was  halted without warning as well: “That’s a lot of people getting hurt! That’s something that no community whether it’s Olyphant or its surrounding communities wants to hear. A lot of people used to be employed there, thousands, and it was one of the biggest employers Olyphant ever had!”-Jerry Tully, city councilman

Texas: Lone Star Tubular Operations warning that low oil prices could cost all 677 employees their jobs, by the end of March!   

Illinois based heavy vehicle maker Caterpillar warning that it might end it’s semi-truck production before it even starts!  Caterpillar was about to start a new semi-truck factory in Victoria, but “…we determined there was not a sufficient market opportunity to justify the investment. We have not yet started truck production in Victoria, and this decision allows us to exit this business before the transition occurs.”  There are already 70 people working to gear up the Victoria factory, but they will become unemployed in March.  Plano based JCPenney is so desperate that they are about to sell off specific women’s clothing for only one cent (The Penny Sale, get it, a play on the name Penney. JCPenney stands of James Cash Penney)!  The sale will last through next week and is for JCPenney’s Arizona house brand. Administrators admitted they now realize many women are hurting for cash in this suck-ass economy.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

25 February 2016: “like phases of any loss, it’s shock and denial”

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.”

Business/Economics

“shock and denial” Mo Mass Layoffs in California! Sears kills hundreds of office jobs! No more Kohl’s? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 25 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Arkansas: Boulevard Bread shutting down their River Market kiosk.

California: Once again British empire based, U.S. tax sucking, BAE Systems way late on issuing a mass layoff WARN.  This time they revealed they laid off 230 people in San Francisco, at the beginning of the month!  In Bakersfield, California Resources eliminating 74 oil industry jobs by mid-April.  In Vacaville, after 55 years Green Tee Golf Club shutting down, the operators blaming lack of money.  InCosta Mesa, after 55 years H.J. Garrett Furniture shutting down when the inventory is gone, the operators say they want to retire, but also blame declining sales and the now sky-high cost of living in California. What automotive industry recovery? UTi shutting down their automotive school in Long Beach, 64 jobs gone by April.  Southern California Edison eliminating 48 jobs in Rosemead, by April.  Pinecrest Schools finally revealed how many jobs will be lost by their mass shutdown of campuses;  176 by June! More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; Palo Alto based Hewlett Packard (HP) revealed they eliminated 74 HQ jobs back in January.  Mountain View based software company Symantec laid off six people at the beginning of this month.  Also in Mountain View, TangoMe eliminating 53 jobs by mid-April.  Japan based Toshiba Information Systems began eliminating jobs in Irvine.  Sunnyvale based internet company Yahoo issued more layoff WARNs, this time 322 jobs across four cities eliminated by mid-April!  Warren Buffett owned Kraft-Heinz issued a shutdown WARN for their San Leandro food factory, 117 jobs lost by mid-April!  Pacific Harvest issued a layoff WARN for their Guadalupe food ops, 75 jobs lost by mid-April.  Valley Fine Foods suddenly shutdown their 22 years old Benicia production ops, 94 jobs gone.  The company moved their production, sanitation, shipping and receiving and maintenance operation to North Carolina, loyal employees had no warning: “They were shocked and surprised. A few have been here a while, 17 years. Those were the hardest impacted. They appeared…..in shock, like phases of any loss, it’s shock and denial first.”-Adriana Nunez, HR manager

Colorado: Smartphone case maker OtterBox admitted it began laying off an undisclosed number of Fort Collins employees in 2015, and into 2016.  Administrators admitted they failed to file a WARN with state employment officials.

Florida: In Maitland, after nearly 30 years RanGetsu Japanese Restaurant and Bar shutting down in March, no reason given.  Local news reports say at one time the owners were trying to open five restaurants, now they’ll be down to just their restaurant back in Japan.

Illinois: Hoffman Estates based Sears Holdings revealed it eliminated 401 HQ jobs due to crappy 2015 holiday sales!  151 of those jobs were already vacant.   Sears Holdings will also accelerate the sale of assets.  School District 205 eliminating stipends for club sponsors and eliminating 109 jobs! The district is short $2.6-million USD, blaming lack of taxpayer funding caused by what I call Disappearing Students Syndrome.  For the first time in 25 years  Parkland College eliminating jobs, administrators blame the state ‘lawmakers’ for dragging their feet on taxpayer funding for the next school year. In Prospect Heights after only two years and $13-million in renovations, the Ultra Foods grocery store shutting down next week due to lack of sales.

Indiana: Indianapolis based Republic Airways Holdings now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, blaming in part “a nationwide pilot shortage”.  What they really mean is a shortage of pilots who want to work for peanuts!  In New Albany, after 30 years Mom & Pop’s Cone Corner is no more.  The current owners bought the ice cream joint last year, they gave no reason for the shutdown.

Louisiana: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shutting down their Shreveport donut shop on Youree Drive.  In a ’round-a-bout way administrators said the store was losing money.

Michigan: Benton Harbor based home appliance maker Whirlpool warning of mass factory layoffs and confirmed it already eliminated an undisclosed number of HQ jobs.  Administrators also gave a conflicting 4th quarter 2015 report saying ‘net revenues’ had doubled from 4th Q 2014, but that actual ‘sales’ were down by almost half a million dollars.

North Carolina:  Charlotte based Too Big to Jail Bank of America continues to kill jobs, this time admitting they eliminated a “small number” of corporate level and global marketing  jobs.

Oklahoma: Petroleum company Kimray eliminating 65 jobs in March.  Administrators say the layoffs are their last resort as they’ve already frozen pay levels, cut budgets & investments and encouraged employees to accept bribes to quit (buyouts).

Texas: Houston based Halliburton killing more jobs, 5-thousand this time! That’s on top of the almost 22-thousand jobs killed by the oil field service company in the past two years!

Virginia: In Woodbridge, C&W Books shutting down on Monday: “After 25 years in your community, C & W Used Books will be closing on Feb. 29. Our lease is up and we cannot afford the rent increase.”

Washington: In Gig Harbor, after 47 years Mostly Books shutting down due to the property owner wanting to sell.

Wisconsin: Menomonee Falls based retailer Kohl’s warning that it must shutdown at least 18 stores this year.  Locations and timing of the shutdowns yet to be determined.  It’s blamed on stagnant 2015 holiday sales (a meager 0.4% above 2014 holiday sales).

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

24 February 2016: “Sales keep going down, expenses keep going up and I’m having a hard time just paying my bills, so it’s just time.”

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.”

Business/Economics

Bad economy revives Yakuza violence! U.S. connection?

25 February 2016 (09:08 UTC-07 Tango 01) 06 Esfand 1394/16 Jumada al-Ula 1437/18 Geng Yin 4714

“This is a tough time for them as their revenue sources have shrunk dramatically…because of tougher laws…pressuring members for regular payments…some do not want to pay and that’s why there was a split.”-Yamanouchi Yukio, attorney for Yamaguchi-gumi

An attorney representing some of the larger factions of Japan’s mafia (known as Yakuza in the United States) is blaming the declining economy for recent shootings between rival gangs.

He says because of the bad economy members of the biggest Yakuza group, Yamaguchi-gumi, are having a hard time paying their membership dues, with many Yamaguchi-gumi members breaking away forming new Yakuza gangs.  The result is a spike in violence.

Yakuza violence had been subdued after Japan’s government passed tougher anti-Yakuza laws because of the Yakuza war in the 1980s.  However, news reports say a new ‘Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi’ gang has somehow avoided being officially classified as a violent gang and is immune from those laws, which helped it to become the third largest Yamaguchi-gumi group in only a few months time!

The formation of Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi took place at the end of 2015.

Attorney Yamanouchi warned that because of declining revenues the various branches of the Yamaguchi-gumi are now in survival mode.  A former Yakuza bodyguard blames it on an obsession with money: “…loyalty and brotherhood….are long gone…..It’s now all about money-money and money alone. It is no longer duty or honor.”-‘Takegaki’, explaining why he left theYamaguchi-gumi

While looking over recent Yakuza articles I found a picture of current neo-imperialist Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzo with U.S. politician (and professed ‘christian’) Mike Huckabee standing next to a man the Japanese National Police associate with Yamaguchi-gumi;  Nagamoto Icchu.

Nagamoto was arrested and charged in 2012 with strong arm loansharking.

Business/Economics, Idaho

“These are challenging times…because of the uncertainty” Thousands more jobs killed!: U.S. Job Losses & Closings 24 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

Alaska: In Juneau, the nine years old Holly’s Hallmark gift store shutting down. The owner said sales went south in 2013 and got worse in 2014.

Florida: For profit Mattia College shutting down, 1-hundred jobs lost and more than 7-hundred nursing students looking for a new home.  No word on an official shutdown date, but local news says pay for teachers has been cut off!  This is the second nursing school in The Sunshine State, in the past two years, to shutdown.  The top administrator of that nursing school, Dade Medical, was recently arrested.  This is all part of the U.S. Department of Education’s crackdown on schools that promise their students ‘The Moon’.

Idaho:  More fraud in The Gem State.  The state Attorney General says a former Idaho boat builder owes customers several millions of USD after failing to deliver the boats.   The state and financier KeyBank have joined multiple customers in suing Christopher Bohenkamp, accusing him of taking customer’s money for pre-ordered boats, but then pulling stakes and moving to New York without building the boats!  It was revealed in 2015 that Bohenkamp was being sued by numerous customers for taking their money and running to The Empire State.   Fraud by hybrid and electric car owners in The Gem State as many are just now waking up to the fact that last year the state imposed additional vehicle registration fees for motorized vehicles that use very little or no petroleum based fuel.  There is now a push by the unfair tax avoiding environmentalist crooks to repeal the fees.  Here’s why owners of hybrids and electric cars are crooks; state road repair work is paid for mainly with the state tax on fuel, and partly by vehicle registration fees, if you’re driving a vehicle that doesn’t use fuel you are not paying your fair share of road maintenance tax!   The only way the state can fairly charge (pun intended) electric and hybrid car users for road maintenance is by greatly jacking up the vehicle registration fee.  As one commentator in the state of Georgia wrote “We now have a class of people (mostly well-off) who can choose to get around without having to pay the gas tax.”)   By the way, this why bicycle fanatics piss me off! They think they own the roads but they pay nothing towards maintaining the roads, especially their special ‘bike lanes’. And don’t give me your crap about ‘you drive cars too’, the roads were built for cars not pedestrians or bicycles.  In Boise, the Ada County Highway District responds to criticism about bike lanes by saying “…it’s fair to assume that bicyclists in and around downtown Boise are contributing some amount to the upkeep of Ada County roads.”  But they admit they have no way to prove that statement!  You know what they say about ass-u-me…..

Illinois:  In Alqonquin, the Stride Rite shoe store in Algonquin Commons shutting down by April.  It’s the third retailer to leave Algonquin Commons in the past 12 months.  Publisher Costar Group laying off 44 employees in Chicago, by mid-March.   God powerless to stop ‘his’ Lutheran Social Services from shutting down ‘his’ Chicago nursing home services, 109 job lost by the end of March!  Walmart shutting down two Chicago stores by mid-April, at least 110 jobs lost!  What automotive industry recovery? Danville Area Community College eliminating at least four jobs, offering early retirement and eliminating their Automotive and Sustainability programs: “These are challenging times, and it’s challenging because of the uncertainty”-Alice Jacobs, DACC President

  Sycamore School District 427 eliminating at least 56 jobs: “We see other businesses where employees are just being told to do more with less, and unfortunately, that seems to be the mentality of our state government when incomes to education.”-Jim Dombek, District 427

Missouri: Spain based bio-energy company Abengoa Bioenergy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, affecting their administrative office in Chesterfield, and their ethanol production in the state of Illinois.  In Hannibal, after more than 50 years Kirlin’s Hallmark shutting down their Huck Finn Shopping Center gift store, blaming “today’s challenging economic climate”.

New York:  That Which Cannot Be Named powerless to stop Jewish Home Lifecare from shutting down and selling out to a competitor, 997 jobs lost by the end of May!  General Electric (GE) updated their shutdown WARN for their Fort Edward operation, 128 jobs lost between now and the end of May!  Near Star Lake, the Padgett’s Hometown IGA shutting down after 35 years of grocery sales: “Sales keep going down, expenses keep going up and I’m having a hard time just paying my bills, so it’s just time.”-Mark Padgett

Ohio: Columbus based Bravo Brio Restaurant Group is warning it must shutdown Bravo Cucina Italiana and Brio Tuscan Grille restaurants after a third straight year of revenue losses!

Texas: In Houston, Cobalt International Energy issued a layoff WARN, 50 oil industry jobs lost by the end of April.  Pioneer Natural Resources shutting down their Victoria oil ops, 148 jobs lost by mid-April!  Transocean Offshore shutdown two Gulf of Mexico rigs, 180 jobs gone!  IPSCO Tubulars issued a layoff WARN for their Chambers oil pipe ops, 112 jobs lost by the beginning of April!  In Pleasanton, C&J Energy Services eliminating 78 oil industry jobs by the beginning of April.

West Virginia: Cabell County Schools eliminating 61 jobs and transferring another 97! It’s blamed on the loss of 2-hundred students since 2014!

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

23 February 2016: “….a slowdown in the market, we can’t say for sure what will happen next.”

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.”

Business/Economics, Technology

No more electronics maker Sharp! Foxconn beats out Samsung!

24 February 2016 /19:16 UTC-07 Tango 01 (06 Esfand 1394/16 Jumada al-Ula 1437/18 Geng Yin 4714)

Executives with one of Japan’s iconic electronics maker, Sharp, have decided to sell out to a Republic of China (Taiwan) company.

The nearly $6-billion USD sale puts a ‘major’ Japanese electronics maker under foreign ownership for the first time in Japan’s history.  Hon Hai Precision Industry, aka Foxconn, outbid Republic of Korea’s Samsung.  Sharp executives even rejected the offer from the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan.

Sharp has been dealing with crashing revenues for the past few years.  Analysts have criticized the offer by Foxconn as being absurdly high as there are other Japanese electronics makers who are financially secure, yet are considered worth less than unstable Sharp.

Foxconn is a major supplier to Apple, and in 2014 signed a joint venture deal with Hewlett Packard.

Japan Economic Front: Biggest ever loss for Sharp!

What Economic Recovery? Sharp projects record loss for 2012!

Sharp makes deeper cuts than originally planned, blame the Too Big to Fail banks! 

For the first time in 62 years, TV maker Sharp will layoff 5,000 workers!

Sharp blames the United States for lack of economic recovery

Sharp’s economic woes began with the 2011 quake-tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disasters: Sharp has announced that production of their Liquid Crystal Display TVs will be halted 

Business/Economics

Overwhelming proof College benefits only the 1%! Capitalist using real slaves in California! : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 23 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

“If you grow up low income and manage to get higher education, which few people manage to do, the potential for that to lift you solidly up into the middle-class and upper-middle class is more limited than we thought.”-Brad Hershbein, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment

A Brookings Institute study (A college degree is worth less if you are raised poor) revealed some surprising data about what is now obviously the ‘lie’ of higher education:  Using decades worth of data the researchers discovered that having a four year college degree does absolutely nothing to help low income people get out of poverty!  It seems only people from wealthy families benefit from a college degree!    I can attest to that; I’m from “low income” and I got a bachelors degree (later in life, after decades of working for the Man) and my income actually went down after I graduated. I’ve gotten numerous rejection letters, where as before I got the degree I could walk in anywhere and get hired!  What sup wit dat?

Arizona: In Tucson, Mexico based ANSARCO issued a WARN, 163 copper mining jobs lost due to low prices!

California: More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high tech for your demise; San Francisco based interactive entertainment company Kabam eliminating an undisclosed number of jobs, as part of their plan to acquire major gaming platforms.  In San Jose, evil vulture capitalist investment company Fenox Venture Capital was caught employing slaves!  The U.S. Department of Labor charged the capitalists of “misclassifying” 56 employees as “unpaid interns”, when they were, in fact, full paid employees.  Fenox Vulture Capital must now pay out $331,269 USD in back wages: “A large number of employees worked for free providing hundreds of man hours for this company to make a profit. For them to not even pay minimum wage in [San Francisco] Bay is really appalling.”-Michael Eastwood, U.S. Department of Labor

Colorado: Taxsucking military contractor Jacobs Technology-ETASS laying off 70 people.  The Vail Cascade resort issued a layoff WARN, 2-hundred jobs being eliminated!   Honeywell eliminating at least eight jobs.  Sky Hotel 39 Degrees issued a shutdown WARN, 91 jobs lost. Texas based insurance referrer All Web Leads issued a shutdown WARN, 103 jobs lost! It might be connected to the November 2015 takeover of rival InsuranceQuotes.  After killing off 5-hundred jobs in Washington, California based Concentrix eliminating between 270 to 378 Boulder County jobs due to the loss of their IBM contract!

Georgia: Suwanee based telecommunications equipment maker Arris eliminating at least 8-hundred jobs, as part of their merger with British empire United Kingdom based company Pace!

Florida:  Wholesale soup maker Chef Creations is no more, they’ve sold out to a Massachusetts corporation, resulting in 110 Chef Creations HQ employees, in Orlando, becoming jobless between April and July!  Local news media made the sale sound like a surprise as Chef Creations had recently won new local tax breaks, and gotten approval for major financing, for expansion of their soup making operations.

Kentucky: Lexington based printer maker Lexmark eliminating 550 jobs on the advise of Goldman Sachs!  The company is even considering the option of selling itself off.

Massachusetts:  In Edgartown, women’s clothier hannah b shutting down, with the owner saying “it just happens”.

New York: CNN’s Manhattan Center Productions updated their WARN saying 222 people will now become unemployed by the end of April! CNN is moving its HeadLineNews (HLN) program from New York City to Atlanta, Georgia.   In Saratoga Springs, after 30 years Aggie Mullaney boutique shutting down on Monday, so the owner can focus on her new retail operation.

North Dakota:  State Department of Transportation announced it must eliminate all temporary jobs due to a $69-million USD decline in fuel tax, vehicle registration and other fee revenues.  Crashing government revenues caused by people with no money to spend is  overwhelming proof we are in a depression.

Virginia: In Bland, transformer maker ABB eliminating 30 jobs, blaming “….a slowdown in the market, we can’t say for sure what will happen next. It depends on demand.”

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

22 February 2016: “We’re being thrown out….”

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.”

Business/Economics

Perfect Storm: Low oil prices & investor exodus will kill-off oil industry?

23 February 2016 (07:34 UTC-07 Tango 01) 04 Esfand 1394/14 Jumada al-Ula 1437/16 Geng Yin 4714

“It is easy for consumers to be lulled into complacency by ample stocks and low prices today, but they should heed the writing on the wall: the historic investment cuts we are seeing raise the odds of unpleasant oil-security surprises in the not too distant future.”-Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency

A British oil industry group says not only are they dealing with low oil commodity prices, but investors are getting out fast.

The result could be that 43% of oil companies in the North Sea will cease to exist.   However, it should be noted that the Oil & Gas UK 2016 Activity Survey is making that claim to justify a permanent tax cut, even the elimination of the petroleum tax, for British oil companies!

Oil & Gas UK also clams that British oil companies cannot survive while their Brent Crude fetches only $30 per barrel.  In 2015, an estimated 65-thousands Britons lost their oil industry related jobs!

Recently several oil producing countries, including Russia and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, agreed to hold oil production at January levels.  I’ve written how Iranian oil ministers boasted that their oil industry can make a profit even if oil hits $10 per barrel.  

Business/Economics, Idaho

“We’re being thrown out on the street!” Proof the oil layoffs are BS! 3,000 jobs lost due to no more Chrysler 200! Global warming causes Tree shortage? : U.S. Job Losses & Closings 22 February 2016

Incomplete list of job loss announcements and shutdowns.

California: Chevron is about to layoff 237 people at its beautiful Kern County oil ops!  Administrators say it’s necessary to maintain “long-term business objectives”.

Colorado:  Missouri based mattress maker Leggett & Platt eliminating 64 jobs at its Colorado Springs factory.  The factory is being shutdown by June.

Idaho:  Despite the U.S. petroleum industry slashing-n-burning jobs and drastically cutting production, the very same industry is pushing ‘lawmakers’ to create a new law that will allow them to accelerate oil and natural gas production in The Gem State.   The proposed regulation would change the way the state Department of Lands and the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission handle the approval process for drilling.   A former manager at Aberdeen’s Idaho Select potato processing plant has been sentenced for his crime of ripping off the company.  He admitted to using company money to buy cars, homes, go on vacations, send his daughters to college and even pay his daily bills.  He must now repay $1.7-million USD within seven years, as well as spend time in prison.  Embezzlement crimes are very common here in the ‘christian’ dominated Idaho (2010 U.S. Census Bureau data says at least 80% claim to be Christians).  

Perhaps the former shed manager at the potato processor wasn’t being paid enough?  According to United Way, one in three workers in the Right to Work (you over) Idaho cannot afford to live on what they are paid!

Illinois:  Mass layoffs at Eastern Illinois University is creating what I call Ripple Effect Layoffs; the Test Center had to shut down temporarily “in order to train the remaining staff in the building to assume the duties of the lost positions”.  127 years old (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) Bernzen Lumber store shutting down next month.  It was sold-off due to the health problems of the owner, it’s hoped the buyer will re-open the lumber store.

Massachusetts: MassMutual Financial Group about to eliminate 360 jobs at its operations in Springfield and Enfield, despite record dividend payouts and a 9th consecutive year of growth!  Administrators would only say that the layoffs were their way to “effectively and efficiently deliver the greatest value to our policy owners”.

Michigan: What automotive industry recovery?  Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) furloughed more than 3-thousand people at its Sterling Heights factory!  They’ll be back to work in mid-March, but only for a couple of weeks when they’ll be laid off in April for an unknown amount of time!  FCA is ending production of its slow selling Chrysler 200.     Local news are also reporting that the Right to Work (you over) Michigan government has cut in half what it normally pays furloughed auto industry workers!

Minnesota:  Richfield based Best Buy continues killing jobs, this time 24 corporate HQ employees were kicked to the curb, despite that fact Best Buy is advertising that they have 90 open jobs at their HQ.  In the past few years Best Buy has eliminated at least 4-thousand jobs!

This happened in Serbia, but U.S. regulators fear it’ll happen in the U.S.

Montana: Another saw mill blames lack of trees for shutting down.  Stoltze Land and Lumber revealed they shutdown their night shift last week, due to lack of lumber to be milled.  The lack of lumber isn’t because we’ve run out of trees, rather it’s related to load limits placed on logging trucks.  The load restrictions are blamed on ‘global warming’, meaning warmer winter temps resulting in muddy roads, which are normally frozen now.

New York:  God powerless to stop ‘his’ Albany Roman Catholic Diocese from shutting down ‘his’ Saint Augustine school in  Lansingburgh.   Church leaders blamed the state government for refusing to give them taxpayer funding (which would be a violation of the U.S. 1st Amendment).  Germany based Deutsche Bank eliminating about 30 NYC jobs, blaming new laws and competition from U.S. banks.  Alternative clothing store Trash and Vaudeville shutting down its 40 years old Saint Marks Place location.  The owner blames “perpetual rent increases”.

Ohio: U.S. Department of Energy forcing Centrus Energy to shutdown operations at the American Centrifuge Project by the end of the week. However, about 150 people will remain to take part in decontaminating the nuclear energy project.  The DoE ended funding claiming it was a waste of taxpayer money.  In Cheviot, Vitor’s Bistro shutting down on Sunday, the owner blames low sales on a bad location.   The Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort and Seafood Buffet & Grill shutdown after a long history of violating local health codes, which resulted in several customers getting sick.  In Cleveland, decades old iconic the DINER on clifton shutting down next Monday, due to the greedy landlord: “We’re being thrown out on the street! Next to my parents dying this is the most stressful time of my life!   …..This feels personal when it’s something that’s been such a huge part of my life.”-Perry Drosos, operator

The landlord claims the eviction was coming for at least a year, primarily due to planned radical remodeling of the building.

Pennsylvania:  After 104 years (surviving The Great Depression and numerous recessions) God is powerless to stop the shutdown of ‘his’ SS. Cosmas and Damian Church, in Conshohocken.   Church administrators say it just cost too much to maintain the old building, proving that the real ‘god’ is money.

South Dakota: Yes Virginia, franchised Blockbuster video stores still exist, but no longer in Rapid City.  The last franchised Blockbuster store there is now dead.  The corporate operated stores all shutdown in 2011.

Texas: Houston based oil driller Schlumberger eliminated at least 25-thousand jobs in 2015, claiming it was losing money due to low prices, then paid its CEO a bonus of $18-million USD, which was the same amount the CEO got for his 2014 bonus!  How does low prices kill 25-thousand jobs, yet has no effect on the CEO’s bonus?

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

20-21 February 2016: “We need more time to….heal…”

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.”