Tag Archives: wall street

Business/Economics

JCPenney going the way of Sears, 6,000 jobs gone by May 2017?

24 February 2017 (10:15 UTC-07 Tango 06) 06 Esfand 1395/27 Jumada l-Ula 1438/28 Ren Yin 4715

Despite a slight uptick in profits at the end of Gregorian year 2016, Texas based U.S. retail icon JCPenney says overall sales were down (again) and they will now go the way of the other U.S. retail icon Sears; massive shutdowns and layoffs.

As many as 140 stores could be shutdown by May 2017, and on top of those employees losing their jobs due to the shutdowns, apparently an additional 6-thousand employees will be offered voluntary buyouts (bribes to quit)!

In January of this year JCPenney shutdown its Madison Square Mall store, in Alabama, killing 120 jobs!

JCPenney also sold-off its Plano, Texas, HQ and surrounding properties in order to pay off massive debt.  In 2012, BlindBatNews reported that JCPenney had joined other big box retailers in failing to make payments on debt financing (Commercial Mortgaged Backed Security loans) they got back in 2010!

Actually JCPenney has already been shutting down stores and killing jobs, since at least 2013 (J.C. PENNEY GOING DOWN THE DRAIN!).

Today’s announcement of massive job killing didn’t come with a list of stores being shutdown, JCPenney administrators said they’ll make the store locations public once they notify the store employees of their impending employment doom.   They gave a clue and said most store shutdowns will be in their ‘smaller markets’.

According to BlindBatNews archives, JCPenney killed 1-thousand salon jobs in 2013!  In 2014, JCPenney shutdown 15 of their outlet stores, 42 of their mall anchor stores, and killed at least 3-thousand 4-hundred jobs!  In 2015, they shutdown 40 anchor stores (including a store they promised local city leaders they would not shutdown) and killed about 3-thousand jobs!  In 2016, at least seven anchor stores and at least 5-hundred jobs killed!

OBAMA LEGACY: “…A SEVERE RECESSION…”

WHAT ECONOMIC RECOVERY? SEARS, BEST BUY, RADIOSHACK, JCPENNEY ALL GOING DOWN?

International

The Emerald Isle going Green with Ganja?

22 February 2017 (12:24 UTC-07 Tango 06) 04 Esfand 1395/25 Jumada l-Ula 1438/26 Ren Yin 4715

The Republic of Ireland is one step closer to legalized marijuana use for medical treatments.

The Ministry of Health issued guidelines (Cannabis for Medical Use — a Scientific review) for ganja use, which include eight recommendations by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.  But don’t think just anybody can fake a medical problem to take a toke, the guidelines also state that ganja users must be under direct supervision of a healthcare provider.

But meanwhile, in neighboring United Kingdom a political party that’s been pushing for the legalization of Mary-Jane just got fined; the Cannabis is Safer than Alcohol group has to pay the equivalent of $29-thousand USD for failing to report required political party finance reports for two quarters in a row.

“…GIVE US SOME BREATHING ROOM…” as Alaska reports big tax collections from legalized Mary-Jane

MARIJUANA SAVES COLORADO?

URUGUAY LOOKING FOR MARIJUANA FARMERS, FOR BUDDING INDUSTRY!

SPANISH CITY DESPERATE FOR CASH APPROVES MARIJUANA FARMING

EAST IDAHO COPS BURN $70,000 WORTH OF MARIJUANA

MONTANA JUDGE RESTRICTS MARIJUANA USE LAW

U.S.

“…sales have been down 50% the past four years…” : U.S. Food Crisis December 2016

Incomplete list of announced United States food supply shutdowns for the month of December, 2016: Many food suppliers/distributors are consolidating operations and killing jobs due to the collapsing grocery store and restaurant industries, as well as rising costs of food production, spread of disease and extreme weather.

Arizona: In Phoenix, Jobot Coffee & Dining shutdown due to not being able to renew the lease.

California: Gourmet grocery store Bristol Farms notified the state that it will shutdown its  San Francisco location, 82 jobs gone by the end of January 2017.  Also in San Francisco, after 30 years popular restaurant Kuleto’s issued a shutdown WARN, 103 jobs lost by January 2017 due to a “management decision”!  Restaurant Ozumo finally notified the state that it shutdown its Oakland restaurant, 45 jobs lost back in November.  Bacon-n-beef burger joint Slater’s 50/50-24356 Swartz Burgers- 8009 Day Burgers-61 N Raymond issued mass shutdown WARNs for several locations, 698 jobs gone by February 2017!  In Lodi, School Street Bistro shutdown after 15 years so the family owners can take care of their parents.  After 47 years in Los Angeles, iconic Norm’s restaurant on Pico Boulevard shutdown by the property’s new owners.   In San Diego, after 70 years Anthony’s Fish Groto shutdown due to the landlord refusing to renew the lease.  In Berkeley, after 20 years upscale Cafe Rouge shutdown, the owners claimed they couldn’t find enough competent employees.

Colorado:  In Glenwood Springs, Big Daddy’s Sports Bar shutting down the day after New Year’s Day, the owners said the number one reason was “family”.

Connecticut: After seven years La Petite France shutting down by mid January 2017, the owners saying “it’s time for us to move on.”  After 30 years Lincoln Culinary Institute-Connecticut Culinary Institute shutdown due to failing to meet tougher U.S. Department of Education rules demanding proof that graduates actually find decent paying jobs. The Roger Sherman Inn and restaurant shutdown by the new owner, a property developer.

Delaware: Restaurant Lula Brazil shutdown due to the owner’s health problems.

Florida: Poultry processor and shipper Wayne Farms issued a layoff WARN for 13 employees. Interestingly the state lists the food logistics company as “manufacturing”.  In Lake Worth, Hoffman’s Chocolates shutdown due to “…sales have been down 50% the past four years…”, six jobs lost.

Georgia: Buffalo’s shutdown their 19 years old restaurant in Athens.  The restaurant was for sale but the landlord suddenly banned anymore restaurants from setting up shop in that location.

Hawaii: After less than a year the Magnolia Bakery suddenly shutdown it’s location in the General Growth Properties (GGP) owned Ala Moana Center mall.

Illinois: In Buckstown, the new owners of iconic Feast restaurant shut it down so they can chop-up the building into smaller retail spaces.  Hershey’s announced it will shutdown it’s Chocolate World store off of North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  In Galesburg, after 88 years New China Cafe shutdown. The second owners claim they’ve the menu has been unchanged since the 1940s, maybe that’s why sales have crashed: “We’ve been hanging by a thread for the past three years. The city’s trying to bring the economy back, but there are no factories; it’s mostly retail and chain restaurants, and we can’t compete.”-Melinda Kilgore, co-owner

Indiana: In Indianapolis, after 82 years Italian joint Milano Inn shutdown, 65 jobs lost due to the owners wanting to retire.  The owners say they’re trying to sell the property and hope any new owner will re-open the restaurant.

Kansas: In Wichita, TLC Muffins shutdown after 30 years.  One of the co-owners was hurt in an accident and they had to put everything up for sale, but only the equipment and property was sold, nobody wanted the bakery operation.

Maryland: In Bel Air, after 42 years Friendly’s Restaurant & Ice Cream shutdown “… effective immediately.”

Massachusetts: For the second time this year Boston based bar management software developer BevSpot laid off employees.  Reports say BevSpot’s entire ‘outbound’ sales department was canned due to low sales to restaurants and bars.  Boston’s Rattlesnake Bar & Grill went chapter 7 bankrupt busted, shutting down after 26 years.  Friendly’s Restaurant shutdown their Chicopee distribution center, about 50 jobs lost to a contractor.

Michigan: In Port Huron, ThumbCoast Brewing Company shutdown blaming taxpayer funded city construction projects for creating “…challenges that we’ve faced throughout 2016, especially those which had (a) significant impact on revenue during the months of May and June, have finally caught up with us and we can no longer move forward.”

Minnesota: Sausage joint Prairie Dogs shutdown their Minneapolis location, on Lake Street, saying “Our demographic was not the Millennials that live around here.”  Golden Valley based food producer General Mills announced it will eliminate 6-hundred jobs in 2017!  It’s the result of ongoing restructuring of the company, local news media reported that since 2014 General Mills has eliminated 5-thousand jobs globally!  Cookery seller Williams-Sonoma announced it will shutdown it’s store in the Mall of America, in early 2017.

Missouri: In Columbia, after 40 years Country Kitchen shutdown due to not being able to afford a new lease.

Montana: In Helena, after five years Fusion Grill shutdown with only three days official notice to employees, but then it suddenly shutdown one day early!  The owners of the restaurant gave no reason for the shutdown and refused to talk to local news media.

New Jersey: Toms River Diner shutdown after 45 years.  Panera Bread shutdown their Westfield location, apparently because the bakery didn’t meet the corporate “standards”.

New Mexico: Texas based RedBrick Pizza Kitchen Cafe warning they will shutdown their Farmington location if sales don’t pick up.  The local franchise owners say they’ve pumped money into major repairs, then sales crashed.  They blame it on a sudden explosion of new restaurants opening in the area.  In Albuquerque, after 27 years Ko Palace shutdown so the owner can retire.

New York: JFK International Airport Terminal 7 food service company HMS Host issued a shutdown WARN, 122 jobs gone by March 2017 due to contract suddenly being canceled!  Cafe Pushkin Central issued a shutdown WARN, 70 jobs gone by the New Gregorian Year.  In Oneida, cookware and dinnerware maker EveryWare issued a shutdown WARN with periodic layoffs taking place between February and May 2017.  In Brooklyn NYC, Gorilla Coffee shutting down its 97 5th Avenue location, local news reports say the company has been planning to shut it down since 2013.  In Manhattan NYC, after 79 years Carnegie Deli shutdown despite public protests from customers and employees, and despite one former employee claiming to have made an offer to buy the restaurant, and despite a 2015 grand re-opening ceremony by NYC mayor Bill de Blasio. According to a statement by the owners it’s no longer worth it to run a business in The Big Apple.  In NYC, after 18 months the Will Ferrell themed Stay Classy Bar shutdown due to being overly successful, the owners claiming that from now on they’ll run temporary “pop-up” operations across the country.  After 11 years the Cake Shop music venue shutdown due to long term problems including not enough money to pay bills.  In Watkins Glen, after 50 years Mister Chicken shutdown due to the owner’s health problems.

North Carolina:  In Wake Forest, after 20 years the Old English Tea Room shutdown, the owners said they couldn’t make enough money to justify the amount of time they put into it.  In Greensboro, after five years Beans Boro Coffeehouse shutdown on Xmas Eve, the owner said the stress of running a business outweighed his sales.  Food & drink container maker Ball shutting down their factory in Reidsville, 150 jobs lost by mid-2017!  In Winston-Salem, after 12 years Flashback Smoothies & Grill shutdown so the owner can focus on his marketing business.

Ohio: Cincinnati based grocery chain operator Kroger wants 2-thousand employees to voluntarily quit and is offering bribes (buyouts) to make it happen!   It’s blamed on declining sales, which began at the end of 2015.  Kroger also shutting down its money losing (for the past 20 years) Walnut Hills store on McMicken Street, 81 jobs gone by March 2017.  In Steubenville, after 12 years Aubrey’s Bakery shutdown, the owners of the successful business said “We are feeling the wear and tear on our bodies. And we want to leave the bakery on a high note.”  In Franklinton, after 71 years restaurant Florentine shutdown without explanation.

Oklahoma: After 33 years in OK City, Pioneer Pies shutdown due to the owners not willing to agree to the new lease.

Pennsylvania:  Wolfgang Candy shutdown their North York retail sales outlet, blaming crashing sales ever since 2013. Erie County Farms grocery store shutdown after going chapter 7 bankrupt. In Erie, after 62 years Taki’s shutdown so the owner could retire.  Despite being made famous by Barack Obama, Five Guy’s shutdown their York burger joint on Loucks Road, with no explanation.  In Hopwood, after 68 years grocer Adrian’s Market shutdown so the owner can retire.  One customer was quoted by local news as saying “It sucks!”

Rhode Island: Cafe-bakery Au Bon Pain shutdown, the owners blame crashing sales on the city of Providence for forcing potential customers to pay for parking!  Local news reports say it was the third business to shutdown as a result of the new city parking meters!

South Carolina: In Columbia, Eric’s San Jose Restaurante Mexicano shutdown without warning to employees.  Local news media say the owner refuses to comment about it.  The Atlanta Bread Company shutdown one of three West Columbia locations and revealed they will eventually shutdown the other two locations in early 2017.

South Dakota: In Mitchell, CherryBerry Self-Serve Yogurt Bar shutdown due to lack of customers willing to serve themselves.

Tennessee: In Brentwood, bridal shop-bakery supply shop Sugar Drop shutdown, the owner is dedicating herself to the foundation she created after her son was killed in Afghanistan.

Texas: In Dallas, ice cream shop Cow Tipping Creamery shutdown after only nine months, the owners blame the location.

Virginia: In Waynesboro, after ten years Big Apple Bagels shutting down by the end of January 2017. The owners spent the last two years trying to sell their business but nobody was interested, and then the lease expired.  Martin’s Food Markets announced they are shutting down four more grocery stores, at least 4-hundred jobs lost by February 2017!  It’s blamed on the sale of the stores to a competitor.

Washington: In Spokane, Anthony’s Beach Café shutdown, apparently due to a failed marketing gimmick.

Washington DC: After four years Grassroots Gourmet shutdown their Bloomingdale bakery on Xmas Eve.

Wisconsin: In Brookfield, after nine years Joey’s Seafood and Grill shutdown, the owners said they couldn’t afford to renew the lease.  In Milwaukee, Breugger’s shutdown their North Water Street bagel joint.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

U.S. Food Crisis, November 2016: “…LEAN TIMES FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD.”

FOOD CRISIS: UNIVERSITY STUDY PROVES FREE RANGE EGGS SAFE?

International, Technology, U.S.

Obama Legacy: Who’s the biggest gunrunner of them all? Obama!

21 February 2017 (02:41 UTC-07 Tango 06) 03 Esfand 1395/24 Jumada l-Ula 1438/25 Ren Yin 4715

“The U.S.A. supplies major arms to at least 100 countries around the world — significantly more than any other supplier state.”-Aude Fleurant, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

According to new data the past eight years of the Barack Obama regime saw global weapons sales increase by 8.4%, with the United States being the leader of the pack (despite claiming a reduction in arms sales).

On top of that, The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that during Obama’s last year as President of the U.S., weapons sales saw an increase that exceeded 2010 arms sales levels (again this is despite the U.S. claiming a reduction in weapons sales).  In fact, weapons sales during Obama’s last four years in office were the highest since the undeclared ‘Cold War’ ended in 1990, so much for Obama winning his now laughable Nobel Peace Prize.

You can tell who the real terrorists are by how many weapons they’re distributing throughout the world.  The top three international weapons sellers are United States (about 33% of sales), Russia (23%) and then China (6.2%).  The top three buyers of Obama regime weapons were Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Turkey.  Don’t get mad at Iran, that unfairly sanctioned country accounts for a piddly 1.2% of international weapons purchases.

OBAMA LEGACY: “…A SEVERE RECESSION…”

U.S. CIVIL WAR 2015: OBAMA REGIME HOMIE TOWN POLICE GENOCIDE 7,185 PEOPLE IN CHICAGO!

U.S. CIVIL WAR CHICAGO, 12 – 13 JULY 2014: MORE PROOF IT’S ALL ABOUT DRUG RUNNING!

U.S. CIVIL WAR CHICAGO, 16 – 20 JUNE 2014: AFGHAN HEROIN CONNECTION? MORE MYSTERY GUNMEN & WHITE MINIVANS!

U.S.

Dumbing Down U.S.: ObamaCare is the Affordable Care Act, you Dummies!

09 February 2017 (16:48 UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Bahman 1395/12 Jumada l-Ula 1438/13 Ren Yin 4715

The Morning Consult survey (published by New York Times) discovered how stupid U.S. citizens have become regarding ObamaCare-Affordable Care Act (ACA).

35% think ObamaCare-ACA is two separate policies, or they aren’t even sure what it is!   The survey also showed that the younger and poorer an adult is the more ignorant they are of the mandatory healthcare program!

And here’s something interesting, people who call themselves republicans are the most likely to understand what ObamaCare-ACA is!  Is this why they’re so adamant about repealing it?   Amazingly 45% of respondents didn’t known that republicans were trying to repeal it!

By the way, there are plenty of examples showing that ever since Barack Obama coined the term ObamaCare the general public has been totally confused about it.

ObamaCare Death Spiral, December 2016: “UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FUTURE GOVERNMENT FUNDING”

Dumbing Down the U.S., December 2016: “THIS IS A BOMB DROPPED ON US!” “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!”

Business/Economics

Obama Legacy: “…a severe recession…”

09 February 2017 (16:19 UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Bahman 1395/12 Jumada l-Ula 1438/13 Ren Yin 4715

On Nightly Business Report oil analyst John Kilduff essentially bitch-slapped the Obama regime’s optimistic claims about the economy (and despite reports that “Obama has presided over America’s biggest oil boom ever“), specifically using demand for oil as a gauge of how bad the economy was during the last few weeks of the Obama regime: “…it had reached such a low level……in demand that you would see during a sever recession.”

The crashing oil industry began under Obama’s watch, but Trump regime haters take heart, Kilduff also warned that economic and environmental policy changes in China could result in a huge shutdown of industry causing demand for world oil production to crash by 900-thousand barrels per day!  Meaning it’s likely the oil industry crash caused by crashing demand, which is caused by people and industries not having enough money to buy oil products, which is a sign of a suck-ass economy,  will continue under Tump.

OBAMA LEGACY: TRADE DEFICIT AT RECORD LEVEL?

Influenza

Pharma Phail: Study says RX kills your immune system!

09 February 2017 (15:35 UTC-07 Tango 06) 21 Bahman 1395/12 Jumada l-Ula 1438/13 Ren Yin 4715

Monash University and University of Melbourne (both in Australia) released results of a study showing that prescription drugs use shuts down your immune system, specifically your MAIT cells.

Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells are one of your body’s early warning devices, they identify dangerous invading microbes.  The study found that prescription drugs (RX) prevent MAIT cells from working properly.

And don’t forget, most prescription drugs are made with chemicals from the oil industry: “… Pretty much all drugs use some sort of plastic product or carbon-based polymer at some point during the drug production process. Which is fancy way of saying ‘high value oil-based product.'”–Christopher VanLang

PHARMA PHAIL: ANTACID DRUGS CAUSING STOMACH ‘FLU’?

Business/Economics

Obama Legacy: Trade Deficit at record level?

07 February 2017 (13:55 UTC-07 Tango 06) 19 Bahman 1395/10 Jumada l-Ula 1438/11 Ren Yin 4715

U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis revealed that the past four years of the 2nd term of Barack Obama did nothing to reduce the trade deficit between the United States and the rest of the world:  “For 2016, the goods and services deficit increased $1.9 billion, or 0.4 percent, from 2015. Exports decreased $51.7 billion or 2.3 percent. Imports decreased $49.9 billion or 1.8 percent.”

But wait, the devil is in the details and Donald Trump can’t blame China as the data shows the trade deficit with the country he loves to hate (along with Mexico) actually declined: “The deficit with China decreased $20.1 billion to $347.0 billion in 2016. Exports decreased $0.3 billion to $115.8 billion and imports decreased $20.4 billion to $462.8 billion.”

Who can we blame? We could blame Obama for not being anti-oil like so many of his blind faith followers think he is.

According to the data, the overall trade deficit increase (for the entire Gregorian year of 2016) came mainly from the drastic U.S. petroleum industry cutbacks in production, and massive layoffs (as I’ve documented on BlindBatNews), in an effort to force the price of oil back to record highs: “Exports of goods decreased $50.5 billion to $1,459.8 billion in 2016. Exports of goods on a Census basis decreased $47.9 billion. * Industrial supplies and materials decreased $28.2 billion. o Fuel oil decreased $6.5 billion. o Organic chemicals decreased $3.8 billion. o Other petroleum products decreased $2.9 billion. * Capital goods decreased $20.1 billion. o Drilling and oilfield equipment decreased $3.7 billion. o Other industrial machines decreased $3.0 billion. Net balance of payments adjustments decreased $2.5 billion.”

The other culprit was the evil banking industry (Wells Fargo anybody?): “Exports of services decreased $1.3 billion to $749.6 billion in 2016. * Financial services decreased $7.3 billion. * Charges for the use of intellectual property decreased $4.4 billion. * Other business services, which includes research and development services; professional and management services; and technical, trade-related, and other services, increased $5.2 billion.”

Just remember, this all happened under Obama’s watch.

OBAMA LEGACY: MUJAHIDEEN RE-TAKE MORE OF AFGHANISTAN

U.S.

“…give us some breathing room…” : U.S. federal/state/local government Shenanigans, December 2016

Incomplete list (due to internet access problems, come on why won’t anybody donate to BlindBatNews?) of U.S. Federal/State/Local Government self-destruct announcements for December 2016:

Political activists known as The Koch Brothers laid off 81 people, now that the undemocratic presidential election is over.  At the same time they announced they’re creating a new for-profit communications company.

Alaska:  The state’s low tax collections (due to oil industry cutbacks) got a big boost from the new legalized marijuana operations.  December was the second month of Mary-Jane tax collections with the state raking in nearly $146-thousand USD! Buds are taxed at $50 per ounce, and the junk is taxed at $15 per ounce, with the grower being responsible for the tax payments.  

Colorado:  Garfield County Library District laid off eight people due to a $1.2-million USD crash in revenues (that’s what happens when you put all your hopes into the oil industry and then they reduce local operations by 45%).

Florida: Orange County was surprised when tax collections from tourists crashed by 3.5% in December. Local news reports say December is usually a good tax collection month for Orange County.  The city of Miami reports continued crashing of hotel tax collections, and of course city admin continues to blame it on fear of the Zika virus.

Georgia:  The overall tax collections for December 2016 were stagnant at 0.7% compared to December 2015.

Illinois: Peoria County warning of as many as 40 layoffs as part of their budget for 2017.  The new budget also raises property taxes.  County chairman Andy Rand indicated they didn’t expect any short term economic recovery by saying the austerity measures were meant to “…give us some breathing room over the next four years.”

Louisiana: Tax collections from tourists dropped 3.5% in December.

Massachusetts: Once again, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to kill jobs, this time warning of at least one hundred layoffs in 2017, due to a taxpayer funding shortage of $100-million USD!

Michigan: In Port Huron, ThumbCoast Brewing Company shutdown blaming taxpayer funded city construction projects for creating “…challenges that we’ve faced throughout 2016, especially those which had (a) significant impact on revenue during the months of May and June, have finally caught up with us and we can no longer move forward.”

Nebraska: For the past six months state level tax collections have been far less than what the predominantly ‘christian’ government ‘experts’ expected.  Actual tax collections came in at $51-million short of what was projected, proving their economy has not improved.  

New Jersey: The evil city of Newark forces janitor services company United Services to layoff 41 people.  In July, United Services filed a lawsuit claiming the city failed to pay for services rendered!

New York: Tax-sucking military sewing contractor The Resource Center issued a shutdown WARN, 57 Buffalo jobs lost by March 2017.  The town of Hempstead shutting down the 20 years old East Meadow Senior Center because the property owner now wants $9-thousand per month in rent (for the past 20 years the rent was free).

Ohio:  Tax collections failed to meet government budget ‘expert’s expectations, for the 5th month in a row!  This is another sign that Ohio’s low unemployment rate is fake.

Pennsylvania: 520 Jobless Center employees could join the unemployment lines before Xmas! Local news media blames it on disputes between Democrat and Republican politicians.

Rhode Island: Cafe-bakery Au Bon Pain shutdown, the owners blame crashing sales on the city of Providence for forcing potential customers to pay for parking!  Local news reports say it was the third business to shutdown as a result of the new city parking meters!

Tennessee:  Wilson County reports four straight years of increased sales tax collections, local news reports didn’t explain why.  However, at the state level it was reported that overall sales and corporate tax collections were up, mainly due to “substantial one time” corporate tax payouts.   

Texas: State tax collectors reported that tax revenues for the twin cities of Bryan-College Station were up for the year, but down for December.  The increases came from sales taxes, and the decreases were caused by the oil industry shutdowns. 

Vermont: Taxpayer funded, Bernie Sanders founded, drug-free music venue 242 Main finally shutdown after 32 years of lack of funding and lack of ticket sales. (probably would’ve made money if it offered free drugs instead of being drug-free)

Virginia: The city of Danville reports increased tax and fee collections for the year. City admin admitted that part of the increase is from cash strapped property owners finally making payments on past due taxes.  

Washington DC: The federal government’s budget deficit hit $28-billion in December 2016, double what it was in December 2015!  Obama regime’s new legacy as The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a record 95-million 102-thousand U.S. citizen, ages 16 and up, are Not In Labor Force during December. Not In Labor Force refers to people unemployed for various reasons, and are not used to calculate the ‘official’ unemployment percentage as reported by main stream news media. Meaning the number of unemployed ‘Mericans is much higher than ‘officially’ reported.

WARN=Worker Adjustment & Retraining Notification

Government Shenanigans November 2016: “THOSE HALCYON DAYS ARE OVER” ARE ‘LAWMAKERS’ HIGH ON MARIJUANA TAXES?

Dumbing Down the U.S., December 2016: “THIS IS A BOMB DROPPED ON US!” “I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!”

Obama Legacy: MUJAHIDEEN RE-TAKE MORE OF AFGHANISTAN

Technology

“…is Grinch making these decisions or human beings…?” : U.S. High Tech/Communications shutdown December 2016

More proof you brick-n-mortar store owners can’t directly blame the internet/high-tech competition for your demise. Incomplete (especially because of my internet troubles) list of U.S. internet/high-tech/communications job destruction announcements in December 2016:

Fairpoint Communications began their planned elimination of 153 jobs in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont!

Alabama: Sitel shutting down their 15 years old call center in Covington County, 4-hundred jobs gone by Spring 2017! Sitel execs gave no explanation which pissed off the mayors of two cities directly affected by the shutdown: “We were really shocked!”-Becky Bracke, Mayor of Opp

“…is Grinch making these decisions or human beings…?”-Earl Johnson, Mayor of Andalusia

Arizona: AT&T eliminated 50 jobs in Phoenix.

California: San Jose headquartered but France based SunPower announced it will shutdown a solar power panel factory and layoff 2-thousand 5-hundred people in 2017! It’s blamed on crashing retail prices for solar panels, SunPower is considered the second largest solar power panel maker in the United States.  San Francisco advertising company AdRoll ‘rolled’ 29 of its employees by suddenly laying them off, despite reporting record level revenues.  AdRoll execs claim the layoffs were needed to expand the company.  Once again, DreamWorks Animation eliminating jobs, this time 170 people in Glendale to be pushed to the curb (on top of 2-hundred jobs eliminated elsewhere)! Blame it on DreamWorks new owner NBCUniversal.  Semiconductor maker Atmel issued a layoff WARN for its San Jose ops, 45 jobs gone by February 2017.

Connecticut: Danbury based maker of power plant fuel cells FuelCell Energy eliminated 96 jobs due to lack of sales.

Florida: Tennessee based marketer, call center operator and job outsourcer Sitel issued a shutdown WARN for their Pompano Beach operations, 804 jobs gone by the end of February 2017!  Orlando based maker of lasers for the healthcare industry Lensar now chapter 11 bankrupt busted.

Georgia: Atlanta based social network YikYak laid off about 30 people due to “strategic changes”.

Illinois: Chicago based jobs company Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported that employers increased job killing by 25% compared to November.

Kentucky: Louisville based internet selling site CafePress confirmed it laid off more employees due to a “strategic” shift in policy.  Back in August CafePress eliminated jobs at its California ops.

Massachusetts: For the second time this year Boston based bar management software developer BevSpot laid off employees.  Reports say BevSpot’s entire ‘outbound’ sales department was canned due to low sales to restaurants and bars.

Minnesota: Seagate suddenly laid off 155 people in Shakopee, due to crashing demand for hard drives!

New York: NYC based Associated Press laid off 25 people. 

Pennsylvania: Comcast issued a WARN for their Lancaster operations, 78 jobs gone by May 2017.

Washington: Spokane based internet retailer etailz eliminating at least 8% of its positions due to selling out to New York based Trans World Entertainment.  Seattle Times warned employees of layoffs due to crashing advertising revenue.

Tech/Communications shutdown November 2016: GRINCH CONDUCTS MASSIVE “ORGANIZATIONAL DOWNSIZING”, MERRY XMAS!

U.S. Banking/Retail/Service sector destruction December 2016: “I AM FIGHTING….AN UNWINNABLE FIGHT.”