Piper

[Rod Bender]

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_news/article/0,2545,TCP_16736_5596247,00.html

VERO BEACH ? The region's $76.5 million incentive package to keep local the headquarters of Piper Aircraft Inc. and land the company's planned PiperJet manufacturing plant may not be enough to keep the company from taking off, local officials said Thursday.

At stake are the aircraft maker's 1,050 existing jobs and about 500 people who would be hired to manufacture the PiperJet.

So the county is in effect paying these workers and Piper gets free labor.  

[rexydg]

So the county is in effect paying these workers and Piper gets free labor.

 Not the county ....YOU!!   

[Site Technician]

That's correct ~ the county doesn't have ANY money to pay anyone for anything that did not come from your pocket.  YOU are the source of all money the city, county, state and federal governments hand out to others.

Think about that. Think hard about that. It's all YOUR money!!

[Rod Bender]

Isn't that the message that needs to be drummed into the people ? (voters)

[Rod Bender]

Why aren't  things like this discussed by our elite media ? 

[Site Technician]

Why aren't  things like this discussed by our elite media ? 

By some almost objective measures, this forum IS the elite media.

It certainly is the news and opinion down at the front line level.  What my council member thinks is important to me, but what my neighbor thinks is sometimes more important. Since both have been invited here and some have not shown up, they have reduced the value of their opinion to silence.

[StephanieGoings]

Because they don't care about the little man, all they care about is the influential people with mucho dinero...

[Rod Bender]

Sad, but true.

This also makes it a target. I know they read it. I wouldn't doubt they would like to shut it down.

[rexydg]

yeah RB I am sure they would like to... but how COULD they?

 They couldn't... not unless you let them. I for one will not be intimidated or pushed around by this city ... they already know that.

[StephanieGoings]

I'm not intimidated by anything, except spiders and bugs...   :o

[StephanieGoings]

S.C., Tallahassee, out of running for Piper


nadia.gergis@scripps.com
Posted at 1:08 p.m.
Updated at 1:14 p.m.
June 22, 2007
VERO BEACH ? South Carolina and Tallahassee won't land Piper Aircraft.
Piper has announced that the company has narrowed down potential site locations for its headquarters and new PiperJet operations to three communities: Vero Beach, Oklahoma City and Albuquerque, N.M.


Advertisement
In a prepared statement, Piper spokesman Mark Miller said, "despite their strengths, Columbia and Tallahassee did not compare as favorably as competing cities when we considered some of our key location criteria such as a more established aviation sector and a ready workforce of employees with the skills required to meet our needs. In addition, the remaining locations still on our list were able to propose significant offers of business incentives."
On Thursday, the Vero Beach City Council and the Indian River County Commission revealed a $76.5 million incentive package to keep local the headquarters of Piper Aircraft and land the company's planned PiperJet manufacturing plant ? but local officials said it may not be enough to keep the company from leaving.

A $40 million, 30-year general obligation bond ? that will require Indian River County property owners to add 7.28 percent to their property taxes ? will fund the bulk of the package.

[Rod Bender]

that will require Indian River County property owners to add 7.28 percent to their property taxes

Yup, the taxpayers give piper free labor.

[Site Technician]

This also makes it a target. I know they read it. I wouldn't doubt they would like to shut it down.

Repeal the first amendment and then we'll talk about it. Or rather, not talk about it.

[rexydg]

Repeal the first amendment and then we'll talk about it. Or rather, not talk about it.

[Rod Bender]

yeah RB I am sure they would like to... but how COULD they?

First, discredit the posters. Second, point to any inaccuracies made in the post.
Third, jump on any post that could be labeled 'racist', 'biased', 'sexist', 'inappropriate', you get the idea.

They may not be able to take it off the web, they could get folks to turn away.

Can you see why the staff of this site walks the thin line ?
It's a difficult job to let people have their say and still not give the opposition ammo.

Work with the staff and you have a place for your voice to be heard, if not....we will have a group of disgruntled people talking to themselves.

Is there any other place to voice your concerns ? Remember.....other sits have come & gone.

One more thought before I get off my box. Make that two.
Get involved, don't just let George do it & get involved with V.O.T.E.

[rexydg]

ill just re-iterate..

[rexydg]

Repeal the first amendment and then we'll talk about it. Or rather, not talk about it.

[Kerry]

Yup, the taxpayers give piper free labor.

Very true, but we all know WE fund/finance everything.  The big difference is, unlike the hundreds of millions in developer needed projects, which give us nothing in return, THIS will provide real jobs for the local workforce.  Something like this is almost unknown in FLA.

[Rod Bender]

That's a good point...but...the payroll is being paid by the taxpayers and the company gets the profits.

We may as well just put these people on the county payroll and let them do something for the people.

[Kerry]

Sorry, not even close.  The benefits from such an employer translates into billions for the local economy.

[Rod Bender]

The workforce will still buy their homes, cars, food, and all that no matter what name is on top of the check.

[rexydg]

The workforce will still buy their homes, cars, food, and all that no matter what name is on top of the check.

Whaaat?... ???

[Pat O'Hoolihan]

The workforce will still buy their homes, cars, food, and all that no matter what name is on top of the check.

I agree  most of the time no matter who is paying the bills the money will be spent.

[Kerry]

Then I'm afraid you have no experience with corporate America.

Even with the locals being forced deeper into the swamp and out of staters willing/able to purchase homes at prices few here can afford?????????????????????  Does anyone here believe America became the most powerful/wealthiest country EVER seen because of the low wage/unskilled service/retail industry like we have here?  The stripmall/walmart wages has people living in rentals and lining up for foodstamps.

SHEESH!

[Rod Bender]

I don't see any difference in the taxpayers paying Pipers labor force and bills then taxpayers supporting big sugar.

If Piper pays no rent, no taxes, has a building supplied for them and basically free labor, what do they do ?
Bring in parts and materials and ship their product out. Oh, and pay the electric bill.

Sounds like a sweet deal. 

[rexydg]

I don't see any difference in the taxpayers paying Pipers labor force and bills then taxpayers supporting big sugar.

If Piper pays no rent, no taxes, has a building supplied for them and basically free labor, what do they do ?
Bring in parts and materials and ship their product out. Oh, and pay the electric bill.

Sounds like a sweet deal. 

 Hell of a lot better deal than ANOTHER Wal-Mart!

[Rod Bender]

Don't see the comparison.  dunno

[Kerry]

No difference than any small business, which is what Fla business is is small business, needing an industry paying wages for the local businesses to survive, or a stripmall needing an "anchor store" in order to survive.

Looking at it from another persepective, what do you have without jobs?

[Voices Moderator]

needing an industry paying wages

Aren't the taxpayers paying these wages in this case ?

[Kerry]

That's the way it is now, little choice in the matter.  More noticable here because there's so little.  But if you researched it, you'd be shocked at how much is given away nationally.

[Pat O'Hoolihan]

I am not sure I can argue AGAINST New Jobs

[Kerry]

It used to be companies moved to where the population was.  Not only for the market, but for an educated/skilled workforce.

The workforce here is not desireable to any corporation and you now see commerce moving around the globe just as easily and cheaply as it used to from state to state.

 A corporation used to pay it's employees, the residents of a community, who in turn spent money in the local businesses.  We now have articles showing our restaurant business slowing down due to the lack of jobs.  Our money is leaving. 

I believe Ross Perot, who I voted for for president mentioned the "sucking sound" of jobs and money leaving.  We are now living it.

[Sy Furrow]

It just amazes me that they are going to give $4 million to Piper in October but can't give the county workers a decent raise and forcing others to retire early to receive a medical benefit. They really have their constituents interest at heart.

[Kerry]

Ya know, I was pretty sure in my opinion and started doing some research with google and now I have no idea!  There's so much on economic incentives and there's a "bad idea" page for every "good idea".

But there's one thing I'm positive on is that we have no one in this state capable of generating ANYTHING, especially since there's such a large number of people who only want "clean industry", which doesn't exist and an even larger number of retirees who couldn't care less.  All they want is "pretty and lovely" which leaves us workin folk bent over if ya catch my gist!

[Carl]

Well. according to T-Bo(o)ne Pickens, we're gonna be needing to manUfacture a
whole lotta windmill blades. That has to be somewhat of a clean industry.

Oh wait - that's already been outsourced.  Never mind.

[Sage1949]

Kerry...i voted for ROSS Perot...you are only the second person i have met in my whole life who did.  ANyway, didn't we learn from Torry Pines.....yeah...they bought homes in other counties and complained heavy about not being able to get their kids in (senior moment forget the name of the ""school"" i do not have school age kids so ignore the school names)as the reason they didn't move into TRADITION ....COME ON...they saw the Walmart crowd and were scared.  LOL....really....how many jobs went to locals??? and what type of jobs were they??? And they spend their money in Jupiter, upper Vero, and those communities...it will be the same with Piper.  (don't we have any drinking smiley's???  I'm one glass short of a WHOLE bottle right now) OH S==T...this post is a year old....LOL...jokes on me!!!!!! WTF....

[Carl]

don't we have any drinking smiley's???