Incomplete list of publicly announced layoffs & shutdowns:
The U.S. based International Monetary Fund predicts the U.S. job market won’t return to “full employment” until at least 2017.
Arizona: In Tempe, after almost 20 years Big Fish Pub shutdown. Local news reports say it is the result of years of disputes between the Pub owners and the property owners. The Pub owners stated in a long letter to their customers that the property owners finally jacked up the rent so high, it was impossible to pay.
California: In Costa Mesa, after several leaked reports of restaurant shutdowns across the country, upscale Elephant Bar & Restaurant chain made it official and is now chapter 11 bankrupt busted, and up for sale. Company officials are also asking the bankruptcy court for $3.3-million USD to keep the restaurant chain going until a new owner can be found! In Beverly Hills, after 27 years the upscale snooty Kate Mantilini restaurant shutdown. In Pico Rivera, Plaza de la Raza Child Development Services finally notified the state that they killed 52 jobs, back in May. In Oakland, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center warned of more layoffs in August. In Simi Valley, after 50 years of selling steam showers ThermaSol warned state officials of a “closure” in August, at least 21 jobs will be lost. It might have something to do with the company’s shift to internet sales.
Connecticut: The Poquonnock Bridge Fire District warned it must layoff nine firefighters and default on its retirement plan payment due to lack of tax revenues. Apparently that’s even with increased taxation. Local residents and firefighters didn’t seem to understand, perhaps they think money grows on trees?
Delaware: After 32 years Twice Nice Antiques shutdown.
Florida: Miami-Dade County warned of layoffs for law enforcers. According to reports, the county is $140-million in the hole and as a result 416 cops and 160 prison guards, as well as other county employees, could become unemployed! But are the cops worth saving? Miami-Dade has nearly 3-thousand police, yet, according to their very own Miami-Dade Police Benevolent Association their homicide “closure rate is only about 20%” (that means 80% of killings are unsolved)! Of course police officials say the answer to their ineffectiveness is to hire even more cops (apparently cops think taxpayers can just shit the money out of their asses)!
Georgia: In Albany, after 32 years Ed Jordan Music shutdown, the owner blames the bad economy: “I’m 72 years old and I’m tired of fighting it! I think it is time to retire.”-Ed Jordan
Louisiana: University of New Orleans announced they will kill an undisclosed number of their 84 degree programs, which will result in layoffs. The university laid off 28 people back in February. Since 2012 more than 110 employees have been laid off, and they shutdown their child daycare. It’s blamed on disappearing students, for example; in 2003 the university had more than 17-thousand students, in 2013 they had only 9323, an almost 50% reduction over ten years!
Massachusetts: After only 11 years, Center for Digital Imaging Arts now chapter 7 bankrupt busted. Chapter 7 bankruptcy indicates they are toast and will be liqudated.
Michigan: What housing industry recovery? Only six years after moving mortgage operations to Pittsfield Township, Too Big to Jail CitiMortgage laid off 180 people! However, Citi has so much money that the affected employees will get 60 days of pay (and probably not be counted in the unemployment data as a result). The Detroit Land Bank Authority began taking bids on dozens of abandoned houses. This round of auctions involve ‘new build’ homes and bidding starts at $1-thousand. There’s one catch, you have to pay in cash only, plus you must remodel the house (apparently these ‘new’ homes are damaged). Eaton County preps for new round of home auctions on 06 August. The 47 properties were seized from the owners for failure to pay taxes. There is another auction planned later in the month of August. And as far as jobs are concerned, employment service Michigan Works is consolidating its operations resulting in 65 people becoming unemployed.
Minnesota: In Minneapolis, after 32 years Falafel King shutdown. The owner sold off the building because he was “tired” of playing the landlord game.
Nebraska: Italy based portable electricity generator machine maker Pramac America laid off employees. No official reason, or exact number of layoffs were given. Unnamed employees told local news media that the layoffs came without notice, and that only 12 employees were left on the assembly line! Company officials swear they are not shutting down.
Nevada: In Sparks, after 18 years Scolari’s Food & Drug shutdown, 50 jobs lost. Company officials say the shutdown is meant to “keep the company….viable”.
New Hampshire: In Goffstown, after 96 years (and surviving the Great Depression) God refused to stop the shutdown of Villa Augustina School. It’s blamed on disappearing Catholic students. In 2008-09 the Catholic parents tried to save the school by buying it from the Catholic church. However, the students just wouldn’t show up (maybe they’re all in heaven now. Oh no, the rapture?). “A community embracing Christian Values, Academic Excellence, and Loving Service consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church and the charism of St. Claudine Thevenet.”-school mission statement
New Mexico: In Albuquerque, Maloney’s Tavern shutdown, 25 jobs lost. Apparently the property owner wants to sell off the building.
New Jersey: In Secacuse, Classic Party Rentals is shutting down their New Jersey warehouse and laying off 94 people. The California based company recently emerged from bankruptcy and told state officials they had to shutdown their New Jersey ops due to “competition”.
New York: In Brooklyn, after 151 years (and surviving the Great Depression as well as dozens of recessions) snooty upscale prep school Adelphi Academy now chapter 11 bankrupt busted. School officials blame it on disappearing students. Court documents show current K through 12 enrollment at only 100. The Erie County Department of Social Services warning that 11 Child Protective Services employees could lose their jobs. However, county officials say they are working to actually add 37 CPS jobs, the problem is finding the money (yeah, there trying to figure out how to force unemployed taxpayers to shit out more money). For some reason Erie County has seen an “explosion” of child protection cases since 2013. In Corning, World Kitchen warned of mass layoffs at its Pressware dinnerware factory. The Pressware factory started in 1938 making Pyrex, there are reports that this last U.S. owned dinnerware company is being sold off. In Rome, after 33 years B&L Italian Bakery shutdown. In Nanuet, after 50 years sporting goods provider Cleats ‘n Sneaks shutdown. In Batavia, shoe makers (yes there are still some U.S. based shoe makers) P.W. Minor and Sons announced they are shutting down in September. Layoffs for 72 employees beginning now. The owners blame the bad economy.
Ohio: Ohio State University eliminated 13 jobs. School officials said it’s either the layoffs or jacking up tuition. A week after Fifth Third revealed they killed one thousand jobs last year, the Too Big to Jail bank announced it is preparing to shut down, or sell off, 1-thousand offices! Bank officials said they are trying to cut $972-million from their expenses!
Tennessee: The state Department of Human Services killed 121 jobs across 46 counties! State officials ironically claim it’s part of their plan to make access to social services easier!
Texas: In Abilene, God refused to stop non-profit Sears Methodist Retirement Systems from becoming chapter 11 bankrupt busted. The medical housing and care company says it needs $600-thousand right now or it will shut down its 11 centers. 1500 old people and veterans could be affected! Christian officials blamed old people for not being able to pay for the service! (What happened to Obama Care?)
12 – 13 June 2014: School administrators caught in secret bonus deals!
The U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) doesn’t count the hundreds of layoffs involving less than 50 people each, in its mass layoff reports. It also doesn’t count all the little ‘mom & pop’ businesses that shut down.
“Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security….That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.”-Barack Obama, 10 September 2013