I was reading on the Chattanoogan.com website about the Toyota plant near Tupelo, Miss. was going to be mothballed. Also in that article was the discussion of VW still going ahead with the Chattanooga plant.
I fear Chattanooga, Hamilton County and all of Southeast Tennessee have put all their eggs in one basket with VW.
Even the other day, McMinn County's county mayor was on TV, stating that the Bowater layoffs were bad, but they expect more industry because of VW.
It seems that if you put so much on one business, they have control over you. A Canadian news source stated that VW has already received $577 million is subsidies. If they do go into production, which I think with the economic woes is iffy, they will have a hold on the entire southeast.
This is kinda like Walmart, when it comes into a small town. It was on the news this morning, that VW was looking at plants in Russia, India, and Chattanooga. If they decide to wait a while, at their discretion, what in the world will everyone who is waiting with baited breath going to do.
Let's see, someone else is holding our fates in their hands..again.
Mitchell Thurmer
mthurmer4300@comcast.net
Signal Mountain
* * *
Mr. Thurmer,
What would you have the city and county do? What is your resolution? What is your plan to bring jobs to the valley? What jobs can you provide? My guess is it is time for you to step aside and let the next generation deal with their own destiny.
The fact that you choose to see only the VW media hype does not mean the city and county are not seeking other new businesses.
Yes VW could be a flop - Volkswagen's first attempt at U.S. assembly closed after 10 years in Westmoreland Pa. Does that mean we should not take the chance? At least this way there is more than a bunch of trees and artist renderings to attract other businesses if VW does fail. The hardest part in attracting new business is being able to show hard developed real estate - pretty water color and chalk renderings are not tangible incentives.
Remember downtown Chattanooga before the Aquarium? Someone had to step in and dump big bucks before everyone else would come set up shop. None of the jobs and booming development of the past 10 years would be there if that one private entity had not stepped in and put his money where your mouth is.
As far as Bowater layoffs are concerned chalk that up to nearsightedness and the inability of management to realize newsprint is a declining market. Next thing you will see is them gutting the paper machines and shipping them to China - just hide and watch.
Jobs come and go in the Tennessee valley. That is just life. Don't forget to waggle your finger at Wheland, U.S. Pipe, Combustion Engineering, Cavalier... The list is endless.
David Little
Chattanooga
* * *
Mr. Little,
Wheland, U. S. Pipe, Combustion Engineering and Cavalier bought the land and built their plants without government socialism. Why didn't the city and state help them stay open, first?
Volkswagen will need engineering, brake shoes, sewer pipe, and coke machines.
Chuck Davis
Lookout Mountain, Tn.