$100-MILLION HOLD-UP, SUSPECT IDENTIFIED BUT NO ARREST

Submitted by Roldo on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:31.

There’s been a multi-million dollar holdup and the police are doing nothing about it. The bandit – Alcoa - world’s leading producer of aluminum and aluminum products. Hard to believe. Or not.

 
Alcoa, with assets of $37.8 billion and sales in 2008 of $26.9 billion is holding up the State of Ohio and other local governments for more than $100 million for a broken press.
 
Alcoa is holding hostage the jobs of 1,000 employees in Cuyahoga Heights.
 
No press, no jobs, Alcoa says.
 
Here’s the story, according to a Plain Dealer report: Alcoa has a 50,000 ton hydraulic press that needs repair. So it goes to the taxpayer, not its owners, for a fix.
 
Alcoa is laying its hands on the State of Ohio for a $3 million loan (starting at 1 percent and rising to 3 percent over 10 years) loan. Adding to this will be the need for public funding of $111 million to get the large press up and running. A $111-million!
 
At the same time, $3.2 million will go to Cleveland to help clean-up the Flats for the proposed Wolstein development. If you can’t give money to the rich, why run for office?
 
Does the government give you money when your car breaks down or your house gets damaged, or even destroyed by fire? I don’t think so.
 
But a multi-billion company can pressure your government to open its pockets to hundreds of millions of dollars. Alcoa is throwing its weight around and holding people’s jobs as detainees.
 
Alcoa in 2008 had a profit of $229,000,000. Why doesn’t it use its own money to fix its own machinery?
 
Well, because our governments have become easy marks for our corporate community to use. They have one state trying to outcompete with another state for business and jobs. Nobody gets hurt more than taxpayers.
 
Alcoa’s top executive, Klaus Kleinfeld was paid $10,396,164 last year and $27,066,977 the year before. Why don’t Alcoa executives begin to pay their own costs of doing business?
 
With charitable governors, mayors and county officials they don’t have to use their money. So you have pick up the slack and pay more taxes while taking less pay.
 
Does this country need a revolution or what?
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I forgot to say that Alcoa

Submitted by Roldo on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:26.

I forgot to say that Alcoa talks of its "Integrity," noting that "Alcoa's foundation is our integrity. We are open, honest and trustworthy in  dealing with customers, suppliers, coworkers, shareholders and the communities where we have an impact."

 

Also, under "Accountablility," Alcoa says, "We are accountable - individuallly and in teams - for our behaviors, actions and results.

"We live our Values and measure our success by the success of our customers, shareholders, communities and people."

 

  Alcoa is not likely to

Submitted by None on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:32.

 

Alcoa is not likely to invest $68M in repairs to the press if their profits are down 53% and they are laying off 13,500 internationally. If the investment in the Mesta press of $68M to repair it shifts that facility to more expensive production and if they have the production elsewhere, why would they repair it?

In a international manufacturing world it is all about production costs as well as quality. Best for less?

The reason we have steel and aluminum is the equipment that exists here, it is expensive and cannot be moved and that’s the only reason we even have these manufacturers. Should they repair it, only if they think it worth it to them. They will look at the overall production costs and alternatives.

1) repair the equipment

2) transfer production to other facilities?

3) get the state to pay for the repairs. (did they come up with that or did Columbus?)

Does Alcoa love Cleveland, it is a corporation its obligations are to share holders not the employees or the community. Sad but that is how it is, the facility is Alcoa’s but the Mesta press that is a 50,000 ton press is really ours, it cannot be moved. If it could it would be in China already, along with it production capabilities. That press is how old? Was it named a landmark in the 80’s…YES it was.

Is Alcoa threatening to leave unless the state funds the repairs? NOPE it is inherent in the scenario though. They can leave and will if it is most cost effective for them to shift production to another facility, and today it is definitely cheaper, they have excess and the reason why they are laying off 13.5 thousand employees.

So the state can consider the options, it’s not threatening but they know what having that huge press in the State generates and it’s loss would be felt by the region and not by Alcoa at all.

A revolution…wake me when it is over.

Oengus: Would ever put any

Submitted by Roldo on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:55.

Oengus: Would ever put any limit on  what private interest want  from the public sector? Or is it, take what you need?

if it were

Submitted by noner on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 17:03.

 take what you nEEd, Roldo, we'd have no problems...

its more like take with grEEd.

Why doesn’t it use its own money to fix its own machinery?

Submitted by Susan Miller on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 17:53.

Bailout GM, bailout Chrysler, bailout banks, bailout Alcoa, bailout Ratner, Miller, Kennedy, Wolstein, bailout the port authority, bailout ODOT, bailout the arts and culture... what about the poor who just need public transit to get to work where there is work? Fark 'em if they can't take a joke, eh?

Would their (ALCOA's) shareholders take a hit? Uh... yeah. That's why they are shareholders. They bite the bullet when times are tough; they profit when times are fat.

Now back to flouride - Flouride Follies and ALCOA. We have already paid dearly for ALCOA's toxic waste; drinking it everyday, washing in it, cooking with it. Why doesn't it use its own money to fix its machinery and why doesn't it pay to dispose of its own toxic waste? Like Roldo said, because we are willing and eager to take on the costs. We are brainwashed. Like the rats in the lab, we expect that father knows best.

I esplaned it already.....

Submitted by None on Wed, 05/20/2009 - 20:11.

I esplaned it already..... Call Dennis and ask him to esplain it, oh he is not your congressional is he.  

DR. Miller is a trip, fluoride at what level? In china he finds children that are over exposed? It is the antitheism of saying one is good so five is five times as good. When one is affective and five is an overdose.  Yes it is toxic, but clinically proven to prevent tooth decay. 

I am not that brainwashed, I know how the world works, I obstain for the most part.   

You could say bastards and then give them the money, they have you they have you, this is not med mart this is actuallty 1250 good paying jobs and million in tax revenue.   

We are shitty at being socialists. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The contractors are bidding

Submitted by None on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 10:42.

The contractors are bidding on repairing the block that the forty foot tall press basically slams into. That’s what cracked, the block. It is about 50x50 ft and has cracks in it, the vultures come from all sides. How much to fix it? Oh is that all, hey you’re a big company kick up the cash.

Now you've got it!

Submitted by Roldo on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 15:29.

Now you've got it!

now you've got it

Submitted by Susan Miller on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 18:34.

Here we stand Like an Adam and an Eve

Waterfalls The Garden of Eden

Two fools in love

So beautiful and strong

The birds in the trees

Are smiling upon them

From the age of the dinosaurs

Cars have run on gasoline

Where, where have they gone?

Now, it's nothing but flowers

There was a factory

Now there are mountains and rivers you got it, you got it

We caught a rattlesnake

Now we got something for dinner we got it, we got it

There was a shopping mall

Now it's all covered with flowers you've got it, you've got it

If this is paradise

I wish I had a lawnmower you've got it, you've got it

Years ago I was an angry young man I'd pretend

That I was a billboard

Standing tall

By the side of the road

I fell in love

With a beautiful highway

This used to be real estate

Now it's only fields and trees

Where, where is the town

Now, it's nothing but flowers

The highways and cars

Were sacrificed for agriculture

I thought that we'd start over

But I guess I was wrong

Once there were parking lots

Now it's a peaceful oasis you got it, you got it

This was a Pizza Hut

Now it's all covered with daisies you got it, you got it

I miss the honky tonks, Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens you got it, you got it

And as things fell apart

Nobody paid much attention you got it, you got it

I dream of cherry pies,

Candy bars, and chocolate chip cookies you got it, you got it

We used to microwave

Now we just eat nuts and berries you got it, you got it

This was a discount store,

Now it's turned into a cornfield you got it, you got it

Don't leave me stranded here

I can't get used to this lifestyle

Ahh...

Get ready for a World Made by Hand

Today at the farm in Geauga County - onions, planted in a row, were hoed by hand... Look for them this fall at the North Union Farmer's Market.  Cleveland Shrinks. It is good: transition. Stop with th big multi-million dollar projects. Let the people eat.

Norm once knew Equity Planning, but I think he became discouraged and forgot his mantra.

I see you figured out how to

Submitted by None on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 21:52.

I see you figured out how to post videos J

What about Easter Eggers for the farm?   

Organically feed free range and multi-colored eggs….actually the blue gene is dominant so one rooster could bring about many hens that would produce bluish eggs.  The Urban Agrarain 

 

heh, heh, heh

Submitted by TimFerris on Fri, 05/22/2009 - 18:56.

good to think about the ramifications

Roldo on Governor Kasich

Submitted by westward on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 21:00.

 Roldo wrote this a few months ago as a guest contributor to  plunderbund.com. It is a great peice. 

read here: www.plunderbund.com/2011/03/09/roldo-bartimole-on-governor-kasichs-state-of-the-state-more-bullshit-than-content/

Roldo provided some of the best ever content in NEO

Submitted by Jeff Buster on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 21:25.

 Thank you dw for your link to Roldo's pc.   

I am discouraged that Roldo has been off line.  

Roldo is one of the few individuals who saw the NEO situation with 20 20 vision. 

I need to meet Roldo again for coffee...

but read the fine print. 

Alcoa is bending us all over in the County.

Alcoa needs us to lube their equipment.

We need to pay for the Alcoa lube.

We did pay. 

 

So relax and exhail.  

it's over now

 

Alcoa

Submitted by westward on Mon, 08/29/2011 - 22:06.

 Jeff, I did not mean to steal the thunder from the local Alcoa situation. What is the latest on this?

Perhaps I need to be fair to Kasich. Maybe I should not automatically think corporation, sellout, then Kasich.

Having tuned out most news this year as a means of survival, I googled the Alcoa and see that Alcoa is holding another town hostage for jobs. www.abcnews4.com/story/15286641/alcoa-threatens-to-leave