More People Out of Work
Unemployment in West Bend climbed more than a percent in June to 14.6 percent, the third highest in Wisconsin.
The state Department of Workforce Development said Wednesday that West Bend’s unemployment rate trailed only Beloit, with 18.6 percent, and Racine, with 16.6 percent.
In May, unemployment in West Bend was at 13.4 percent, fifth highest in Wisconsin. It was 6.0 percent in June of last year.
Nice. And what is the government’s response? Minimum wage increase in effect this Friday!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 0909 hrs
Wait, I thought this administration said unemployment wouldn’t get over 9% and now we are talking double didgets?!? Some areas are at 12%, 13% or 14%!! Holy Cow!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 0937 hrs
A real lack of job creation is the hallmark of an ineffective city council. Thankyou Terry Vrana and Tony Turner.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 0950 hrs
Doesn’t West Bend have any “shovel-ready” jobs?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 0958 hrs
So-called shovel ready jobs utlitize people who already have a job, such as municipal workers. They’re not creating jobs, but rather, creating more work for currently employed local government employees.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 1050 hrs
To a degree, anon, I agree with you. I would like to see out city council, the Mayor, and the hired city folks get a heckuva a lot more aggressive in trying to recruit businesses to West Bend. It’s a bit asinine to lay that at the feet of two aldermen who you don’t like, but your overall point is right on.
Posted by Owen on July 23, 2009 at 1055 hrs
To add on…
Beyond recruiting businesses, the city workers need to do a better job getting out of the way and letting businesses get down to business. The flap a couple of years ago where they held up a permit for a few weeks because they didn’t like the shade of red for the roof comes to mind…
Part of the problem has to do with scope. The Council seems willing to bend over backward for the collection of small businesses in the down town, but I’d like to see that same level of aggressiveness for other - LARGER - businesses. West Bend used to be a center of industry and finance. It can be again.
Posted by Owen on July 23, 2009 at 1059 hrs
Owen - WB is also a part of Washington County that paid the Washington County Development Corp. $100,000 earlier this year.
Has WB ever got anything for it’s money?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 1114 hrs
Not that I know of.
Posted by Owen on July 23, 2009 at 1117 hrs
Perhaps this library kerfuffle that’s finally going national is a result of all this newfound free time that West Benders have these days. CNN is nice but I still have hopes for Colbert.
I know if I owned a business and saw a headline like “Library fight riles up city, leads to book-burning demand,” I’d be on the phone with the local chamber of commerce in a heartbeat. Because those are the kinds of communities in which business owners are just dying to relocate.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 23, 2009 at 1247 hrs
How’s that “Hope & Change” workin’ for ya?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 1319 hrs
RS:
Perhaps some tidbits to chew on.
Business owners may be enticed by:
1. A community that has a predominant overtone of concern for the children/minors, and isn’t afraid to be vocal.
2. A mayor who listens to her community and has the backbone to tell the library board to do what the community is demanding.
3. A library board that tosses the library director and YA librarian for supporting the ALA instead of their community, BLATANTLY, I might add.
4. A city council that forces an wet-noodle mayor to act like a mayor and take charge of leadership.
5. An impressive group of leaders that has no problem acting upon parental requests to identify sexually explicit books in a taxpayer-funded library, standing up to the illegitimate pressure of outside national organizations.I could go on….
Posted by GAMazy on July 23, 2009 at 1420 hrs
As a former business owner - I can tell you that I wouldn’t give two hoots about what was going on at the public library. My concerns would be taxes, trained workforce, and being able to sell my goods and services.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 1443 hrs
Yes Ginny, because that’s exactly how it looks in the media. No, wait. It looks like you’re a bunch of unemployed book burners.
Perception is reality. Sorry. But wow, to hear you talk, you certainly do believe in your own righteousness and the righteousness of your cause. “Impressive group of leaders?” Hope you didn’t fall over from patting yourself on the back so hard.
Carry on. Still waiting for Colbert to show up.
Posted by Recess Supervisor on July 23, 2009 at 1836 hrs
... and in related news, Gov. Doyle is preparing to review the Civil War troops at Camp Randall on Saturday.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/459409
:zzdeadhorse:
Posted by hsgbdmama on July 23, 2009 at 1952 hrs
Frankly, I’m amazed that WB is doing so poorly. Let Owen and me split $1 million, and we will show you some real stimulus.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 23, 2009 at 2209 hrs
“9.Not that I know of.”
Actually, I would like to know what part of the county they have ever brought in new business. Would you know that?
There must be some track record for the county to pay that kind of money.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 24, 2009 at 0600 hrs
All of this job loss as a successful business (Fleet Farm) is given the run around because they want to move and “expand” at their County Z site. Hummm why wasn’t Pick and Save north treated the same way, or any of the other “new” businesses that have come to West Bend since Fleet Farm’s request? Oh, and these “new” businesses? NONE of them offer family supporting wages, so in actuality no matter as to the situation, Washington county’s jobs are pathetically low paying. My guess is that though the unemployment rate here is high, it’s because these people lost jobs that were located in other counties.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 24, 2009 at 0935 hrs
Given what Diamond Jim and the Democrats, er, Statists in the Legislature just passed for a budget, it’d going to be hard to lure business to any place in Wisconsin.
Posted by Peter on July 24, 2009 at 0935 hrs
Scott: The delay for Fleet Farm has nothing to do with a “runaround” by the city. The company bypassed more workable parcels on the north, east, and west sides of West Bend, and tried to buy cheaper property on the west side of Highway Z, outside the city limits and beyond the city’s sewer & water service area. When that fell through, Fleet bought property on the east side of Hwy Z. The project has been delayed because of problems with highway access and wetland incursion, involving DOT, DNR and the Town of West Bend (part of the parcel is still in the town); the city has had little to do with it.
Most commercial and industrial site plans go through the process as quickly as Pick n Save.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 24, 2009 at 2341 hrs
Bottom line for businesses locating in West Bend or anywhere is tax dollars, qualified workers, and will my goods or services sell, safe place to do business, less regulations and hassle.
This is what Diamond Jim Doyle doesn’t get or maybe he does and doesn’t give a rip. Quite Frankly, Obama doesn’t get it either.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on July 27, 2009 at 0839 hrs
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