Sound and fury, signifying something
By Patrick Kelley
Originally published 01:01 p.m., February 11, 2008
Updated 01:01 p.m., February 11, 2008
Is the flurry of government and community activity in the wake of the Tyson job cuts warranted? Consider this:
The December employment statistics for Lyon County show a labor force of 19,024. Of that total, 18,261 had jobs. The firings announced by Tyson so far could reach 1,800. That is 10 percent of the jobs in Lyon County.
For government services, a loss of 10 percent of the community’s jobs will cause a similar drop in sales-tax revenues and a drop in property-tax collections. For a city and county that are already pinching pennies to balance their budgets, the loss of revenue is serious.
In the commercial economy, the loss of 10 percent of the community’s wage-earners will mean a sharp dip in sales. Businesses that are running close to the edge may be pushed over that edge by the added losses. Even businesses that are doing relatively well may be forced to cut their work forces to make up for reduced sales. Those job losses compound the problem.
Health-care providers — especially the Flint Hills Community Health Center, Newman Regional Health and the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas — can expect to see an increased demand for services from people who are least able to pay for them.
The demand will increase for donations of money, food and household supplies.
Ten percent is a substantial chunk of the community’s jobs. The situation is serious and demands immediate, coordinated community action.
That is what we are seeing. The planning sessions, information meetings and job fairs are all part of the community response. Coordination is yet to be as good as it could be, but the city, health and welfare agencies, Friends in Faith, the Salvation Army and the city’s other churches are working together to create a support network to meet the needs of the Tyson workers and their families.
And the city, economic-development agencies and businesses are laying plans to create new jobs to replace the ones that have been lost.
From day to day, all the meetings and fairs may seem like a noisy mess, but it is not the clamor of panic. Noise is what you get when a lot of people are working fast.
The city, agencies, churches and people of Emporia are doing what must be done. The more the community does now, the quicker it can recover from this devastating blow.
In the meantime, the community is learning valuable skills in working together and working effectively to survive and thrive.
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I was in Topeka when Forbes Air Force Base closed and the naysayers cried of doom and looming disaster. I was in Salina when Schilling closed and the citizens panicked and predicted the city would soon be a ghost town. Now I am in Emporia and the Tyson plant is creating massive job losses. But I see a difference here. I see hyper-activity, planning, open eyes, job fairs, outside employers seeking employees, increased employment ads in the newspaper. I see more action than reaction. What I see is a city and citizenry not willing to settle for what could be, but doing what needs to be done to ensure what should be. I see a city and it's people fighting like Pit Bulls to make sure they survive and eventually thrive. Emporians have chosen to close a door behind them, not in front of them. You're doing "right things right", Emporia. You will get through this and be better for it because you understand the shame is not in being knocked down, but in not trying to get back up. When the goin' gets tough, the tough get goin', and I am seeing signs that Emporians are pretty darn tough!
February 11, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )