City manager’s statement
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 02:14 p.m., January 28, 2008
Updated 02:14 p.m., January 28, 2008
This morning, City Manager Matt Zimmerman released this statement about the city’s planned response to Tyson’s cutting of 1,500 employees at its Emporia plant:
To the Citizens of Emporia:
It was with great shock and sadness that we all learned about Tyson’s plans to reduce its workforce by over 1,500 positions on Friday. All of our hearts go out to the employees and family of those who will be affected. Some will struggle or be forced to relocate far from the town they call home. We as a community must now more than ever reach out to our fellow citizens in the spirit of love and support.
We all recognize that this is going to have a significant impact on our community. I am not going to be falsely optimistic about what this will mean in the short-term. There will be a reduction in the quality of life that you have heard so much talk about in the past few months. But this will not be the end of Emporia. We are too strong, too resilient to let this keep us down. Emporia has survived the panic of 1893, the dust bowl days of the 1930’s, the devastating destruction from the tornado of 1974, the loss of the service house for Burlington Northern Santa Fe, and more recently, the closing of Didde and Modine. The community always bounced back and grew.
This will be our opportunity to diversify our economy, whereby we will no longer be so dependent on one industry and one employer. In economics, the first rule is that the only constant is change. One industry may be decreasing, but others must and will spring up to take its place. One complaint we hear from employers is that there is not enough of a trained, high- quality workforce in Emporia. I think we can all agree that’s no longer the case, which we can use to our advantage.
We have already started making plans to address this challenge. The good news is that numerous agencies have already developed a plan for improving the community, called Building Futures. The agencies that are involved include the city of Emporia, Chamber of Commerce, Regional Development Agency, Emporia Main Street, Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College. As part of Building Futures, a Blueprint for Growth and Development has been developed and is designed to improve the quality of life by increasing the employment, retail, dining and educational opportunities. While the blueprint will have to be modified to address the current situation, we can be thankful that the plans and the organizations are already in place to deal with the crisis. We are already one step ahead of many other towns that have been forced into this position.
U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, State Sen. Jim Barnett, and State Reps. Don Hill and Peggy Mast have pledged their full support to Emporia and will have state and federal economic relief agencies ready to assist our residents and businesses. A Community Response Team (CRT) has also been created and is scheduled to meet on Friday to develop specific action steps to start the recovery. Social service agencies are on the CRT and will be able to coordinate health, mental health and family service programs. Charitable agencies such as the United Way and Salvation Army have been asked to assist the CRT and coordinate their relief efforts. The CRT will continue to work through this crisis and keep the residents informed as to what is happening, where they can find help, and our progress towards recovery.
The most important thing to remember is not to overreact, but to have hope. I encourage you to look for support from family, friends, your church and your neighbors. We have the team members, agencies and programs available that will help all of us weather this storm. One of the things that has so impressed my wife and me when we came to Emporia, in addition to the friendliness of the people, is the number of agencies and people who give so much of their time and energy to helping others in a time of need. Let us keep that spirit and look beyond the dark clouds towards a better future.
Patrick (anonymous) says...
I'm not from Emporia, but I've been following the tawdry story of Emporia's slanderous bigotry toward Somali Tyson workers on the web for several months now, since I first happened upon the lies. Your community spread hate stories and held public meetings falsely claiming that Somalis were diseased. You refused to give those hardworking people the welcoming acceptance into your community that they deserved simply as human beings.
Know that there is a just God who watches over us and Who can forcefully address such lies and such mistreatment. You can be sure that the Somali employees will find other positions with Tyson.
And know that a business, when forced to make deep employment cuts (and when all other things are equal among a large number of communities) is likely to target those cuts for a community that just can't seem to get along with its employees and that puts the company in a bad light and exposes the company to possible liability, rather than take impose hardship on a community that genuinely supports it.
Perhaps if Emporia SINCERELY apologized to the Somali community and Tyson, begged a merciful God for forgiveness and a second chance while firmly pledging to the Somalis and to Tyson a firm commitment to keep the bigots under careful supervisory control; perhaps yet Emporia could keep those jobs.
January 28, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
railroadhorn (anonymous) says...
It's economics, not prejudice, for Tyson. Doesn't excuse how some people have acted toward the Somalis, however. This is a biz decision. Read the comments on Friday's story. Very interesting reading.
January 28, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Wow Patrick.....you managed to post something as narrow-minded and ignorant as the people who want to rid Emporia of our Somalian population.....impressive.
Thank you for painting Emporia as a city full of bigots and a frightened immigrant population.
Yes there are some here that fit into the "bigot" category. Most do not.
Most Emporian's have no issues with the Somalian's, and hope they do reach the point where they feel welcome and accepted here. It's good for our community...and the people who live here.
As railroadhorn stated....this was strictly a financial decision. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool.
January 28, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
anonomom (anonymous) says...
Our Prayers are with you and all the others in our government working to help the displaces workers, Mr Zimmerman.
January 28, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
EsqEB (anonymous) says...
Patrick,
Set the Kool-Aid down and slowly back away...
January 28, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lecopt (anonymous) says...
What are the reasons that Tyson has given for such a massive lay off (1,500 employees) at it's Emporia plant? I would expect an accurate, direct and detailed answer.
Emporia taxes too high?
Not enough cattle to process?
Low productivity from employees?
Transfer of business to more productive Tyson plants?
Poor location for beef processing plant?
High transportation cost of cattle/beef before and after processing?
January 28, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnDoe (anonymous) says...
Patrick, drop whatever you are doing and track down an economics book. Promptly open the book to the section on "recession." There you will find great information on why this is happening. You will also come to the conclusion that this has nothing to do with the Somalians not being well accepted.
On that topic what exactly were you expecting? Transplanting a vastly different culture of people into a small town in Kansas. You honestly fail to see why that might be an awkward transition? Perhaps you could use a real-life example. Here it goes: Yourself and a large group of your friends take a long trip to Somalia. See if you are treated awkwardly or if you're instantly accepted. Report back to us with your findings.
January 28, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landinkansas (anonymous) says...
This is strictly a business decision by Tyson. Go to any financial page and do a little research on Tyson. They are not in a very good business at this time. They are doing poorly for a publicly owned company.
Oh yes - Patrick, you have a serious problem?
January 28, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wanderer (anonymous) says...
Good luck, Matt. It won't be easy, but nothing worth doing ever is.
January 28, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Patrick (anonymous) says...
Yes, it's strictly a business decision by Tyson. And yes, the US is definitely in recession. The fact remains that Tyson is located in many communities around the US. It could have closed some other facility in some other community. It didn't. As I noted earlier, all other factors being equal, a business is going to select for elimination from among a number of communities the community that gives it trouble. In this case, Emporia with its horrific race-baiting against Tyson employees. Joe Strummer hopes Somalis "do reach the point where they feel welcome and accepted here". The fact that they don't already feel welcome and accepted after two years is telling, very telling indeed. As for Strummer's concern about Emporia being branded as a city of bigots, kindly disabuse me of the notion by showing me here from anytime in the past two years:
*a public statement from any council member or the city manager denouncing the race-baiting attacks against the Somalis.
OR
*the same from any pastor or schoolteacher.
OR
*an editorial from a local newspaper specifically, courageously and strongly denouncing the dangerous "disease" racebaiting by local bigots targeting the Somalis.
Just one of these, that's all. From any of the 3 possibilities.
If you can't, don't ask me to believe that the bigotry is not a community-wide blight.
As for JohnDoe's point about transplanting a vastly different culture into a small town in Kansas - are you guys telling me you're not man enough to be able to absorb a 4% change in population - even a "vastly different cultural population" of 4% - over a two-year period?
Stop whining and start apologizing to the Somalis while any fast fading chance for a rapprochement with Tyson still remains.
January 28, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
b3bill (anonymous) says...
Mr. Zimmerman and all members of the City Council should be held accountable to provide a brief monthly report at each City Council meeting on the progress of bringing new industry to Emporia. If businesses were being negotiated with and the deal fell through, that needs to be reported too. At least it would give indication that something is being done. Without this expectation by citizens of Emporia, it is rather easy for those elected and hired to run the town to let this issue just drift on and on without deep commitment to help turn things around. If they are truly concerned about helping Emporia, they should have no problem making this kind of report.
January 28, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
landinkansas (anonymous) says...
Somalis and TYSON deciding to downsize their operation here are two totally different subjects. One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Citizens of Emporia concerned about the well being of thier community did not drive TYSON to this decision. Economics did.
You are really reaching with your final sentence in your last message Patrick. What is your "real" agenda anyway?
Emporia will survive. The only thing in life that doesn't change is the fact that we "constantly change".
January 28, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
outdoorguy (anonymous) says...
Apparently Patrick never had the pleasure of having 3 "poor Somalis" cut in front of his wife or grandmother in line at Walmart, then turn around and cold stare them down when confronted! Was your wife Pat, out on a walk had to take the street when meeting 2 Somalis that won't yield to a lady because they see them as beneath them.Hell, the kids couldn't even play out front because they drove on the sidewalk more than the street! They didn't want to conform to "American life" except for handouts. I call this far from bigotry. Could an Asian do the same? How bout a French man? Their skin color had nothing to do with it! It was their attitude! Rude and uncompliant, WE were expected to change for them. I feel terrible about all the PEOPLE who are losing their jobs soon, but you won't see one tear shed as the Somalis pack up and more on. America is a free country by God, so let them go see some more of it!!
January 28, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cloud (anonymous) says...
Dear Patrick,
Not a mere pastor but an entire denomination has embraced the needs of the Somalis here in Emporia. Catholic Community Services in Emporia is putting their money where their mouth is and helping the Somalis with friendship and aid. Many people in Emporia are clueless about how to embrace the Somalis in a meaningful way that is also culturally sensitive. We are not all bigots and many of us grimace at the same words that bothered you.
So, Patrick, where are you from?
January 28, 2008 at 10:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
Patrick, as I recall, Tyson did shut down a couple of other plants. One in the East someplace? And one in Nebraska. A lot of the Somalians were in Nebraska and moved here when they shut that plant down.
Why do you listen to a handful of loud mouthed bigots who post on an internet bulletin board to form your opinions of an entire town? Come visit us, stay a few weeks. You'll see a different picture than the one you've formed of Emporians.
Tyson is keeping on what? 800 or 900 workers? how do we know they won't be mostly Somalians? I have no idea who's staying or who is going.
I think over time that our local loud mouthed bigots will have to calm themselves, and they'll see that people will assimilate and learn how to live within our culture. Of course they want to maintain aspects of their own culture, but over time they'll assimilate.
It's got to be hard on them to be moved around so often though. That's not easy on anyone. But add in that they are refugees who left a horrific situation, likely having lost loved ones and friends, well, it can't be easy for them.
Patrick it does no Earthly good to point fingers. You aren't here, you don't see what the rest of us do. It isn't how you view it. Don't base your judgments on what you see from a small handful of people on the internet.
January 28, 2008 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
Patrick......seriously man, you have absolutely no clue what is going on in Emporia.
Race-baiting? According to you, we're all a bunch of Archie Bunker's rushing to our next KKK rally.
Yes we have bigotry in Emporia....I implore you to find a single city on this entire planet that does not. Does that mean everyone in Emporia is a bigot? Does it mean the majority of resident's are bigot's? Of course not.
Yes it is true it has not been a smooth transition for the Somali's. Yes there are people who are unhappy, and even very angry that they are here. On the flip side, there are many Emporian's who have worked hard towards making the Somali's welcome. Who treat them as they deserve to be treated.
If your entire opinion of Emporia is based solely on what you've read, (as it appears to be), you are even more ignorant then you first presented yourself. If you think the decision made by Tyson has anything to do with race, well I'm sorry....you're simply a moron.
I refuse to apologize to the Somali's.....I've done no wrong to them.
Provide proof I'm not a racist?? I know me, I know my friends, I know my family. I feel no need to prove anything to someone who reads a few articles and then slams an entire community.
January 28, 2008 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
alfalfa (anonymous) says...
I think this was a business decision, I don't think Emporia's perceived or real attitude toward Tyson or the Somalis played a part. For some eye opening reading, whether true or not, search "Tyson Somalis" and read some of the articles that come up.
January 28, 2008 at 11:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Patrick (anonymous) says...
It's not just a few bigots on an internet board. Every hate group around the country has had a field day bashing Somalis in Emporia, usually with the "disease" label. And Emporia did not rebuke them, just as Emporia did not rebuke its own bigots.
The proof:
Results 1 - 10 of about 36,900 for somali emporia. (0.42 seconds)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ne...
Or if the link doesn't work, just visit google and type in the search terms: somali emporia
The google results that you will see speak for themselves. Emporia has a lot to live down. Tyson was helping build Emporia by bringing in the Somalis and you kicked the gift horse in the teeth. It's clear and sadly true from the incredible state of denial demonstrated by other people posting here that when it came time to reduce its jobs that Tyson was absolutely correct to make Emporia its selection out.
January 28, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporian (anonymous) says...
Do you live here or just run your mouth about what you hear on the internet?
January 29, 2008 at 1:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Joe_Strummer (anonymous) says...
I think you answered your own question emporian.
As previously stated, Patrick has not a clue about what is going on in Emporia. It's obvious he will drink whatever flavor Kool-aid is placed in front of him.
Patrick, your ignorance is so over-powering it's bordering on ridiculous.
Since you believe everything you read, and if it's on the internet, then it MUST be true...... I've got a business proposition for you that involves a bridge in Brooklyn.
January 29, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
If "every hate group around the country" is bashing Emporia, that doesn't prove that most of the people in Emporia are bigots or racists.
Patrick, I think you just want to believe that is so. Believe me, I couldn't live in a town with as many bigots as you believe are here. My family is racially and culturally diverse. We'd never survive in a town such as you describe.
January 29, 2008 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cloud (anonymous) says...
I have an idea. Patrick, why don't you move to Emporia and reform us all?
January 29, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )