Cleveland to lose 1,000 defense jobs

[OzarkDem]

While Voinovich was posturing in the Senate on the Bolton nomination, he did nothing to stop the loss of jobs in his own home town.

http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1116063164191141.xml&coll=2

[G2099]

1. Base Closings: Red vs. Blue breakdown

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/13/11033/6867

[IndianaGreen]

2. The jobs are going to Columbus

Cleveland's Celebreze federal has very high rent. Columbus is cheaper.

Years ago Cleveland got jobs it should not have had thanks to the machinations of some former Navy financial people that took advantage of the jobs they got in the Beltway.

[OzarkDem]

3. So they say

I think we need more proof.

Are you defending Voinovich?

[IndianaGreen]

16. Read the BRAC report... and who is "they"?

The BRAC report is here:

http://www.pentagon.mil/brac/

you will find Ohio in page 19:

http://www.pentagon.mil/brac/pdf/Appendix_C_FinalUpdated.pdf

The Cleveland defense workers are being briefed this coming Monday on the realignment of 1,013 civilian positions in the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), Cleveland to be among the 1,758 positions being gained by the Defense Supply Center, Columbus. The Columbus facility is a big depot just by the airport. At its North end, is a brand new building housing the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Columbus.

The DFAS is reducing 95% of its headquarters staff at Crystal City in Arlington, and is consolidating operations in Columbus, Denver, and Lawrence, Indiana.

Cost per square foot for lease space was a key factor.

The affected workers will be paid Permanent Change of Station cost, including moving expenses, etc if they choose to relocate with their jobs. The ones that decide to stay in the Cleveland area will be placed in the DOD's Priority Placement List and offered comparable positions (if available) within the commuting area.

My one criticism of this BRAC round is that it did not go far enough in eliminating unneeded bases and excess capacity in the infrastructure. As the current mantra goes: any dollar saved in infrastructure, is a dollar going for the warfighter.

[pursuivant]

27. It looks political . . . at least in Indiana

Historically, BRAC commissions have been used as "political cover" to force closures of bases which have outlived their usefulness and have been relatively non-partisan affairs. This time around, it really does look political. Since I'm most familiar with Indiana politics, I looked there first.

Quote:

The Pentagon, in a surprise move, said Friday it wants to add about 3,495 jobs to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service center in Lawrence as part of the latest round of base closings and realignments.

<snip>

Almost all of the job gains in Indiana would be at the finance center at the former Fort Benjamin Harrison in Lawrence. Jobs would come from other finance facilities across the country as part of a major reduction in business facilities.

"It appears to me that they're going to make that one of the focal points for taking care of the military payroll, nationwide and worldwide," said Rep. Dan Burton, R-Indianapolis.

<snip>

Having Daniels -- a former director of President Bush's Office of Management and Budget -- leading the fight made all the difference, said John Clark, a senior adviser to the governor. He said Daniels could coach his team of advisers on how to make their case for keeping Crane open.

As a former Cabinet member, Daniels is on a first-name basis with Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He made two trips to Washington, one solely to lobby for Crane. The other trip included attending the National Governors Association conference, but he slept and dined at the White House.

<snip>

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050514/NEWS01/505140493

Not surprisingly, Lawrence (a suburb of Indianapolis) is in Dan Burton's district, although the county as a whole tends to vote Democratic.

The other places that gained jobs are in safely Republican districts, with the exception of a Army Ordinance Depot which has been on its way out for a decade and closings of Guard, Reserve and recruiting centers.

Historically, BRAC commissions were bipartisan and were (mostly) immune to this sort of lobbying. I hope that someone with more time and money (like, maybe, the DNC . . .) will be able to chart the links between BushCo insiders and base closings nationwide.

[AP]

I'd love to see a study or investigation of all the Repub-donating corps

that transferred jobs from NY, CA, Mass, CT, etc., to OH and PA for the election, and will now be terminating those jobs.

[AP]

4. I'd love to see a study or investigation of all the Repub-donating corps

that transferred jobs from NY, CA, Mass, CT, etc., to OH and PA for the election, and will now be terminating those jobs.

[Joey Liberal]

5. Ohio went for Bush - I don't feel sorry for them n/t

[POAS]

6. But the jobs lost are in BLUE Cleveland

The jobs gained are in RED southwestern Ohio

[yardwork]

7. That's right. Cleveland and the rest of NE Ohio are blue union areas

Columbus and southern OH are the red sections. They gain from this.

[NEOBuckeye]

9. Actually, Columbus is increasingly going Blue. Only its' suburbs are Red.

Of course, that's where most of the big money lies. Especially in the northern ones.

[yardwork]

8. I don't believe that OH went for Bush - I'll never believe it.

Kerry won OH hands down - no question in my mind. Kerry probably won FL as well, and possible some other states.

BushCo stole both the 2000 and 2004 elections. Never forget.

[NEOBuckeye]

10. Well, DIEBOLD is in Canton, after all.

You'd think if nothing else, they'd deliver their own home state to their Repug whores.

[Name removed]

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[DivinBreuvage]

26. How could I be a freeper? I'm educated enough to know

that Cleveland isn't red.

[IndianaGreen]

17. Kerry won Ohio

and Cleveland went for Kerry, as Indianapolis did. Some kind of liberal you are rejoicing in the bad luck of fellow liberals. What happens when your state goes on the GOP column, thanks to Diebold. Shall we then say the same to you when some misfortunate happens in your state?

[Dr.Phool]

13. What nobody seems to remember

Is that the Republicans have been trying to PRIVATIZE these jobs for several years. The only thing that has been stopping them is the persistent efforts of Dennis Kucinich.

The loss of these jobs is the equivalent of shutting down Clevelands last steel mill. I left Cleveland 2 &1/2 years ago after 31 years in the Mills railroad division. With all the layoffs in the mills, and almost 800 police and firefighters laid off last year, this will devestate an already dying city.

I still own a home, in Cleveland city limits, around the corner from NASA. It's been on the market for over a year, below appraisal, and no takers. Another 1,000 good paying jobs lost will absolutely kill that city.

[IndianaGreen]

19. Thank you for the reminder about Dennis Kucinich and privatization

About 400 of the Cleveland workers lost their jobs to a private contractor despite the fact that they had won the A-76 competition. A mathematical error by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) resulted in the awarding of the jobs to a contractor. Even after DFAS's feet were held to the fire by Kucinich, the DFAS refused to reverse what they had done.

The taxpayers ended up footing a higher bill for a private contractor. The workers got the shaft!

[MGKrebs]

14. Georgia has a net gain of 7423, but 8000 are students.

They want to close 2 Army bases in metro Atlanta, and then transfer some stuff from Kentucky to Ft. Benning (home of the infamous School of the Americas). A net gain to Georgia of 7423, but they are counting 8000 students who will train at Benning as "jobs".

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/states/georgia/counties/houston_peach/11644248.htm

PS- Muscogee County, Georgia, (Columbus and Ft. Benning, were blue in 2004.)

[Nothing Without Hope]

15. Here's a thread wiith more info, inlcuding maps, on the base closings

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1782877#1783021

It would appear to be blatantly political.

[geckosfeet]

20. Call me cynical but,,,,,,,,,

,,,,,, BushCo. is using those bases as bargaining chips. They have the Bolton nomination and several judicial nominees, that butthead DeLay, perhaps a supreme court nominee or two and of course the whole filibuster fiasco to force through. Holding those bases over the heads of congress and the senate is one thing they can do to force them to play ball.

Never mind the jobs and lives that will be affected-those people don't count. Besides, if they say anythings we blame their state representatives and they can take the heat.

Its also a fabulous distraction from the ongoing disaster in Iraq.

[Dr.Phool]

21. Welcome to DU

[geckosfeet]

22. Thanks doc. Glad to be aboard.

[LynneSin]

25. Earth to Voinovich & DeWine-you better not vote against the nuclear option

This has nothing to do with Bolton. I have a feeling that both senators may consider voting against Frist's Nuclear Option.