Good Sign For Charlotte's Future? (Raleigh: layoffs, neighborhoods, buy)

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

Sorry Brian, if you've read my posts I've said that people still are going shopping, going to the malls, etc.

Many have tightened their belts, but continue to window shop or buy many things marked down tremendously.

Not everyone is out of work like you are implying I say.

Please get it straight. If you have something concrete to add when I post data on housing or other things, then lets hear it.

How concrete was it to post this?

People were standing in line for hours waiting for a gift around $100 in value I believe. Thats why they camped out for such a long time.

That's a pretty broad assumption based on nothing concrete.

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by BrianH1970

Right now California's unemployment rate is at 10.1 percent, sucks to be them right now.

State unemployment rate reaches 10.1%

Detroit has been notorious for being a city with little opportunity, Michigan overall has taken a hit with UE numbers over 10%...sucks to be them too

Michigan gets more bad news about layoffs - BusinessWeek

Rhode Island topped 10% on it's unemployment rate, sucks to be them as well.

RI unemployment hits 10.3 percent l WPRI.com


Nevermind various other cities where the pay scales weren't keeping up with inflation to begin with (New York and New Jersey, ya listening?), areas that I believe are still waiting to feel the impact from wall street layoffs. Figure it'll suck to be them before long.

I think I could keep going here, but you get the point.

Hallelueah, we have some.....

Right now, I don't know about NY/NJ. Its not as bad in terms of employemtn as it is here, but It potentially can get worse w/its high property taxes and impending Wall St layoffs, 50/50 in my book on where things go there.....

CA is a mess w/all the illegals and high taxes and Pseudo Repub Gov.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by CouponJack

Hallelueah, we have some.....

Right now, I don't know about NY/NJ. Its not as bad in terms of employemtn as it is here, but It potentially can get worse w/its high property taxes and impending Wall St layoffs, 50/50 in my book on where things go there.....

CA is a mess w/all the illegals and high taxes and Pseudo Repub Gov.

Right now New Jersey could be a powderkeg with Corzine's new budget plan that would eliminate a lot of aid. That pretty much means property taxes skyrocket to make up for that deficit. That just adds to an already bad situation. New Jersey may not be bad as far as the UE goes, but the overall quality/cost of living is going to pull in greater opposite directions, meaning...well...we wind up better off here than up there.

[Carolina Blue]

And don't forget Portland (Oregon), another place the supposedly has a more "diverse" economy than ours...

recent article: Portland January unemployment rate 9.8% - Portland Business Journal:

[sheenie2000]

"Budget crises in Kansas and California have already forced those states to halt tax refund processing"
BUDGET CRISES PUT TAX REFUND CHECKS ON HOLD

It sux to be here.

[sheenie2000]

Originally Posted by PeytonC

When you see a huge spike in crime, when you see block after block of empty commercial buildings, when you see vast employers shutting the doors and laying off people (not buying them and restoring jobs, like several CLT companies have done), then you can come cry about how terrible things are here and how we should have listened to your warning about the end times for Charlotte.

It's not the end of times or anything. But most of what you listed is happening. Several companies are laying off, businesses are shutting their doors and there are commercial buildings that are empty. Commercial space will likely become more vacant as time goes on. If unemployment rate continues to go up, we might see more crime too unfortunately. Hopefully it won't get that bad where we see escalating violence.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by sheenie2000

Hopefully it won't get that bad where we see escalating violence.

That's when things become real interesting though.

[chicagocubs]

Coupon, you know that I am one of your allies...so, please remember I am not one of the giggly head-in-the-sand types that annoys us both....

also, please remember that I am a mortgage underwriter by trade (and with a very grateful spirit am happy to say that I am still working)...

just had a meeting today with the regional underwriting manager of my bank. Yes, Phoenix is worse off than us...but, their hit is more with foreclosures. Their property values were in that bubble and now that it has burst, folks are just loosing their homes left and right. I am not sure of the unemployment rates, but, this guy that was holding the meeting was talking of blocks after blocks of houses for sale; most of which are either foreclosures or short sales.
Thankfully, we don't have that here.

Detroit...well, they were worse off than us years before there was a crisis, so, now, you can imagine how bad it is. I was there a year ago and was flabbergasted at just how blighted the area was. Since that time, there have been a ton more automobile layoffs. I cannot even imagine how bad it is now.

those are a couple of examples that I personally know of. Peyton, as a trucker, sees things that stats and charts don't. He sees people and their confidence (or lack thereof). He was just making an observation based upon his personal knowledge.

Now, Coupon, we all know that things are not a bed of roses here. Most of us either know someone here in Charlotte affected by this mess or have been affected ourselves, personally. And, we have the looming dual disasters of Wells/Wachovia and Bank of America laying off thousands. So, our outlook isn't wonderful. HOWEVER, there ARE worse places. Does that mean that people should flock here randomly without jobs and think that they will land something within hours?? Uuuhhhh..NO!! That goes without saying. And, I think that some of us who have been here awhile (if not the actual natives) are probably thinking..."we don't have enough jobs for what is already here; STAY AWAY!!"

But, that is not fair. If a newcomer can find a job and wants to move here....welcome. Because if they are finding jobs, that means that someone is hiring, which means that someone can spend money to buy a house, buy some groceries, maybe even buy a car...all of which stimulates our economy which might enable someone else to get a job...and, on it goes. After awhile, maybe things will inch upward.

Dude, I feel your pain. But, let's see the perspective through the eyes of the one person that has actually SEEN the country and what is going on (not many people could say that) and take a little comfort...even if it is just for today!

[Akhenaton06]

I'm just hoping that our local economy won't sour to the point where we're just going off our reputation. I'm optimistic though.

[BrianH1970]

Originally Posted by chicagocubs

Coupon, you know that I am one of your allies...so, please remember I am not one of the giggly head-in-the-sand types that annoys us both....

Yeah! Those annoying, giggly head-in-the-sand types...those eternal optimists forever with a bright outlook on life...if I can't be as happy as they can...well...

<shakes fist mightily>

F*** 'em!!!!