GM Shreveport closing in 2012 (New Orleans, Many: middle-class, rent, homes)

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by hdwell

No, I'm not blaming the legislature for GM's closure. I'm just kind of batting around new ways to increase businesses besides chasing smokestacks. Maybe it is time we faced reality that there are plenty of movers and shakers in the state and that if we could clear up a few prohibitive laws, they would be able to do more. Certainly there are smart, industrious people in this state who would like to see La grow and prosper.

Hopefully something may happen positive out of this experience. We don't know yet. It is a stamping plant you know-the truck parts are made here.
Frightfully, I recall when the current line came out in 05' and I thought that trouble may be ahead. The Colorado and Canyon trucks were anything but a winner and pricey too. You could actually buy a full size truck for the same amount if not cheaper.


Don't get me wrong. I really do love Louisiana, but at the same time, I want to be objective about it.

Sorry. That's the way it sounded when I read it. Like the LA business climate chased this plant off. But then again I think people misunderstand my posts alot, too, so it's whatever.

[redbean]

The latest is that the Chinese government wants to block the company that is interested in acquiring Hummer, from buying the brand. Kind of surprises me, but does your typical Hummer buyer really want to drive a Chinese make? I don't think so; believe they'll fail pretty quick. So maybe its for the best. Something will end up being made at the plant, hope it gets settled before too long.

[urbanexplorer2009]

Originally Posted by redbean

The latest is that the Chinese government wants to block the company that is interested in acquiring Hummer, from buying the brand. Kind of surprises me, but does your typical Hummer buyer really want to drive a Chinese make? I don't think so; believe they'll fail pretty quick. So maybe its for the best. Something will end up being made at the plant, hope it gets settled before too long.

The Chinese government tends to be like this. A couple months ago someone opened a very graphic, sex-themed "adult theme park" called Love Land. As soon as photos were released of this completed, soon-to-open park, the Chinese government literally bulldozed it to the ground overnight.

[katlee]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

Forgive me for not believing this plant will stay closed for long.

Either the chinese company acquiring the Hummer brand will decide to continue Hummer production there, or...
Some other automaker will get a hold of it for a bargain and equip the facility for production of one of their vehicles.

uh! yes this plant will stay close no one wants to buy those gm trucks, like the hummer, people are losing thousands of jobs still every month. you need to see the real world. and the new gm in moroe la most likely will not make it ethier.

[urbanexplorer2009]

Originally Posted by katlee

uh! yes this plant will stay close no one wants to buy those gm trucks, like the hummer, people are losing thousands of jobs still every month. you need to see the real world. and the new gm in moroe la most likely will not make it ethier.

No one is talking about GM reopening that plant, but rather state or city officials marketing the building to other companies. Because in the end, we all know you can't leave a building that large sitting empty.

And GM isn't building a plant in Monroe.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by katlee

uh! yes this plant will stay close no one wants to buy those gm trucks, like the hummer, people are losing thousands of jobs still every month. you need to see the real world. and the new gm in moroe la most likely will not make it ethier.

Have you no idea how many car manufacturers there are in the world? Do you think that this is a majic facility that only allows GM vehicles to be manufactured within? Here you have a facility that is already built and ready to go. Would only require retrofitting for whatever vehicle a company wished to manufacture there.

yourself...you could have had a V8

[Rosinante]

Originally Posted by Innotech

I wish they'd open a Ford plant down here. Like a Fusion or Focus one.

New auto plants built in the USA BY American auto firms won't be happening until they can get that UNION monkey off their backs. Unions were a good idea 200 years ago, but they have long since outlasted their usefulness.

If I were the Chinese who bought Hummer, I'd rebuild the plant where unions — and an anti-business Democratic government in Washington — couldn't stick their noses in my business.

[imaterry78259]

Shreveport has drop from 64 largest city to 124 largest-what gives> the losing on plants. AT&T

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Shreveport has drop from 64 largest city to 124 largest-what gives> the losing on plants. AT&T

That is because other cities are growing alot and Shreveport has stayed at a relatively constant population for several years now. Most people who are new to that area move to Bossier.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Shreveport has drop from 64 largest city to 124 largest-what gives> the losing on plants. AT&T

A lot of people locally seem to forget this too. AT&T once employed 7500 workers at its peek-today the plant no longer exists (moved production to singapore). Poulan Chain Saws left along time ago, Beaird industries is closed, GE is still operating but employs a fraction of what they once had, Alloyed pipe closed (moved to Houston; consolidation) and I could go on and on all night. Since the city crashed in the 80's, it has struggled to find its way again.

Unfortunately the best and brightest regularly leave here for where the grass is greener, so we have who we have here for leadership and citizenry. Its kind of frustrating to see the work the visionaries do not often come into fruitation. The people who live here just aren't the city type who thrive on new ideas and culture and change. Many of them are from smaller rural type places in La, Ar, Ms, Tx, etc and still cling to the ways they had before a move to the city.