Meeting becomes pep rally
JANESVILLE — A neighborhood listening session Wednesday night became an impromptu pep rally for the city, whose residents are reeling from a General Motors decision to close the plant here by 2010.
Jim Fowler, 4015 Wilshire Lane, asked about the focus of city officials in the wake of Tuesday’s announcement—whether they are trying to get a different GM product here or, if not, how they will deal with ramifications of the plant closing.
City Manager Steve Sheiffer said: “The message that I’ve been giving (is): Yesterday was a day for mourning, today is a day for the future of Janesville.”
Sheiffer said the city has been working for 25 years to become part of a new, regional economy.
Amy Loasching, council president and General Motors employee, said it is important that the city partner with state and federal government and with the plant’s strong union leadership.
“If anybody can secure a product for the future, it would be the local (union leadership),” she said.
Loasching recalled being told when she was hired in 1986 that she would only be working for six months.
“There’s always hope for tomorrow,” she said. “If we give up, General Motors locks that plant up. We need to rally behind that work force and make sure that leadership is successful in bringing a new product here and keeping those doors open.”
If there are no possibilities, “We are still going to move forward,” she said.
Bill Jurs, 3918 Galaxy Drive, asked whether the city could get back any of the $15 million spent on the limited access road to General Motors now that the company has gone back on its promises.
Sheiffer said GM never made any promises but simply said the plant needed a better transportation network for the future.
The road was paid for with federal and state gas tax money and local tax increment financing money.
It has been open since late 2004, and General Motors is still open, Sheiffer said.
“So, I would urge everybody, let’s not focus on what occurred yesterday,” Sheiffer said. “Let’s focus on the future and how we convince General Motors to bring a new product here, how we can diversify the community and support the workers.”
One man suggested looking to other cities where factories have closed and put large numbers of people out of work.
Another said he owns a business and travels often.
“I am so very grateful to live in Janesville, and I just can’t wait to get back when I travel,” he said. “We just need to stay positive and work together.”
Doris Roehl, 4017 Dorchester Drive, said she is proud to be a Janesville resident and to come from a blue-collar family.
“I don’t think we have to apologize a minute for Janesville being a blue-collar town,” she said, adding she has heard some say that residents with less educations are byproducts of blue-color towns.
“Janesville should be proud to be a blue-collar town,” she said, noting that children of blue-collar workers go on to earn masters degrees and start their own businesses. “All because of General Motors,” she said.
“Let’s talk about being a progressive, forward-looking town,” she said.
“Blue collar, white collar, is irrelevant,” Sheiffer said. “We are the citizens of Janesville … This is a community issue. This is the point where the community has to come together.
“Today, we start working the future and start working it really hard.”
Jun 9, 2008 at 9:59 a.m.
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Pathetic is right. Proving yourselves once again, I see.
Jun 5, 2008 at 6:37 p.m.
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I agree with Zoom. The cost would be to great for GM to bring in a new line. It would mean building a new plant. When I worked there, it was always said the paint department was outdated.
If GM was thinking about putting a new line, they would have said so instead of announcing the closing.
Time has ran out on Janesville.
Jun 5, 2008 at 6:17 p.m.
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tammyk,
For the record: the City should have the record of everyone who spoke at the last night's meeting. Everyone was asked to state their name, and I believe that everyone did.
Yuri Rashkin
Jun 5, 2008 at 5:06 p.m.
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pathetic, momof1? Pretty strong word about 2 people simply speculating on the person who claims to be a local version of (name your favorite big time entrepreneur) but who does it by feeding off those he looks down on. On the other hand, I’m sure, if he is a hero, he should be proud of his identity. Both were his claims, after all. (He can’t be both).
As far as being upset, don’t be silly. I personally get a chuckle out of this guy. (There’s your “pathetic”.)
The person we speculated about in this discussion says we need to stay positive and stick together. He's certainly correct, and if he means it-that's not the same guy. I liked the upbeat nature of the article.
Jun 5, 2008 at 4:40 p.m.
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ihavealife - this wasn't an official city council meeting, it was a neighborhood listening session. Probably not as formal with requirements that you state your name and such.
Jun 5, 2008 at 4:35 p.m.
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Back on topic: I agree with Long_Time_Gone on this one. The idea that GM would bring a product back here is just wishful thinking. GM doesn't need the capacity, or the old plant. It's better to focus on the future, and how to attract more diverse companies to Janesville.
Jun 5, 2008 at 4:06 p.m.
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you seriously are so upset about this person, you would actually want to know who it is? that is why blog boards are anonymous! Pathetic.
Jun 5, 2008 at 3:40 p.m.
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ihavealife: I can't recall, but he is either fabricating his "importance" or-if he did have this business that all citizens must go to (as he implies) yet says he is above them and feeds off their need (which he doesn't identify), he could not possibly expose himself (figuratively). How can someone claim to be this leech, then say he is above the blue-collar worker (who, in most cases, would be his moral and intellectual superior)? Because he has the city of people he looks down on hogtied to him because of his product, service or whatever? When the day comes for that to be our guage of who is a superior person, the human race has been totally lost.
Jun 5, 2008 at 2:52 p.m.
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ihavealife: Do you mean the guy who said this? “I am so very grateful to live in Janesville, and I just can’t wait to get back when I travel,” he said. “We just need to stay positive and work together.”
Can't be "our" self-proclaimed janesvillehero. The one we hear from has no respect for the town, the people, and only has a "business" here (remember-we only have his version of his life and heroism) to suck off those who need him. His proclamation, not mine, so no slander here.
Jun 5, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.
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Lone_time. As much as I was like to plant to close. I still believe it is better to fight for what believe in with all your heart than to give up and die. You sir have already given up.
Jun 5, 2008 at 12:57 p.m.
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"If anybody can secure a product for the future, it would be the local (union leadership),” she said.
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"Let’s focus on the future and how we convince General Motors to bring a new product here,"
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Stop it. Just, stop it.
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