Kimber moving out of New York

[Cecil S.]

I was born and raised in NY (Dutchess County) left years ago. Very sad to see the drastic change to farm country and small town mind set. But now I have lived in the South for the majority of my life I will never go back. Last one out of NY please turn off the lights!

 

[wkdickinson]

I am very saddened to see what NYC is turning into - one of the truly GREAT cities of the world. It's already happened to Chicago and unfortunately I don't think there is a way back for either, given the political leadership of both - but people get who they elect. Then again there are Seattle and Portland, shining cities of the NW, both great cities, turned into "progressive" utopias - right.

I am 66 years old and have seen a number of elections that were billed as "the most important election of our lifetime". But I think this one really is!

 

[PatMiles]

Last one out of NY please turn off the lights!

Last one out of New York... burn it down, along with Chicago, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco!

 

[jelenko]

I am very saddened to see what NYC is turning into - one of the truly GREAT cities of the world. It's already happened to Chicago and unfortunately I don't think there is a way back for either, given the political leadership of both - but people get who they elect. Then again there are Seattle and Portland, shining cities of the NW, both great cities, turned into "progressive" utopias - right.

I am 66 years old and have seen a number of elections that were billed as "the most important election of our lifetime". But I think this one really is!

I appreciate your point. But, I think the writing is on the wall. As populations build in cities they always go progressive. The trend appears to be more people in cities vs people in rural areas.
If there were large metropolitan areas that were strongly conservative, there could be a chance the tide won't swamp us. But, I'm not seeing any large metropolitan areas that vote republican.

 

[shoot4fun]

Kimber has been in Troy, AL (at least to my understanding) for at least a couple years now. That doesn't take away from their announcement to move the NY part of their operation here. NY, from what I gather, has been their manufacturing headquarters for a long time but I believe the CS, Marketing and other Corporate ladder types are located in Billings, MT. At least those I knew from my industry time were based in MT.
Any way, welcome to Alabama! It's where a lot of the firearms industry should be!

 

[redrockranger]

New York and many other States, as well as many cities, have painted themselves into a corner with the ever increasing entitlements and not having enough tax revenue to cover their costs. These costs are many. Keeping the water running, keeping the toilets flushing, keeping the garbage picked up, keeping pensions paid, keeping the police intact, keeping the fireman fighting fires, keeping the welfare system running, and more.

Unlike the Federal agovernment, the States cannot print money to cover cost. They have one source of revenue. Taxes.

The usual approach has been to simply increase the taxes of those that are able to work and purchase goods. This has reached the point in many regions to where those that employ people and the people they employ say,......“That’s enough”.

There are no easy answers to any of these problems. Don’t pretend there are. The retired public employee that is now 80 years old and has now drawn a pension for more years than they worked are as much of a problem as the neighbor with five kids, no visible means of support, and on some type of public assistance.

I am 73. I own a Business. I employee people. I pay a lot in taxes. I also draw a rather large Social Security Check because I waited until 70 to start drawing. Through the years, I paid a lot in. I still pay a lot in. It’s like a circle. I pay in the max amount to Social Security Every year, I draw a Social Security Check. They then take 25% out of my Social Security as income tax because I still work And make a substantial living.

Am I a giver, or a taker?

Jackie, you and i are on the same page. Although i am not a business man. My perspective is government does not create wealth but destroy's it. A few years ago the State Board of Regents purchased a MOM add POP business school for 6,000,000, $$$$. It had been around many years and was struggling. The U of Iowa took possession and was going to reopen @ a later date. This venture was nothing more than a bailout for a connected family. I contacted my State representative and he knew absolutely nothing about it. The new owner fired all instructors because they failed to meet the University's minimum standards. I ask my REP where the Board of Regents got the power to make this deal ? No answer. I believe he was a U of I graduate. He was also a retired Colonel from the Marine Corp. I proceeded to lecture him that only Washington D. C. owns a printing press, the State of Iowa has to take money from real people. As usual i was totally ignored.

The State budget for Iowa is approximately 7, 000,000,000 $$$ kinda small by many other standards. The fiscal shortfall for IPERS is in the area of 6,500,000, 000 $$$. { Iowa Public Employees Retirement System } It is a privatized and guaranteed by the Iowa taxpayer, it's invested heavily in Wall Street investment products. They cannot possibly loose.

Once again no elected official will answer any questions.

On Wednesday November 4 i plan to send my Voter ID card to Donald Trump, along with a coy of the book The Law by Fredric Bastiat with thanks for attempting to turn America around. I'm done voting. Told my Senator to finish destroying and get it over with. His name is Chuck Grassley, you've seen him much in the last year or two. I asked him about term limits, last week. His basic response was much to difficult to amend the Constitution. Talks the talk . He is also the SWAMP.

Many of you might notice that i'm not even a Silver member . I used to be, but was censored once, that is the reason why. CENSORSHIP is running major news media. I refuse to participate 2 even the lowest level.

 

[redrockranger]

The retired worker is not the problem; the problem is the nitwits who designed and approved the pension system.

In response. This is my observation . The 401 K {403 B ? } is a complete scam. Many retired people and future retires have participated so they can get by in retirement. The investments are like a auction. There is so much money chasing stocks and other investment vehicles they have reached manic levels. Wall Street needs the market to collapse every so often so new money can enter. Wall Street Has placed the burden on corporate America to payoff. If and when it fails Wall Street will point their finger @ American business. The yields on these investment continue to dwindle for those who need retirement income as the evaluation have gone to the MOON.

 

[Texas10]

In my experience city, county, state and federal taxes go to supporting wage and generous pension benefits, and any benefit the taxpayers get out of their hard earned money is a distant secondary consideration. Money is power, and power is money, and those who dole out the cash, are handsomely rewarded in kind. They also make the laws governing wages and pensions..hmmmmmmmm

Here in Central Texas, the local fire chief told me that firemen spend one tenth of one percent of their shift putting out fires. How many non civil service workers can get away with that level of productivity? Business in America is all about increasing levels of productivity, working employees harder. Look at how Amazon uses GPS trackers on each employee to count footsteps and speed to enforce productivity, with real time efficiency reports to supervisors. Take a quick breather and you'll get written up. Do it twice and you're out the door at their huge warehouse "customer fulfillment" centers.

Meanwhile, if you work in one Texas county for 20 years and "retire", then work in another county for just 6 years, you get to take TWO full pensions based upon 26 years service. I've talked to 3 locals who are doing this and told me how easy it was to game the pension system. But wait, there's more! If you work a ton of overtime in the last 3 years, you can effectively double your pension payout. That's because only the last 3 years of income are used as a bases for the pension payout.

Local school districts are now hiring retired police officers to create their own in-school police force. The cost to the district taxpayers will be staggering when accounting for the double pension obligations, which are historically grossly underfunded anyway. Where will the bilions of $ come from? Taxpayers! which here in Texas with no state income tax means the homeowner. I am not rich, but I'm getting poorer by the day thanks to the corruption within our city government.

Meanwhile, the world's largest indoor water park is about to open on City owned land with the benefit of a huge tax exemption.

This isn't a Red or Blue political issue, this is entrenched systemic corruption, it is country wide and knows no political boundaries. You can vote for whomever you like, but as soon as they take office, the corruption will overtake them. They are powerless to change things. This is what unlimited dark money in politics is all about, enriching those who need it least at the expense of those who can least afford to pay.

 

[rjtfroggy]

In my experience city, county, state and federal taxes go to supporting wage and generous pension benefits, and any benefit the taxpayers get out of their hard earned money is a distant secondary consideration. Money is power, and power is money, and those who dole out the cash, are handsomely rewarded in kind. They also make the laws governing wages and pensions..hmmmmmmmm

Here in Central Texas, the local fire chief told me that firemen spend one tenth of one percent of their shift putting out fires. How many non civil service workers can get away with that level of productivity?

You should be over joyed that is all the time they spend putting out fires. Imagen if they spent 98% of their time putting out fires, one of them could be your 250k house, and what if they were tied up some where else, then you would really be bitchin.
Think of your F.D. and P.D. as insurance policies, you pay for it hoping you never need it but when you do it is there.

 

[lightman]

I see this as a loss for New York and as a gain for Alabama. Wish it was Arkansas but Congratulations Alabama.

 

[PRR1957]

Illinois is on the same journey to $$ exodus out of the state... Chicago runs the state and is a crime syndicate operating as a Political Party...Democrats are destroying a once successful and prosperous Illinois. North of I 80 has no clue how the rest of us live downstate and what’s good for Cook County has to be good for the rest ofIllinois. A joke of a Democratic Super Majority, ran by Mike Maddigan, is ruining this state. Graft, corruption, extortion, blackmail an everyday acceptable end to maintaining Democratic control of the state.

Not to mention that two successive governors were sent to prison for back room dealings.

I lived in the Socialist Republic of Ill&Annoy for six years during the Daley/Emanuel rein. Everything in Cook country was corrupt. The Chicago Police were described as the Nation’s largest criminal gang.

 

[sundance]

New York and many other States, as well as many cities, have painted themselves into a corner with the ever increasing entitlements and not having enough tax revenue to cover their costs. These costs are many. Keeping the water running, keeping the toilets flushing, keeping the garbage picked up, keeping pensions paid, keeping the police intact, keeping the fireman fighting fires, keeping the welfare system running, and more.

Unlike the Federal agovernment, the States cannot print money to cover cost. They have one source of revenue. Taxes.

The usual approach has been to simply increase the taxes of those that are able to work and purchase goods. This has reached the point in many regions to where those that employ people and the people they employ say,......“That’s enough”.

There are no easy answers to any of these problems. Don’t pretend there are. The retired public employee that is now 80 years old and has now drawn a pension for more years than they worked are as much of a problem as the neighbor with five kids, no visible means of support, and on some type of public assistance.

I am 73. I own a Business. I employee people. I pay a lot in taxes. I also draw a rather large Social Security Check because I waited until 70 to start drawing. Through the years, I paid a lot in. I still pay a lot in. It’s like a circle. I pay in the max amount to Social Security Every year, I draw a Social Security Check. They then take 25% out of my Social Security as income tax because I still work And make a substantial living.

Am I a giver, or a taker?

I think you are hosed no matter which way you look at it. You could be more hosed in NY !!

 

[dbduff]

New York and many other States, as well as many cities, have painted themselves into a corner with the ever increasing entitlements and not having enough tax revenue to cover their costs. These costs are many. Keeping the water running, keeping the toilets flushing, keeping the garbage picked up, keeping pensions paid, keeping the police intact, keeping the fireman fighting fires, keeping the welfare system running, and more.

Unlike the Federal agovernment, the States cannot print money to cover cost. They have one source of revenue. Taxes.

The usual approach has been to simply increase the taxes of those that are able to work and purchase goods. This has reached the point in many regions to where those that employ people and the people they employ say,......“That’s enough”.

There are no easy answers to any of these problems. Don’t pretend there are. The retired public employee that is now 80 years old and has now drawn a pension for more years than they worked are as much of a problem as the neighbor with five kids, no visible means of support, and on some type of public assistance.

I am 73. I own a Business. I employee people. I pay a lot in taxes. I also draw a rather large Social Security Check because I waited until 70 to start drawing. Through the years, I paid a lot in. I still pay a lot in. It’s like a circle. I pay in the max amount to Social Security Every year, I draw a Social Security Check. They then take 25% out of my Social Security as income tax because I still work And make a substantial living.

Am I a giver, or a taker?

Imho, you’re an entrepreneur, tax payer, employer, and objective in your Observations of how you’ve supported yourself, your employees, your community and the federal government.
Your example is what has gotten our country to the point that others wish to emulate us. We need more that admire and imitate your efforts. Thank you for all you’ve worked for and those you’ve employed. I consider you a giver.

 

[ppaul]

You should be over joyed that is all the time they spend putting out fires. Imagen if they spent 98% of their time putting out fires, one of them could be your 250k house, and what if they were tied up some where else, then you would really be bitchin.
Think of your F.D. and P.D. as insurance policies, you pay for it hoping you never need it but when you do it is there.

I think you missed the point. Perhaps Texas 10 could've used a better example, but you clearly missed the point. I'll provide a different example from the other end of the country, Minnesota. Watched the state workers install 2 new culverts. 3 tandem dump trucks, medium size track hoe, skid steer, pickup and trailer for skid steer, pickup and trailer for culverts, and pickup for supervisor. 3 drivers for dump trucks, operators for both hoe and skid steer, driver for pickup hauling culverts, (skid steer operator drove that pickup and trailer, must have drawn the short straw) and of course a supervisor. 3 days! These were driveway approaches, gravel driveways probably 66 ft apart, same side of highway,maybe 20" diameter culverts. And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, wait for it, state garage is 3 miles away! Oh and remember our governor wants federal money to pay for the bonfire they had this past summer.

Did not mean for this to turn into a rant, they just really piss me off!

 

[rjtfroggy]

PPAUL I did not miss the point.
After over 20 years of being a paid firefighter I have heard all the belly aching you can put forth. When the truth of the matter is states and cities used benefits as bargaining chips, they could hide those costs in the general funds where as PAY showed up on the budget line items. The respective unions were not the blame.
During my time on the F.D. I went 5 cycles of 0% pay raises and our pays were at the bottom of the scale to begin with.
I too pay property tax, $10,400 on a 2100 sq. foot house plus another 1100 for my car and truck. My children never used the public education system so I had to pay tuition for them also.
I've been stuck on a fixed income 50% disability for 20 years and then a reduced SS payment(cut 52%) because I worked for a municipality, this after working a second full time job to make ends meet.
So you can see why I get a little touchy when this gets brought up.
Take a few steps in a retired Firefighter or Police officers shoes and you might see things in a totally different light.

 

[outasite`08]

Where do you think a bunch of dumocrats are moving to from NY, NJ?!!

Was in the news the other day about 2 north east counties growing like mad.

Hey 7mag, Here in Delaware the over 55 tribal areas or villages are full of Conn. N.Y. and N.J. plates. They brought their biden signs along. They tell me he will fix the climate and the covid. I said the way most of you drive I hope he fixes that first. But I`m hopeing he doesn`t get the chance. Good luck up there. Jeff

 

[outasite`08]

Last one out of New York... burn it down, along with Chicago, Portland, Seattle and San Francisco!

There are some experts in Phillie we can send in to finish up. Call 610-THUG. Jeff

 

[wbm]

So you can see why I get a little touchy when this gets brought up

Sure can!

 

[Texas10]

PPAUL I did not miss the point.
After over 20 years of being a paid firefighter I have heard all the belly aching you can put forth. When the truth of the matter is states and cities used benefits as bargaining chips, they could hide those costs in the general funds where as PAY showed up on the budget line items. The respective unions were not the blame.
During my time on the F.D. I went 5 cycles of 0% pay raises and our pays were at the bottom of the scale to begin with.
I too pay property tax, $10,400 on a 2100 sq. foot house plus another 1100 for my car and truck. My children never used the public education system so I had to pay tuition for them also.
I've been stuck on a fixed income 50% disability for 20 years and then a reduced SS payment(cut 52%) because I worked for a municipality, this after working a second full time job to make ends meet.
So you can see why I get a little touchy when this gets brought up.
Take a few steps in a retired Firefighter or Police officers shoes and you might see things in a totally different light.

I can understand your frustration, froggy, and certainly sympathize. Although I was writing about Texas, not CT. Please re-read my last line about dark money in politics. Senator Whitehouse delivered a blistering rebuke during the recent senate confirmation hearings on how dark money has corrupted the Supreme Court nomination process. I'd suspected the Federalist Society involvement, but didn't know the extent. It's not just appalling, it's borderline criminal IMOP. There are exactly 9 people in the US who don't believe SCOTUS is politically biased. Can you guess the names of the 9?

As far as lack of pay raises go, that is standard practice in business today. The only time I've ever got a cost of living pay raise was when working for a business with government contracts. Places like Lockheed and Boeing must give cost of living raises, it's in their contracts. Every other business in America stopped that practice in the early 80's after Carter temporarily froze wages and prices and it became the "patriotic" thing to do. And without a frequent increase in Federal Minimum Wage to drive up wages, thus began the end of the middle class in America.

Meanwhile, last year the cost of living index , and my SSI went up 11/4 percent but our City council gave themselves a 10% budget increase with across the board salary raises, at taxpayers expense.

Like many here, we're both Boomers and as evidenced by our mere presence here, both survived the worst era of real wages decimation in modern history. While the Great Depression lasted about a decade, this historic wage depression is still ongoing half a century later, and is directly responsible for the rise in economic might of China as middle class Americans who could no longer afford to buy durable, domestically produced goods, have to instead make do with cheap foreign goods.

All of this may or may not have anything to do with Kimber's decision to relocate, but it also may have everything to do with it.

 

[rjtfroggy]

Texas 10 my response wasn't directly at your post but I know a certain few will probably jump on the band wagon like they always do, and I wanted to get the retired cops and FF's side out there ahead of time.
I was called a fool for taking a low paying job in the mid 70's and after sticking it out for 20+ years upon retirement I was all of a sudden in the wrong for being able to retire with benefits, and a pension, that is still way below what some retire with.