Councilwoman Travis Votes Against Cook Abatement / New Jobs

Last Tuesday the Monroe Council met and took action on a tax abatement request from Cook Incorporated, one of, if not the largest employer in Monroe County. The abatement request was to support a major expansion of Cook at the Park 48 site, which is reported to include up to 250 new jobs. At the meeting Democrat Council President Mark Stoops along with Vice President Sophia Travis and member Michael Woods each took their turn attempting to convince people that tax abatements do not have an impact on jobs. What should have been a slam-dunk took over an hour for the Democrats to test their support for voting against the proposal. The vote eventually came with a six to one count in favor of the abatement with Travis being the lone opposing vote.

With the Democrats posturing against the abatement what kind of message does this send one of the County’s largest employers? Does it say we are as committed to you as you are to us? Does it say we truly appreciate the millions of dollars you contribute to our local economy? It’s appalling this discussion ever took place. The Council members should have each taken their turn at showing their appreciation for Cook and all of the wonderful things they have done and are continuing to do for our community. For Travis to suggest that Cook doesn’t pay enough to its base hourly employees is absurd. Between the pay and the benefit package for these hourly positions it’s certainly up among the best locally and furthermore those jobs are direly needed and should be welcomed with open arms. Who are they to suggest Cook would expand here with or without the abatement? Who are they to micromanage Cook Incorporated by suggesting they should pay more to their employees?

What the opponents to the abatement fail to recognize is the variety of supporting salaried employees that will benefit from this expansion and by including their pay along with the base hourly jobs the average wage per hour will obviously be significantly higher. With length of employment increases and incentive pay even the base jobs stack up well against other local employers. When more and more companies are cutting their cost by eliminating benefits like health insurance Cook remains committed to a fairly generous employee benefit package. Trying to understand why these three Council members felt compelled to disregard all of the benefits this expansion brings and degrade the process is difficult to understand. With this display however it only proves what many have feared for some time. They have little or no understanding of business, how it works, its value to a community or how they have to compete in today’s global economy. While they attempt to convince those with high paying jobs that low paying jobs are not important they should try selling that to the working class people working two jobs without any benefits or health insurance.

These Democrats need to come down off their ivory tower and see how the other half lives by representing the working class that used to make up the majority of the local Democrat voters. They should realize when more people are employed that directly relates to an increased demand for new homes. These employees will need a place to raise their family and buy groceries. More homes equal more property taxes as well as more fuel for the local economy. Voters will not soon forget this blunder!