Jerry Brown To Comcast: Lie, Dammit!
Comcast crosses its fingers and pretends it isn't leaving California because of all the costs and regulations that make business impossible or at least impossibly pricey. Allysia Finley writes in the WSJ:
California businesses operate under hundreds of regulations, but some rules aren't on the books. To wit, thou shalt not speak ill of the state.Last week, Philadelphia-based Comcast announced that it was moving 1,000 call-center jobs in the East Bay and Sacramento regions to Oregon, Washington and Colorado because of the "high cost of doing business in California." At least that was their story until pols in Sacramento notified them that they were out of line. Comcast's lobbying arm in Sacramento within hours retracted its statement, declaring "the reports carried in the media earlier today attributing Comcast's decision . . . are incorrect."
Oh, really? In fact, the new statement noted, the real reason is that "as more of our customers are taking advantage of self help tools such as handling their service requirements on line, we no longer need as many call centers as in the past." So the company is closing three of its West Division call centers, all of which happen to be in California. Hmmm.
Meanwhile Democratic state Senate President Darrell Steinberg demanded that the company "reconsider their actions," and Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown's jobs advisor Mike Rossi issued a statement regretting that "Comcast's announcement to eliminate jobs in California inaccurately placed blame on the state, but I am pleased to see the executives at Comcast taking responsibility and correcting the statement."
In the only referendum that counts, people are voting with their feet, and Comcast voted with its jobs.
MarkD at October 2, 2012 5:03 AM
And what, pray tell, were The Polls of California going to do about Comcast telling the truth?
Steve Daniels at October 2, 2012 12:00 PM
"Meanwhile Democratic state Senate President Darrell Steinberg demanded that the company "reconsider their actions"
I wonder if the esteemed Darrell Steinberg has ever reconsidered his actions that have lead to Comcast's actions?
JFP at October 2, 2012 3:34 PM
Officials rarely like to consider, let alone admit, that their actions have consequences, that a tax raised or a regulation added, might just mean that people, or businesses, up and leave.
Robert at October 2, 2012 4:35 PM
The reason that Comcast stopped admitting the truth is probably has telecommunication contracts with the state (and/or other levels of government in-state) and the contract renewals were made into a questionable status.
Jim P. at October 2, 2012 6:43 PM
Yeah, well, California has probs, but remember that there are corporations making record profits in this Great Recession.
If this Sac Bee editorial and SF Chronicle article are to be believed, Comcast (one of the biggest cable companies) recieved tax breaks and business incentives in California, while making considerable gains in gross and net revenue (yet lousy service).
Just another giant corporation taking advantage of lobbying and crony capitalism, while the state's budget goes down the tubes. Just great.
Jason S. at October 5, 2012 2:55 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/10/02/jerry_brown_to.html#comment-3362850">comment from Jason S.This is welfare and should be stigmatized like welfare to people is.
Amy Alkon at October 5, 2012 3:32 PM
Yes, I've used unemployment compensation in seasonal construction work, which I'm not real proud of. It's sort of a racket, I suppose.
Our former state senator and now congressional candidate receives around $300,000/year welfare for rice farming.
I'm not certain about the logic of farm subsidies, but that's gross when he's making good profits in favorable market seasons -- and they have a nice second home mansion/cabin on the lake and such.
Yet he's elected year after year by repeating the "no taxes" mantra. We're doomed.
Jason S. at October 5, 2012 5:58 PM
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