MaxRedline

Bad News For PDX Workers

An airline food service provider is cutting 193 jobs in Portland as a result of the downturn in air travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sky Chefs Inc. filed notice with the state Friday that it planned to end the workers' jobs starting Oct. 1. United Airlines recently said it would furlough up to 119 workers at the airport, and Powell's books announced that it had permanently closed its airport locations.

I live under one of the main flight paths between Portland and California, and it hasn't been this quiet since 9/11. Should be easy to find a parking place around PDX, though.

 

NIKE Hits A Bad Stretch Of Track

Nike, after disclosing a rare money-losing quarter in June, announced layoffs that will eliminate at least 500 jobs at the company’s world headquarters in Oregon, according to the state of Oregon's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification web site.

That's going to hit a lot of Beaverton-area families, and just in time for Halloween. Unfortunately, it's no prank.

 

Okay While It Lasted

Nike, after disclosing a rare money-losing quarter in June, announced layoffs that will eliminate at least 500 jobs at the company’s world headquarters in Oregon, according to the state of Oregon's Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification web site.

I'm glad I saved enough to exit the workforce some 12 years ago. At some point, I'll apply for So-So Security. Just haven't felt any desire to do that. Too much paperwork.

 

Are You An AAA Member?

If so, you now have a new (albeit temporary) perk:

AAA members are invited to visit the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store from August 1st – 31st. Come shop all of the latest products from Columbia Sportswear Company family, including Sorel, Mountain Hardware and prAna. Items are marked with employee pricing (40 – 50% off regular retail pricing). *Show your AAA membership card for entry.

Location: 14100 NW Science Park Drive  Portland  Oregon 97229. Hours are 10 A.M. to 8 P.M. Monday through Sunday.

 

Truth In Advertising

The Angst Is Understandable.

For years, a group of Metzger residents have been battling to save a stand of old-growth Douglas fir trees from being torn down to make way for homes. In a May ruling, the Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission said Washington County was out of compliance with planning goals designed to protect significant natural resources.

Those trees are a century old and 150 feet tall, and they're an important pocket of habitat for deer, beaver, and a host of other critters. A developer wants to cut them down so he can build six homes there, and planned to "mitigate" the losses by planting a few fir saplings around after the homes were built. That's hardly mitigation, as it'd take decades for any sort of canopy to form. And that's assuming the beaver didn't fell the saplings and use them for construction materials of their own.

Of course, they would; been there, done that.

 

 

Lot Of Jobs Going Away

JC Penney says it will close an additional 152 stores and cut 1,000 jobs as it tries to fight its way out from under bankruptcy protection. The company last month said it had identified 154 stores for closure in the first phase of a restructuring in which it will become a smaller operator. As part of its bankruptcy reorganization, Penney has said it plans to permanently close nearly a third of its 846 stores in the next two years. That would leave it with just over 600 locations.

That's going to hurt a lot of people. If I recall correctly new unemployment claims have topped a million in each of the past 17 weeks. Oddly, the stock markets seem to be doing well overall, even in the face of the unemployment disasters.

 

 

Food Or Rent?

As the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic continues, almost one-third of U.S. households, 32%, have not made their full housing payments for July yet, according to a survey by Apartment List, an online rental platform.

That’s the fourth month in a row that a “historically high” number of households were unable to pay their housing bill on time and in full, up from 30% in June and 31% in May. Renters, low-income and younger households were most likely to miss their payments, Apartment List found.

Renters are especially vulnerable. About 36% of renters, who are more likely to work in industries devastated by the coronavirus, missed their July housing bill, compared to 30% of homeowners.

This was discussed here the other day; it's something that doesn't seem to be going away any time soon.

 

 

What Do You Do With 20 Million Evicted Renters?

Mass evictions would be a disaster. For both individuals and families, evictions result in severe harm; when they become widespread, there are also significant consequences for entire communities and even the speed of economic recovery. Policymakers are actively seeking solutions, but it is difficult to prepare without knowing the size of the problem.

The COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project (CEDP) was formed to solve that problem. It is a coalition of economic researchers and legal experts who developed a model to estimate eviction risk nationally and at the state level. The disturbing result: 19 to 23 million, or one in five of the 110 million Americans who live in renter households, are at risk of eviction by September 30, 2020.

It doesn't help that some 25% of renters are spending more than half of their incomes on rent and utilities. That doesn't leave much wiggle-room for groceries, transportation, medical expenses, etc.

 

 

Apparently, News

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft said Friday it is permanently closing nearly all of its physical stores around the world.

It's unclear as to whether or not the move represents any great loss to you or anyone else.