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Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.
In the recent past, the expected opening of a casino is what drew reporters to long lines of prospective employees. This week it was the expected opening of an In-N-Out Burger.
Las Vegas Sun reporter Timothy Pratt observed Monday the growing amazement of Grace Robinson, manager of the Holiday Inn Express where applications for entry-level jobs at the restaurant were being taken.
She had not prepared for the steady inflow of so many people, most of them desperate. As Pratt reported, she scrambled to find extra rooms and chairs as jobless men and women kept arriving on a cold and rainy morning.
It was estimated that the two-day opportunity to apply for the at-most 50 jobs that pay $10 an hour to start would draw more than 1,000 people.
Privately owned In-N-Out Burger turned 60 years old this year, and it has earned a reputation as a good place to work.
But on Monday and Tuesday the people pouring in may not have known that. They were looking for work wherever they could find it.
The local economy is getting worse, mirroring the national crisis that erupted last year and whose momentum seems unending.
In line Monday was a 42-year-old woman, Freda Beckwith. She has been jobless since Sept. 17, when she was laid off from the Bellagio where she was a cashier. Her dwindling hope rests with her work history that includes nine years as a cook at New York-New York. She carried documents showing she had once been employee of the month and that she had never been late or absent.
Behind on her mortgage, she said she thinks the dozens of jobs she has applied for are going to younger people. “Sometimes I just want to sit down and cry,” she said.
The federal government, whose rescue plans are focused on bailing out big financial institutions, should be more aware that good people who want to work are on the verge of tears.
Hey, did you know that the Modified Business Tax, which taxes the total payroll of every business in the state (twice as high for financial institutions) essentially, taxes companies for each employee they hire and for each dollar the employee is paid.
Guess what incentive has been created now?
If you guessed less jobs and lower wages you are correct.
They should change the name of the Modified Business Tax to the Anti-Employment Tax.
If we raise taxes on struggling businesses then that will solve all problems.
You two clods have any solutions? Because cutting spending even deeper isn't going to solve this mess.
Either offer real, concrete and workable solutions, or quit your whining.
Companies should know better to have controls in place to hire older workers with solid employment backgrounds. These workers also attract clientele with more money to spend. The aging baby boomers have the most accumulated weatlth in the nation.
I would take more money from the Convention Authority.
I would take money from the SNWA.
I would ask for a drastic reductions in the Platinum Retirement Program for state workers including doing any with the subidized private health insurance. This needs to be done anyway because PERS is going to drown the state one day soon.
I would ask the big money Clark county to contribute more to schools. Clark county can stop giving out the 7% annual raises and reduce the Fire Fighters take home pay over $100k. per year.
I would do school vouchers. For each student pull out of public school. Half the money will go with the student and the other half can stay with the county for each year the student is not in the public school system.
I would shut down the Loux type programs that are just do-nothing jobs.
I would shut down the Nevada State college in Henderson.
I would freeze raises of all types for the next 2 years.
I would increase the co-pays from state workers for health care.
I would increase taxes on TV stations.
Sell the "monorail to nowhere" and seek recoupment of all salaries paid to executive and consultants of this rolling disaster.
"I would freeze raises of all types for the next 2 years."
Already done by Gibbons - no step raises and no COLAs for state employees next year and likely the year after that too.
"I would increase the co-pays from state workers for health care."
Already done too - co-pays were increased this year, and benefits were reduced.
"I would ask for a drastic reductions in the Platinum Retirement Program for state workers including doing any with the subidized private health insurance."
Dump them into Medicare and increase our burden there instead? Great solution. Not to mention that you would also be dumping people out who may have put in their 30 years but don't yet qualify for Medicare.
Nance would have all government employees treated like dirt. That way, no one would want these jobs and we could be last in the nation in literally every conceivable catagory; well, those that we aren't at the bottom of already.
He and patrick/KDR from NPRI have all day long apparently to disparage government employees at all levels and tell everyone how they are just pigs feeding at the trough. Here is the mantra:
Government employees: BAD. OVERPAID. LAZY.
Buisness owners: BACKBONE OF SOCIETY. OVERTAXED.
We get it, guys. You 2 are so right, and everyone else is foolish.
Take money from the Convention Authority? Sure, why not? In times of an economic downturn, Las Vegas needs LESS tourism and the lovely tax revenue that comes from tourists. Forget that "What Happens in Vegas" campaign of just a few years ago that had everyone talking and chuckling at the TV, putting Vegas squarely in the sights of tourists. Now that gas prices have come down, let's stop advertising Vegas completely. That will help!
Take money from the SNWA? Sure, why not? I mean, we can surely go without water or additional water rights. Forget all that pesky development and one of the fastest-expanding cities in the United States. We need LESS water! That will help!
Sure, let's reduce HEALTH INSURANCE! Who needs that? Everyone is perfectly healthy, and those who are not can surely pay their own way for medical services. That will help!
Let's take money away from Clark County! Forget local government, let's embrace Socialism and have the State take money from any place it wants! I mean, Clark County is IN Nevada, so obviously the State government has the inalienable right to take whatever it wants! That will help!
Let's shut down the program currently headed by Bob Loux, because he gave his employees raises! Forget that he's resigning and his office is heading the fight to prevent Yucca Mountain! Who cares? We should just be a quiet, good state and take whatever Washington tells us to! Remember, Socialism is great and the Government sets all the rules!
Let's shut down colleges! Higher education? Who needs it? Competition for UNLV and CSN? Competition is awful! It only makes the marketplace more efficient, etc. Capitalism is awful! Let's allow UNLV to have a monopoly on higher education in Southern Nevada. That will help!
Let's freeze raises! Forget inflation and the cost of living increasing! Workers should have to to the same job and be able to buy less! That will help!
Let's increase the co-pays for health care! We obviously need LESS people insured! That's the ticket to an overburdened and insanely expensive system! That will help!
Let's increase taxes on TV stations, even though jfnance32 has constantly and on a daily basis whined about taxes! He's only saying this because he has an extreme hatred for Jim Rogers! Sure, it's contrary to everything he regularly argues, but who cares? That will help!
ksand99.....I bet you work for government or just go to school.
Is that right?
Wrong, I do consulting work and some computer programming. I'm sure you will extrapolate some genius conclusion from that.
What, pray tell, do you do?
(Crossing my fingers I've uncovered another NPRI troll)
But I notice you didn't argue with any of my observations. Perhaps I've hit the nail on the head...
We do similar work.
"Take money from the Convention Authority?" Yes, they should delay their plans for new construction work. The state can used those funds to get pass this down turn.
"Take money from the SNWA?" Yes, they have so much cash they are spending tons of money on ads that are telling us their political views on water solutions.
"Sure, let's reduce HEALTH INSURANCE!" It is better than laying off state workers. But heck if they desire to be laid-off then it is OK with me.
"Let's take money away from Clark County!" Yes, this county has regularly given over 7% raises each year to its employees. They should contribute more to the school system.
"Let's increase taxes on TV stations" Yes, Lord Rogers says he is undertax. I am favor of increase taxes on any industry that says it is undertax.
"Let's shut down the program currently headed by Bob Loux" Yes, it is obvious this is a do-nothing unit. I am sure we can find more.
"Lets shut down Nevada college in Henderson" Yes, we can not afford this. It is just duplicating UNLV.
"Let's freeze raises! Forget inflation and the cost of living increasing!" That is better than getting laid-off, but heck if they perfer lay-offs then they can have lay-offs.