Word on the Street was especially newsy today. What I found most interesting was the response from Mayor Ardis and Senator Koehler when asked about comments that I and other bloggers interpreted as fear mongering to gain support for the proposed museum.
Ardis said he didn’t mean it that way. But Koehler upped the ante:
State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, […] said he’s concerned about the future of Caterpillar in Peoria with or without a museum, especially in today’s global corporate climate.
“If Peoria wants to turn this down, we need to be responsible for anything that happens in the future,” he said. “I’m not trying to overplay this. I’m being realistic.”
Wow. So, the future of Cat in Peoria is uncertain whether there’s a museum or not. What a comforting thought. So much for the museum driving “deep stakes” here for Cat, as Brad McMillan suggested. But here’s the best part: If we build the museum (translation: if we pass a big county-wide tax increase) and Cat decides to leave anyway, it will evidently be because of “today’s global corporate climate.” But if we don’t build the museum and Cat decides to leave, it’s all our fault for voting against a tax hike. It’s not scaremongering; it’s just “being realistic.”
It’s being realistic, but what was the other thing he said? Oh yeah: “State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, said he hasn’t had any conversations with anyone from Caterpillar about its future in Peoria if a museum isn’t built.”
I think it’s time for Caterpillar to clear the air. They didn’t return a call for comment to the paper. They should. Peorians deserve to know whether Caterpillar is giving Peoria an ultimatum or if the museum backers are just trying to use fear and misinformation to scare people into voting for a tax increase to build a museum whose current plans and cost they don’t like.
I would like to see caterpillars presence decline. It certainly has done so by quite a bit since I was a kid and I think in the long run Peoria will be stronger and better for it. Having all your eggs in one corporate basket is never a good thing for a municipality. I doubt they will ever leave completely but at least a reduced presence would insure a less catastrophic occurrence should they decide or be forced to do something drastic in the future.
Do you know how many jobs would be affected by Caterpillar declining their presence? Do you how much they contribute to the economy here? Rental space, suppliers, taxes. Raoul’s idea would send Peoria into an economic tailspin. There’s no easy answer but Peoria is what it is today because of Caterpillar.
Having talked with/met and otherwise chatted with Dave Koehler several times – I you might be reading into it just a little, CJ/ it sounds more serious than it is meant to be.
Dave Koehler is FAR from a reactionary type of person. He is patient and very, very thoughtful. AS a reactionary type person, I found him to be really considerate – in that he takes time to consider things much more so than I am wont to.
I’m not too excited about higher taxes either, but I do want to see the museum built. Can’t they come up with a more palatable monetary plan?
As soon as anyone in India can do the job for 1/3 the cost it leaves Peoria anyway. The cat jobs are leaving little by little and that has been better than all at once. The jobs are gone, we are just waiting for them to leave, when Caterpillars switchboard operators can be located in India nothing is safe. It is not my idea that cat pull out, it is happening, has been happening and will continue to happen. The best we can do is keep the pace slow and try and replace these jobs with new jobs and new industry.
[quote]said he’s concerned about the future of Caterpillar in Peoria with or without a museum[/quote]
If the presence of a museum or lack thereof would have no impact on whether or not Cat would choose to leave the area then the average citizen should feel free to vote “no” without fear of consequence. Right?
Agreed cgiselle12.
I think he was talking about a chance to boost Peoria/Downtown…and the possibility of a missed opportunity.
For example…If the museum doesn’t happen, maybe another city in Central Illinois will take up the task-pulling revenue away from Peoria.
Maybe that is what he meant. I think everyone is freaking out for nothing.
If CAT leaves, I will happily eat a large serving of crow.
Cat is going nowhere. Jeesh….
And as this is now public knowledge, I’d like to put forth that Cat just gave Bradley University $30 million – which even for them is a significant investment.
Having just done that (and having been in fundraising for many years now) I don’t see them dropping all those dimes and taking off next year either.
Huh? Didn’t Cat just announce they were upgrading production facilities in Central Illinois? I wish Dave and the “Block Hawks” would devote as much energy to raising donations for the museum as they do to these scare tactics.
I would definitely be one that would hate to see CAT leave this community, they have done and continue to do so much for Peoria. I can’t imagine though that they would pull up roots over a museum. What I truly dislike is being strong armed and threatened by the very people that have screwed this thing up. It sickens me that the politicians and “big shots” have manipulated, changed, messed with and ruined the entire plan and then expect us to swallow their garbage talk. The only reason the museum is at a standstill is the people that are supposed to make it happen. Politicians – MAKE IT WORK. CAT – please stay. I plan to stay and continue paying taxes to the City of Peoria whether or not CAT leaves. And, I plan to vote no to a county tax.
Why the hell would Cat EVER leave Peoria? It has the city right where it wants it… by the wing-dingies.
There would be plenty of advantages for Caterpillar if they moved their world headquarters to Chicago.
It was interesting to see how two companies made opposite moves with their headquarters. Nissan moved their NA headquarters from LA to Nashville to be closer to their assembly plant while Boeing moved their world headquarters to Chicago and left their manufacturing facilities behind in the Washington.
If CAT left the area not only would they forfeit the tremendous amount of real estate they own, but in addition they would have to “buy back” all their employee’s homes through their relocation program, homes that would be de-valued as a consequence of their own actions. A double-whammy so-to-speak. I just don’t see it happening, and quite frankly, even just this idle chatter does some damage.
The first time my parents took me to the Field Museum in Chicago, I was in heaven. I believed that all the world’s knowledge must have been kept within those walls. The word ‘museum’ used to invoke a love of knowledge, culture, and of course fond memories.
Now when I hear the word ‘museum,’ I think about petty city-elites, eager to build THEIR legacy at ANY cost. I think about corporate bullies, and so-called community leaders playing at being museum experts, a field in which they have no real knowledge of, or formal training in. Another marketing firm [from Chicago] is going to conduct a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th public poll? Sorry I lost count.
The wrong people were given the task of making this museum work from the beginning.
I heard all about this ridiculous Museum Group [you know the list], yet I have never heard one word from ANY of the representatives from the other organizations. I was sick of hearing and seeing Richerson pitch his prepared “This Is Our Legacy” bull!
Now I am sick of listening to that former ‘LaHood guy’ tell ME why I need this museum! Last I checked, none of these people knew the first thing about museums…..and THAT is what you get for listening to LaHood in the first place!
CAT and their ‘posturing’ [or lack of] makes me sick. Correct me if I am wrong, but haven’t their earnings been climbing steadily the last couple of years? Peoria could end up being history without CAT, but don’t forget…CAT’s entire HISTORY is in PEORIA.
I haven’t sen any Cat “posturing.” Rather, it appears Cat has been some proponents’ weapon of choice.
“but don’t forget…CAT’s entire HISTORY is in PEORIA”
Wrong!
It started in East Peoria not Peoria.
Build the Cat Museum in East Peoria on the site of the old cat buildings along with the Cat Heritage museum. I think East peoria would welcome it with open arms.
I believe CAT has not bothered to respond to this propaganda because it is a non-issue for them. They are a global organization dedicated to remaining competitive in an ever changing business environment. CAT not long ago renewed their commitment to the area by announcing plans for major investments to upgrade all plants in the U.S., including those in the Peoria area. If they say good-bye to Peoria it will be a business decision unrelated to the museum plans. I think CAT has remained silent and has distanced itself from this “project” because they see once again what a mess Peoria leaders can make of matters.
Peoria should nevertheless be concerned about CAT’s future presence in the area. Not so much the plants, but the professional staff. The profile of the typical professional employee has changed dramatically over the last decade as CAT increasingly markets to a global clientele. The “new” Cat employee must be mobile, ideally bilingual, and adapt quickly to competitve business conditions. Peoria needs to ask itself whether it offers the housing, educational, and leisure activities that would appeal to this new model of employee. I believe the driver in whether CAT remains in Peoria will be whether Peoria can deliver a new model of community that is broader and more far reaching than they do today.
Diane, what a boon to the real estate market to get all that land on the cheap when Cat leaves! You should be excited about the prospect.
On the other hand, why would they want to leave? They have already emasculated the unions and withdrawn their pension and benefits from many of their employees. They keep having record quarters because of their projects in China and other “alien” lands where labor and the currency is more economical.
“I believe the driver in whether CAT remains in Peoria will be whether Peoria can deliver a new model of community that is broader and more far reaching than they do today.”
Yes…. this is important. A museum could be a part of that but hardly critical. New Urbanism however would be very important to this new model. Developing a New Urbanist community would be very beneficial to Cat’s ability to recruit the best talent it can. It would help other businesses as well. The new urbanism doesn’t have to be limited to the ‘Heart of Peoria’… I firmly feel Peoria should make it a fundamental development principle for any new construction (in the far north or anywhere else) and any redevelopments (Sheridan Village?).
“They keep having record quarters because of their projects in China and other “alien” lands where labor and the currency is more economical.”
This is a bad thing? U.S. plants are operating at capacity cause of that demand. Cat is adding capacity because demand is far outstripping what current plant facilities can deliver. The U.S. and Europe are in a slump but not Asia or even Latin America. The is the power and benefit of globalization. One area can be in a slump and yet your business can thrive. When the U.S. pulls out of its cyclical slump, which it will, Cat will be well positioned. If all markets are roaring the growth possibilities are huge.
All those plants in China are serving the Chinese market. They are not shipping final product back here. The products being built are for the Chinese market with are their differing standards and requirements. Yes it is more economical to build it there. Toyota and Honda are building stuff here in the U.S. for the U.S. market for the same sorts of reasons. All that global transport adds cost.
I didn’t say it was a bad thing. I also didn’t say Cat leaving Peoria for economic reasons would be a bad thing.
It all depends on what you think is important… profits or people.
Why do you think the US is in a slump? Maybe… because we are shipping jobs all over the globe and the 3 leading job markets in the US are retail, food service and nursing? Maybe… because companies like Cat are more concerned about their stock holders than their employees? Maybe… because our government is spending nearly a trillion dollars on the defense department next year?
“I haven’t seen any Cat “posturing.” Rather, it appears Cat has been some proponents’ weapon of choice.”
– Possible. However, I believe when CAT says nothing, they are speaking volumes. CAT is of a mind to let someone else [local elites, govt. etc] do the dirty work. True, I have not heard CAT confirm anything, but I have not heard CAT deny anything.
Martin Palmer-
Peoria area….OK? Are we really going to nit-pick? You may be right about East Peoria making a play for the CAT center.
Frustrated-
I believe CAT just dumped $30 million [more] into CAT University, I mean Bradley University…….. I think that their ‘support’ of Bradley assures them a fairly steady stream of ” mobile, ideally bilingual, etc” employees. Of course when you consider todays college graduates…………..?
“The new urbanism doesn’t have to be limited to the ‘Heart of Peoria’… I firmly feel Peoria should make it a fundamental development principle for any new construction . . .” Agreed! Peoria does not get enough back from its subdivision developers, i.e. walkable neighborhoods, inclusion of parks, tennis courts, swim facilities, like similar developments in the Chicago suburbs.
New Voice – Caterpillar increasingly recruits worldwide. My previous post was not to suggest that CAT will have difficulty finding qualified candidates. Location and quality of life issues are determinants in employee retention and satisfaction. Almost all CAT executives have lived throughout the U.S. and abroad as a precursor to becoming a leader and ultimately these are the individuals that will make a business case should relocation of CAT headquarters be considered. Peoria does not display the vibrancy that it should given all the resources it has available to it, i.e. large corporate employment, great health care, river city, limited commute/traffic congestion, etc.
Frustrated,
I agree. My main problem is the number of people who put all of their ‘eggs’ in the ‘museum basket.’ If the powers that be could take and properly develop what Peoria already has to offer, small-town, mid-west America would seem even more appealing to CAT execs…or anyone else. The amount of money, time, and resources that have ALREADY been spent on this ridiculous museum project could have been put to far better use. Agencies and commissions [HOP, etc] have been in place for a long time, their purpose…to aid in the development of Peoria/area. The only problem is NOBODY listens to them!
Ian Schwartz, if you are a reporter, then why don’t you go find the truth in this matter for us rather than speculate? Do that instead of being an apologist. A truth-seeking WHOI report would benefit a community confused by its elected representatives dismaying comments.
New Voice- I agree with you as well. If leaders of the community worked as vigorously on issues plaguing the City as they are in getting the museum on line, then C.J. would have nothing much to blog about. Peoria has become an aging “inner city” with all the typical problems associated with that label. For years now the City and its leaders have chosen the indirect path to remedy the situation – TIF districts, new malls, a fluffing up of the zoo, riverfront development, the list goes on. And here we are, 20 years later and still the decay continues.
First things, first! (1) If the City and community leaders are going to focus their time and resources on anything it should be the management and student performance of District 150. No shiny new museum or updated riverfront is going to cure what ails Peoria. (2) Simultaneously, the City should be aggressively looking at attracting new small commercial/industrial business to the Peoria. Though Grand Prairie and its surrounds may have created new employment, it is low wage employment – five new Starbucks in the area is not a sign of a vibrant economy!
I am all for building a cosmopolitan community. Riverfront development, museums, upscale shopping, all sounds good to me – if, and only if, the basic building blocks are in place.
Very good!