TORRANCE TRIBUNE May 8, 2014 Page 11 One Man’s Opinion Another Man’s Opinion By Gerry Chong An honorable man, the Prime Minister of South Korea resigned because the ferry disaster occurred on his watch and his government reacted too slowly. If that were the basis for national leadership’s resignation, By Cristian Vasquez On April 28, Toyota dropped some pretty bad news for California, and in particular for the City of Torrance. The popular car company will be moving its North American headquarters from Torrance to Plano, Texas. Toyota opened its doors in Torrance back in 1982 and employs an estimated 5,200 workers. While the relocation will leave approximately 2,300 employees in California in locations such as Newport Beach and Long Beach, losing a business like Toyota is a big setback for a still struggling California economy. While Toyota representatives stated that the move will consolidate its operations in Michigan, Kentucky and California into a single facility in Plano, I can’t help but wonder how much money Toyota will save due to the lower tax rates in Texas. It makes absolute sense for a company to have all of its operations in the same state or city if possible. However, http://www.tax-rates.org/ indicates that Texas does not have a corporate tax rate while California has an 8.8 percent corporate tax rate. With a gap in the tax rate that big between both states, it is not difficult to believe that Toyota found some inspiration in these numbers to move. Whatever the reason for Toyota’s decisions to pick up and leave, the fact is that California’s business climate is in crisis mode and seems to be getting worse. Granted, businesses come and go; it’s the nature of the game. Yet,to lose a corporation as large, popular and profitable as Toyota is an enormous black eye. Statements made by Toyota representatives indicated that the move was to better serve their customers and to position the company to enjoy sustainable and long-term growth. If Toyota had to leave California in search of “sustainable and long-term growth,” how dire is the business climate in our state? Are we really in a situation where a business that had called California home for more than 30 years can no longer envision a sustainable future if it stays? That is horrible. If a veteran business in our state is leaving to accomplish better growth, how can we expect to attract new corporate businesses? How can we convince current corporations to stay? I wish I was an economist or business guru to provide the answer. Unfortunately, I am not and so I am left with these questions and the frustration that 4,000 Torrance-based Toyota employees will be impacted by the move: that includes 2,000 motor sales employees and an estimated 1,000 in the company’s financial and manufacturing sectors, respectively. I hope that the displaced workers can find something fast that will allow them to continue providing for their families. Also, it would be great if another corporate giant would find the soon-to-be empty building in Torrance an ideal location for its operations. It’s discouraging that Toyota is leaving and it is scary that more people will be soon find themselves unemployed. • Looking for the Torrance Tribune? You can find us at all the following locations as well as our Web site: www.heraldpublications.com Want a subscription? For $50 a year, we will mail a newspaper to your home. Just mail us a check. We will use the address on the check for your subscription address, unless instructions state otherwise. Mail the check to Herald Publications, 312 E. Imperial Ave., El Segundo, 90245. Please add “Torrance Subscription” in the memo line. 1-Naba Japanese Restaurant 20920 Hawthorne Blvd. American Tire 22940 Hawthorne Blvd. Anza Pacific Barber Salon 4330 Pacific Coast Highway Arco 23510 Crenshaw Blvd. Arico Hallmark 3856 Sepulveda Blvd. Artesian Car Wash 17500 Prairie Ave. Barnes & Noble 21500 Hawthorne Blvd. Benihana 21327 Hawthorne Blvd. Billy’s Deli & Cafe 5160 W. 190th St. Bottle Shop 2087 Torrance Blvd. Buffalo Fire Department 1261 Cabrillo Ave. Chamber Of Commerce 3400 Torrance Blvd. Chase Bank 2549 P.C.H., Torrance Chateau Liquor 4545 W. Sepulveda Blvd. Chinese Shanghai Restaurant 2880 P.C.H., Torrance Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 21300B Hawthorne Blvd. Cop-A-Tan 24231 Crenshaw Blvd. Courtyard Torrance 1925 190th St. Cousin Vinny’s Cafe 5150 W. 190th St. Creative Cuts Int’l. 21217 Hawthorne Blvd. Crest Restaurant and Bar 1625 Cabrillo Ave. CVS 1303 Sepulveda Blvd. Dee Hardison Gym 2400 Jefferson St. Del Amo Car Wash 20505 Hawthorne Blvd. Del Amo Professional Pharmacy 21320 Hawthorne Blvd. Dino’s Burgers 1975 Torrance Blvd. El Camino College 16007 Crenshaw Blvd. El Pollo Inka 23705 Hawthorne Blvd. Fox Drug of Torrance 1327 El Prado Ave. Frank’s Liquor 1601 Cabrillo Ave. Froots 21219 Hawthorne Blvd. Griffith Adult Center 2291 Washington Ave. Hamilton Adult Center 2606 W. 182nd St. Hof’s Hut 23635 Crenshaw Blvd. Infiniti South Bay 3233 P.C.H., Torrance Jack’s Pizza 5007 P.C.H., Torrance Ken’s Market 901 Inglewood Ave., Redondo Bch L. A. Fitness 3550 W. Carson St #404 La Cocina 4438 182nd St., Redondo Bch. Lingley Chevron Extra Mile 23420 Crenshaw Blvd. Little Company Of Mary Hospital 4101 Torrance Blvd. Little Company Of Mary Medical Cntr 4201 Torrance Blvd. Manee Thai Massage 24020 Vista Montana #A Massey’s House of Flowers 25929 S. Western Blvd. Miyako Hybrid Hotel 21381 S. Western Ave. Old Torrance Coffee & Tea 1413 Marcelina Ave. Pacific Porsche 2900 P.C.H., Torrance Palos Verdes Bowl 24600 Crenshaw Blvd. PCH Smiles 2740 Pacific Coast Hwy. Pediatric Therapy Network 1815 W. 213th St., Suite 100 Power Volvo 3010 P.C.H., Torrance Ralphs 1413 Hawthorne Blvd. Ralphs 5035 P.C.H., Torrance Rascal’s Teriyaki Grill 5111 Torrance Blvd. Residence Inn 3701 Torrance Blvd. Seashore Chinese 5137 Calle Mayor Seafood Town Chinese Resturant 22922 Hawthorne Blvd. Shakey’s Pizza 5105 Torrance Blvd., Torrance Shorewood Realty 1009 Torrance Blvd. Snax Restaurant 4535 Sepulveda Blvd. South Bay BMW 18800 Hawthorne Blvd. South Bay Pain Docs 2557-A Pacific Coast Hwy. South Coast Retina Center 2601 Airport Dr., Suite 210 South End Racquet & Health Club 2800 Skypark Dr. Southeast Torrance Library 23115 Arlington Ave. Southwood Dry Cleaners 22232 Palos Verdes Blvd. Spires Restaurant 1750 Sepulveda Blvd Starbuck’s Coffee 5005 P.C.H., Torrance Staybridge Suites Hotel 19901 Prairie Ave. Street Faire Antiques, 1317 Sartori Ave. T.R.G. Real Estate Group 3480 Torrance Blvd. The Depot 1250 Cabrillo Ave. The Little Gym 21203 Hawthorne Blvd. Tony Roma’s 24301 Crenshaw Blvd. Torrance Bakery 1341 El Prado Ave. Torrance City Hall 3031 Torrance Blvd. Torrance Cultural Arts Center 3320 Civic Center Torrance Historical Society 1345 Post Ave. Torrance Library 3301 Torrance Blvd. Torrance Library 4805 Emerald St. Torrance Police Dept. 3300 Civic Center Torrance Police Dept. 3624 Artesia Blvd. Torrance Produce Market & Deli 1303 El Prado Ave. Torrance Recreation Center 3341 Torrance Blvd. Tortilla Cantina 1225 El Prado Ave. Toyota North America 19001 S. Western Ave. Tucker’s Market 3690 Newton St. Vince’s Spaghetti 23609 Hawthorne Blvd. Volunteer Center 1230 Cravens Ave. Wahoo’s Fish Taco 3556 Torrance Blvd. Walgreens 2690 P.C.H., Torrance Walgreens 4142 P.C.H., Torrance Walgreens 2976 W. Sepulveda Blvd. Walgreens 2321 Hawthorne Blvd, Redondo Beach Walgreens 22930 S. Western Ave. Walmart Neighborhood Market 19340 Hawthorne Blvd. West End Raquet & Health 4343 Spencer St. Western Museum of Flight 3315 Airport Drive ‘Y’ Not Burgers 22940 Hawthorne Blvd Yamabuki Restaurant 23863 Hawthorne Blvd. YMCA Torrance-South Bay 2900 E. Sepulveda Blvd. think of how many times he would have resigned if he had headed a government in which: Government Benefits: The Census Bureau reported there are 167 million nonveteran Americans receiving some form of government benefits, but only 103 million full time workers. Therefore there are 64 million more people taking out than putting into the system. Welfare: The government has spent $3.7 trillion on welfare over the last 5 years, yet 46 million live below the poverty level. Food Stamps: When Obama took office, there were 32 million on food stamps. Today, there are 49 million who cannot feed themselves. Jobs: The Bureau of Labor Statistics disclosed that in 20% of the families in the country, no one . . . not one person . . . works . . . either full time or part time. Income Taxes: The top 40% of income earners pay 106% of all income taxes. The other 60% are along for the ride. Who is paying their fair share? Economic Growth: During the first quarter of this year, the economy stagnated, growing at 0.1% . . . that’s right, not one percent, but one tenth of one percent. Medicaid: There are 70 million on government paid Medicaid, but as the country sinks into poverty, it is anticipated that Obamacare will add 16 million more to the rolls, a 22% expansion. Defense: The Federal and State governments spend over $1 trillion per year on entitlements, excluding Social Security and Medicare: a sum nearly twice that of national defense. This spending equals $50,000 per year for a low income family of three. Bureaucracy: There are over 200 Federal and State welfare programs, including 27 low-income housing programs, 30 employment training programs, 34 social service programs, 13 food programs, and 24 child care programs . . . all run by bureaucrats. Obamacare Update: As of April 28, the Obamacare back-end programs required to run the system are not functional. As a result, the Administration has no knowledge of the number of enrollees who have paid their premiums, the percentage of young people who have enrolled, and the financial subsidies to which enrollees are entitled. Some have blamed the administration for stonewalling information from the public, but the fact is that it doesn’t know. Moreover, Accenture, which is charged with completing the back end programs, has no projection as to when its work will be done. National Debt: Before Obama, the cumulative national debt stood at $10.6 trillion, and he pledged to cut it in half before the end of his first term. Today, it stands at $17.5 trillion, and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office projects it will rise another $7.6 trillion over the next decade. If our government were headed by a man as honorable as Korea’s Prime Minister, we would be headed in a different direction, but wishes and dreams don’t constitute a plan for the future. • Automobile Manufacturer Leaving State Showcases Economic Crisis “However, http://www.tax-rates.org/ indicates that Texas does not have a corporate tax rate while California has an 8.8 percent corporate tax rate.”
Torrance 05_08_14
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