In response to Jan Moller's report on NOLA.com, "Avondale Shipyard could close by early 2013, state officials are told," reader amdg80 had this to say: "Avondale currently employs almost 5,000 direct employees and several thousand more indirectly. A first-class shipfitter makes over $21 an hour. It has been well known in the area that Avondale was facing being shut...
In response to Jan Moller's report on NOLA.com, "Avondale Shipyard could close by early 2013, state officials are told," reader amdg80 had this to say:
The Northrop Grumman shipyard in Avondale has been working on projects like the LPD for the U.S. Navy."Avondale currently employs almost 5,000 direct employees and several thousand more indirectly. A first-class shipfitter makes over $21 an hour. It has been well known in the area that Avondale was facing being shut down, but our local media and politicians have ignored the issue or downplayed it. The BP spill has consumed eveyrthing. While BP is the biggest threat currently, life goes on and there are numerous issues that appear to be ignored or downplayed, and Avondale is one of them. If Avondale sinks, it will take a good part of the West Bank with it and the ripple effect will be felt all the way to Houma.
"Prior to being bought out by Litton, Avondale built both Navy and commercial vessels. It built numerous double-hulled tankers for ARCO and others. It built the Riker's floating prison barge. It also built various Navy vessels. After Avondale and Ingalls Shipyard in Pascagoula were purchased by Litton, and then became part of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, the work became all Navy.Avondale became the red-headed stepchild to the newer, more politcally connected Ingalls. While this may be hard for some to believe, given Avondale's past connections with Bob Livingston and others, that is in the past. Ray Mabus, Trent Lott and other powerful Mississipi Republicans have protected Ingalls at Avondale's expense. Tax Attorney asks when was the last cruise ship built in the U.S.? I do not know the exact date but it was built at Ingalls. The customer would not accept it because of the shoddy work and the U.S. taxpayers got stuck with the bill while the ship was sold for scrap. The same thing happened when Ingalls tried to build a semi-submersible drilling rig. Customer refused to accept, sued and won except taxpayers did not eat the tab. While Avondale (and Ingalls) have recently had quality issues with the Navy, Avondale, in my opinon, puts out a much better product. (And no, I do not work for Avondale nor does anyone in my family.)
"But I digress. As Avondale is sinking, what are our wise elected officials doing here in Louisiana? Making sure that gun owners with concealed-weapon permits can bring their guns to church. Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Our Republican govenor? He signs the bill. Our governor and legislators ignore the budget crisis and will not reform the system. Instead, our legislators pass $30 million in pork for projects that are questionable, or at the very least should not be funded by the state when money is scarce. The Guv vetoes a few minor items as politcal payback against his political enemies and lets the rest of the pork go to the pigs at the trough. While this is going on, our universities are facing layoffs, budget cuts and massive reorganizations. UNO is dying a slow death while budget cuts castrate its programs, including its widely acclaimed accounting program. If Avondale dies, I guess the naval architecture program is next on the chopping block. We give millions in tax breaks to such wondeful employment opportunities such as chicken plants and golf courses, while local businesses suffer.
"The city and surrounding area, I fear,. will become like Charleston, S.C., a boutique tourist attraction with a small port. The port, once the gem of the South, has also been treated like a red-headed stepchild. Without a dedicated funding (taxes) like other states, Mobile and Gulfport are chipping away at our business. Look at the hoops we had to jump through to keep New Orleans Cold Storage here in town..
"If we do not contact our elected officials, as well as those in other states, our beloved state will continue its slide into the oil-coated waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We will not need hurricanes, BP and others to do it for us. While a boutigue city may benefit a small minority, it is a disaster for the rest of the area and the state. Contact anyone you think can help, and do it before it's too late."
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