Nordstrom deal pencils out
Do I laugh or cry? Richard Erganian (letter Dec. 24) complains that employees will be taken advantage of by 1% corporation while the 99% suffer. On what planet does this guy live?
There will be 1,000 people earning $12.50 an hour. Who in his right mind would work for such low wages? Has he noticed the long lines for any job offered at any wage? Look at the new retail stores. The Fresno County unemployment rate for September was 9.3%. Good jobs are needed.
The evil 1% company (Nordstrom) will have to provide health insurance. How many of these employees have no health benefits or have Medi-Cal and an EBT card? Does Mr. Erganian know who pays for that? You and I – assuming we make enough to pay taxes.
Who builds the 1 million square-foot building? How many jobs will be needed? What about the multiplier effect? Every construction job needs suppliers and workers. How many new jobs will be needed to support 1,000 employees? They will need food, clothing shelter, etc.
One thousand jobs at even $12.50 an hour doesn’t go to the 1%, but to all of us in taxes, reduced cost for social services and other benefits.
George Whitman, Fresno
This story was originally published December 29, 2015 at 4:47 AM with the headline "Nordstrom deal pencils out."