More tax giveaways to big corporations... Rahm's agenda results in a self-parody on March 27, as mayor touts 'Coeur d'Alene' move to Chicago while protesters march against Emanuel's gutting of the city's public schools
It's an almost daily event in Chicago's media, the heavy breathing from City Hall the accompanies an announcement that yet another corporation is moving, relocating, or expanding its corporate footprint in Chicago -- all thanks to Mayor Rahm Emanuel. For the past two years, the Mayor's Press Office has been pouring out, as public expense, corporate propaganda for Chicago's mayor. But on March 27, as the mayor's police chief deliberately lied about the size of the protest that was surrounding City Hall, the scenario almost reached a level that couldn't be satirized or parodied.
One of the signs carried by protesters on March 27 outside City Hall in Chicago. Substance photo by Susan Zupan.According to the Rahm Emanuel propaganda department, the Coeur d'Alene mining corporation is moving its headquarters to Chicago, thanks to tax breaks given to the company by Chicago and by the State of Illinois. Supposedly, the corporate headquarters will have 65 people working in Chicago. But left out of the propaganda from the Emanuel administration is the following, which was reported in the local newspaper in Coeur d'Alene: "Coeur has 65 employees in the building it owns in downtown Coeur d’Alene, and about 20 of them have opted to move to Illinois and remain with the company, spokeswoman Stefany Bales said Wednesday. The rest may stay on until Sept. 30, she said."
The doubletalk about these corporate incentives has typified the stream of this type of materials coming out of City Hall since Rahm Emanuel was inaugurated in May 2011. The press release always touts the supposed "jobs gain." But there is no accountability to audit the claims or the books when more tax dollars are given away while Rahm Emanuel claims Chicago's schools have to face draconian cuts. During the past 18 months, Emanuel has hosted media events at companies like Groupon and Motorola Solutions, claiming job gains based on corporate favoritism from City Hall. Buried in the fine print months later are the announcements that the corporations touted earlier are actually cutting jobs.
Here is the full press release that was send around by the "Mayor's Press Office" on March 27, 2013 as marchers protesting the mayor's ongoing attacks on the city's public schools were gathering outside the mayor's offices...
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. March 27, 2013. CONTACT: Mayor’s Press Office 312.744.3334
press@cityofchicago.org
Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation (Wendy Yang, Vice President, Investor Relations 208.665.0345
Stefany Bales, Director, Corporate Communications 208.667.8263)
COEUR SELECTS CHICAGO AS GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS
Coeur to Move HQ to Chicago; Bringing 100 Jobs to the Downtown Area; Company Will Add 60 Positions in the Coming Year
Officials from Coeur d'Alene Mines Corporation (NYSE: CDE, TSX:CDM) today joined Mayor Rahm Emanuel and representatives from Governor Pat Quinn’s administration to announce that Coeur will move its corporate headquarters to downtown Chicago. Coeur is currently headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, the company’s home since 1985, and employs nearly 2,000 people worldwide. The company expects to complete the move to Chicago in the third quarter of 2013 and to hire at least 60 employees at its downtown headquarters by the end of 2014.
Some of the more than 3,000 people who assembled in Chicago's Daley Plaza for the rally and marches on March 27, 2013 as the people were assembling. On orders from the Chief of Police, the Chicago Police Department's media affairs center was telling some reporters that the number of people in the protest was fewer than 1,000 when officers on the streets could count the crowd growing from 3,000 and more. Substance photo by Susan Zupan.In addition, Coeur intends to change its name to Coeur Mining in mid-May following its Annual Meeting.
“Coeur could have chosen any number of cities for its home, but they chose Chicago because Chicago gives the company its best opportunity to grow, expand and thrive,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Coeur needs a global city with a deep talent pool and access to international markets. I am proud that the city worked to put its best foot forward and attract this vital company. I look forward to working with Coeur as they make Chicago their new home.”
Because of Mayor Emanuel and Governor Quinn's consistent message heralding the advantages of doing business in Chicago and Illinois, Coeur was able to quickly and confidently make their decision.
“Coeur today joins the growing number of companies that are choosing Illinois to invest and grow their business,” Governor Quinn said. “With our diverse economy, our pool of highly-skilled workers and our world-class transportation infrastructure, Illinois has what it takes for businesses to grow. We welcome Coeur and look forward to bringing more global corporations to Illinois.”
Coeur is the largest U.S.-based primary silver producer and a growing gold producer. The Company has four precious metals mines in the Americas generating strong production, sales and cash flow in continued robust metals markets. Coeur produces from its wholly owned operations: the Palmarejo silver-gold mine in Mexico, the San Bartolomé silver mine in Bolivia, the Rochester silver-gold mine in Nevada and the Kensington gold mine in Alaska. The Company also owns a non-operating interest in a mine in Australia, and conducts ongoing exploration activities in Mexico, Argentina, Nevada, Alaska and Bolivia.
“Relocating our headquarters to Illinois will improve our access to key stakeholders and to our operations,” said Mitchell J. Krebs, Coeur’s President and CEO. “Chicago is a global, pro-business city, an international transportation hub and provides access to a broad and deep talent pool. We look forward to our active involvement in our new community and are proud to call Chicago our new home.”
Coeur will receive a state investment package, administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). The package will consist of Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) corporate income tax credits, which are based on job creation, and Employer Training Investment Program (ETIP) job training funds that will help enhance the skills of its workforce. The tax credits are performance-based, meaning until local workers are hired, the company is not eligible for them.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to Governor Quinn’s commitment to helping employers create and keep jobs in our state,” DCEO Director Adam Pollet said. “Last year, more than 300 corporate facilities moved to or expanded in Illinois, putting our state among the top five states in the nation for attracting business.”
To attract Coeur, Mayor Emanuel and Governor Quinn worked with World Business Chicago and other organizations to ensure that the Company had a good sense of what the city and state could offer. One of the key tenets of World Business Chicago’s Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs is the attraction of corporate headquarters to Chicago, and staff from WBC and DCEO worked with Coeur through every step of the process to ensure that Chicago was the company’s ultimate choice. Coeur’s relocation to Chicago marks the 14th corporate headquarters to come to the City during Mayor Emanuel’s administration.
“World Business Chicago helps advance the Mayor’s mission to attract companies to Chicago,” said Michael Sacks, vice-chairman of World Business Chicago. “In the case of Coeur, WBC was able to bring business and civic leaders into the discussion to showcase the city’s assets. We look forward to helping Coeur integrate into Chicago’s business community.”
