SV Ink Article

OCTOBER 2009 COMMISSIONER ART DELACRUZ SOUTH VALLEY INK ARTICLE

The closure of the General Electric Plant (GE) has come as a big blow to the 400 employees, their families and the entire community. At the onset of this new I immediately asked the County’s economic development team led by Daniel Gutierrez to contact GE management and inquire what County government could do to help them stay. In addition I asked the team to meet with GE labor representatives and determine how they could help the effort. Soon other elected officials and high-level government personnel joined our effort to help address the issue head-on. A series of meetings were coordinated to open up constructive dialogue among union leadership and GE management. I am proud that our federal delegation Including Tom Udall, and Martin Heinrich assisted, in addition Governor Richardson, and Mayor Chavez assisted. We e I offered options to the corporation and made strong statements in total support and in favor of GE staying and supported the employees throughout these negotiations. Unfortunately, even thorough our best effort GE has elected not to stay. The plant manager claimed that labor costs were too high in Albuquerque despite labor having made $10,000,000.00 in concessions to the best of my understanding. I made every attempt within my power as County Commissioner to encourage GE to stay and offered everything the County could offer a new company locating to our community, the City and State did the same.

At the end of our discussion and negotiations and with the union present GE representatives declined. The plant is set to close next year. This is a bad situation for all of us by the loss of jobs, including revenues generated by the plant which equals over 2 million dollars. While, GE said it is a done deal, I am determined to continue to explore opportunities with the Economic Development arm of County government and other officials to assure that we consider all options and opportunities to seek clients and tenants to occupy the building to help fill this void. Hopefully, offsetting the devastation the closure of the GE plant will have on many families and businesses.

Hand in Hand Event

During the month of November, you have an opportunity to interact with all of County Government including myself; other elected County officials and the highest level of Bernalillo County management in your own backyard – right in the South Valley. I felt that it was important to bring County Hall to the people. You will be able to communicate your issues, questions, concerns and ideas to the highest level of County government. The County Manager, Deputy County Managers, and Department heads will be joining me at the Westside Community Center to listen to you, our boss. I am cordially inviting you to this event and also share a cup of coffee with us. So far as we have shared the idea of this event with residents the enthusiasm is great, we feel participation will reflect this. The Treasurer’s Office, the Assessor, the County Clerk, and Probate Judge and Sheriff’s Office representatives have confirmed their participation. Come visit with County Hall November 7th from 10 to noon at the first “Hand-In-Hand, Bernalillo County Working With You” event at Westside Community Center, located at 1250 Isleta Boulevard SW


It is my sincere pleasure to work for and with the people of County Commission District 2. Should you have questions or concerns you can always call me and my assistant, Dolores Herrera, @ 468.7448 or E-Mail: dherrera@bernco.gov or write to: Commissioner Art DeLaCruz, District 2, Bernalillo County Commission, One Civic Plaza, 10th Floor, Suite 10111, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102. Visit my blog @ http://commissionerartdelacruz.blogspot.com/ Contact Bernalillo County online for all other County information including department information and personnel contacts and programs and events and services and other pertinent County info @ www.bernco.com