Outside Erie

More major media outlets are turning their focus on manufacturing cities with the Ohio primary upcoming.
Recently, I pointed out a Washington Post piece on Toledo.
Yesterday, the New York Times offered a similar look at the campaign through the lens of nearby Youngstown.
The main theme of the story echoes what we can expect when similar attention […]

The Washington Post had an interesting story yesterday about how the Democratic primary is playing out in Toldeo, Ohio.
I point it out because the issues that are facing Toledo are very similar to the problems that are being grappled with in Erie.
And it’s interesting to point out that the story concludes that neither Sen. Hillary […]

Thanks to everyone who has contributed their ideas to the “Six-Word Motto” post. We’ll be sifting through the many submissions over the weekend and will highlight some of the best in an upcoming post.
In the meantime, I’d like to showcase this week’s top non-motto comment. It comes from Jim — and it speaks to what […]

Is the federal government sitting on information about hazardous materials in Presque Isle Bay?
The Center for Public Integrity has uncovered a confidential Centers for Disease Control report that suggests that just might be the case..
The organization has gotten its hands on a study that was scheduled to be released in July 2007 but has yet […]

One of Erie’s biggest recent economic casualties is at the center of a good-news story today.
The former Affinia-Brake Parts Erie plant has a new tenant — NBS Trucking LTD of Cluster City, Pa.
The trucking firm plans to house its newest division at Affinia’s old Wayne Street plant, according to a release from the Economic Development […]

A class of journalism students at SUNY-Fredonia have taken an in-depth look at the proposed tires-to-fuel plant in Erie.
The class presented its findings on the blog Culture Mosh.
The conclusion:
Even with its 60 jobs and the $235 million investment, it is likely that the tire-burning plant will do harm to the City of Erie and the […]

It seems Steris Corp. is having a hard time getting its employees in Mexico to produce as quickly as its longtime workers in Erie — and the company is paying the price on Wall Street.
Check out this quote from the company’s quarterly earnings report, which was released Wednesday:

“While demand remains strong across our operations […]

I’m still of two minds on the plan by Caletta Renewable Energy to develop a tires-to-fuel plant on Erie’s east side.
Part of me says that this company deserves the chance to prove that its project will cause no ill effects to the neighbors and to the environment before it gets chased out of Erie.
The fear-mongering […]

A commenter on this blog recently took a crack at union workers — especially those at GE Transportation — for their alleged lack of productivity.
I refrained from chiming in at that point, opting instead to let the discussion run its course.
But I wanted to say (and am saying now) that GE’s Erie union — UE […]

Too often when we debate a topic, people take an all-or-nothing approach.
You either line up with the Democrats or the Republicans.
You either favor manufacturing or tourism, it can’t be both.
You either support the bayfront Convention Center wholeheartedly, or you think it’s a complete waste.
You either drink Coke or Pepsi.
But when people line up fully behind […]