How many jobs will big box retail on Oakwood bring to our community?

• In their Application for Rezoning, FISE estimated that “Oakwood Commons” would bring 400 jobs.*
• FISE says in their campaign literature they will bring 700 jobs.
• How did FISE add a 60% increase in the number of jobs they will bring to the area?
• For every 4 jobs at “Oakwood Commons” FISE predicts 3 new jobs will be created elsewhere in South Euclid. (3 indirect jobs for every 4 jobs created. An indirect job would be job created at a bakery to bake and package the bread made and sent to be sold in a new store.)

No supporting evidence is given for this amazing claim.
DOES THIS MATCH YOUR OBSERVATION OF HOW THE WORLD WORKS?

• FISE does not take into account that Oakwood will compete with other South Euclid businesses,forcing some to downsize or close, eliminating jobs.
• FISE is courting Walmart to move from Severance to Oakwood.
• The people working at Walmart now will move to the new location those jobs will not be “created” they are simply "relocated"; some jobs will be gained because they will open a Supercenter—a larger store.
• But, how many indirect jobs will be gained to serve a store that moves ½-3 miles away from its old location?

Now for the real question about “indirect jobs that will be gained”. Even if we accept this as true for a minute….

Those of you reading this that are still lucky enough to be employed:

• What happens when the organization you work for takes on new work and orders? What happens when your co-workers retire or are laid off?
• Does your company hire anyone new? Or does it push for higher productivity from the workers it already has?
• Our observation of the world around us and reports in the media are that businesses are reluctant to hire anyone new.
• Is the post office or local print shop or painting company going to hire someone new to provide “indirect service” to Oakwood?

If we lived in a community with increasing population, or increasing median income maybe new retail would create some jobs.

But our community is losing population, has declining median income and has an aging population. We do not need more retail.

Developing Oakwood will just move chain stores from one location to another

The chains will make a profit, but the community won’t.

LOCAL BUSINESS WILL SUFFER. FISE and their global investors will make money.

We won’t.

WE STILL HAVE LAWN SIGNS SEEKING FRIENDLY LAWNS (in South Euclid only).

PLEASE CONTACT US TO HELP DISTRIBUTE DOOR HANGERS (YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOCK ON DOORS!)
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR OAKWOOD IS TO TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN SOUTH EUCLID AND TELL THEM TO VOTE NO ON 96!

WE ONLY HAVE 15 DAYS UNTIL THE ELECTION!

*Estimate of number of workers per sq. ft. of retail is described here
A short, printable version of the fiscal analysis Bad Deal for South Euclid is attached below.
To see full  fiscal analysis, click here.

THANK YOU!