Quoted Text

GE's Southern exposure

A reader sends along a recent clip from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution regarding General Electric's growing presence in Cobb County, Ga.

The story notes that in 1998, GE Power Systems transferred 450 jobs from Schenectady to Atlanta. And three years later, the division headquarters arrived from Schenectady.

"GE cited the usual relocation reasons: accessible metro airport, tax breaks, engineering grads and quality of life," the story said. Maybe that line is cool in Atlanta, but don't try and sell it in the Capital Region.

This area has the Albany County International Airport, loads of engineering grads from RPI and Union, and Lord only knows how many millions in tax breaks GE received in New York. Quality of life issues are too subjective to measure.

The story reveals GE provided a whopping $22 million grant for the Atlanta school system to boost students' math and science skills. I don't recall GE ever giving a New York school district a grant anywhere near that number.

Dan Heintzelman, whom the newspaper labels as a top GE executive, said the company's Atlanta presence, both civic and commercial, will only grow. "This is a great place to build a business," he said.
I wonder if Thomas Edison said the same thing when he came to Schenectady? For the better part of a century, GE and Schenectady grew together until more recent times when the company eliminated tens of thousands of jobs.

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/AspS.....Page=2#ixzz0gMffdI14

Gee, I thought Death Ray stated that Schenctady not Atlanta was the place to do business-lol-

      This is hardly news, Georgia doesn't have Governor's like Paterson or Mayors like Son of Sam. Jack Welch stated decades ago he would take every job he could out of NYS. Keep re-electing these "leaders'-maybe your job can be transferred to Hot Lanta too! See yous in Buckhead!

GE did schenectady no favors. They employed many but it came with a price. GE and it's union ran the city. Gambling and corruptness ran rampant. GE made b/millions off the back of the immigrants who resided here. Illegal dumping was the norm 'for a price'. Back door deals and trunks with money was the norm.

GE and the union controlled the political process. That practice still continues in this county. It just looks cleaner and neater when it comes in the form of uniforms and government buildings. GE taught us well! So to GE....I say good riddance! They can take EVERYTHING to Atlanta for all I care.

the only problem is the soil underneath the lovely grass

it is a property that can NEVER be sold