“Politicians don’t get elected on the basis of results, they get elected on the impressions they give.”
In another economic blow to the City of Franklin, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL has learned that according to a notice filed with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, T-Shirt International, Inc., located in the Franklin Business Park will terminate 99 workers at its Franklin and Oak Creek facilities on June 10. The Oak Creek site will remain open with clerical staff but the Franklin site will close permanently.
Nearly a year ago to the day, the Franklin Business Park's most highly recognized name, Harley Davidson, notified Mayor Tom Taylor that its Franklin distribution center would be closing. Driving through the business park today, one can’t help but notice empty buildings and lots. The city as a whole continues to have a lot of retail space sitting empty. Many well-known businesses have left the community.
Harley-Davidson Franklin DistributionCenter, Franklin Business Park.
Yet, in 2011 campaign literature, Mayor Taylor stated: "We gained nearly 3,000 plus jobs in Franklin during my term. During my term new businesses will or have added another 2,000 jobs and much more to come! The type of jobs and pay spanned the entire spectrum: executives, managers, doctors, technical professions, retail services and many more. Also, it generated hundreds of part time jobs for our citizens and young people. More and more of our citizens can work where they live. One of the commitments I made to you!"
THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL has requested the jobs gained documents from Mayor Taylor that he referred to in his campaign literature. We also asked Cal Patterson, Treasurer and Director of Finance and Joel Dietl, Planning Manager Department of City Development if they were aware of the documents Mayor Taylor referred to, and if so, if they could provide them. To-date, only Patterson and Dietl have responded to our request and have indicated they don't have this information. Since we have not received a response from Mayor Taylor, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL has filed an open records request for these documents. See related EDITORIAL: Is it too good to be true?
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