Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Viking Dodge - Lights Out?

When I drove past Viking Dodge at 7:00PM yesterday, the sales lot and showroom lights were out. Is there more meaning to this than just an energy conservation step?

If Viking Dodge has bitten the dust, this is a bad sign for Crystal Lake. The sales tax revenues will be lost, even though they must have declined seriously during the recent months.

If Viking Dodge closes, many jobs will go down the drain; salesmen, managers, clerical, parts, repair and body shop employees will all be looking for new jobs. And there will be few jobs from which to pick.

Viking Dodge has taken a few hits from me over the past year, as I weighed in on the conflict between Wayne Beto and Viking Dodge. The loss of a major dealership in Crystal Lake is not the solution anyone was looking for.

And Wayne's case in McHenry County court system? The trial was set for February 2. Rumor has it that an earlier date is now on the docket. On Wednesday, January 14, the judge will hear a Motion to Dismiss from Viking Dodge. No doubt that the good judge will grant the Motion, and the 2-1/2 year legal battle against Wayne will end.

Yesterday I attempted to explain the ramifications of the deepening recession to a young man here in Woodstock. If there is anyone who doesn't think it's darned serious, he'd better think again. The auto industry affects a huge number of Americans, not just those on the assembly lines or in the glass palaces in Detroit.

The ripple effect of our extremely-serious economic problems will affect every one of us.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Gas - $4.05 in Schaumburg

At 3:00PM gas was $3.859/gallon at the Marathon station at Route 47 and Lake Ave. Whew! And just up the road at the Clark station? $3.759

So, does it pay to shop around? If you were filling a Hummer, I'd say it does.

Gas hit $4.05 in Schaumburg at Higgins and Plum Grove today. Bummer! Time for car pools, fewer trips, eliminating unnecessary trips to the store, shorter vacation travel.

Think there is anyone except that guy in the White House who thinks we are not in a recession? Just what does he think happens when increasing gas prices eat up discretionary income? Other spending slows or stops! Duh...

© 2008 GUS PHILPOTT