We keep coming back to a certain individual, one who seems to take an interest in everything, yet hides in the shadows. Someone who, speaks out against groups and individuals, seemingly for no reason. However, the underlying tone of some of his writings tend to lead one to believe, he takes issue with those who he thinks are "wealthy". Why? We're not really certain.
However, we were given an article to read from back in 2018, an opinion piece wrote in The Meadville Tribune by Mr. Joe Tompkins. The piece details out his disgust with the Lang family for choosing to sell their company. Let's get into this a bit, shall we?
But, what is Joe's concern regarding this sale? Is it really about the employees? Or, just another way to spread hate against a family who decided they wanted to sell their business? Was he jealous of the amount of money they would get from selling a business they grew from the ground up? Maybe because the sale price used the b word that Joe hates so much?
A quote from another writer of Joe's;
Mind you, there were multiple generations of family involved in building this business. A business that started in 1933 with George (dad) Lang.
He missed some important parts of what their statements also said though;
Full story here - https://www.meadvilletribune.com/news/full-story-ainsworth-pet-nutrition-to-be-sold-in-1-9-billion-deal/article_f541b5b8-3865-11e8-9b18-3f52977b9d94.html
They did some research before they "sold out", it would seem. What else does Joe complain about?
If Ainsworth was selling, they likely didn't care about the profits any longer. Also, in case you're unfamiliar with how businesses grow, it's usually by increasing profits. But, what do we know, we're obviously not all-knowing Joe.
Wait, didn't Joe say these employees would have nothing but job insecurity?
Now, this is where Joe gets to eat his words a little bit.
Joe wrote his opinion piece in 2018, so the difference in numbers you're about to see is due to this fact.
The following minutes are from a City Council meeting on April 15, 2020;
Please make sure you read the part that states "would pay in full the remaining lease obligation". Did they "pull the lease", yes. However, they paid the remainder of their contractual obligation.
As a tidbit, the City rented this space to MMC at $1,500/wk during the 2021 year. MMC went on to purchase this space in the fall of 2021 for approx. $725,000. The space is used by a for-profit agency, meaning it stays on the tax rolls, to the tune of $45,000/yr. A good thing for the City.
From an August 18, 2021 Council meeting;
That means the City not only received money from the sale of this building, but they had also been paid the remainder of the Ainsworth lease obligation, which ran thru February of 2023. It seems the City ended up pretty okay on this deal, wouldn't you say?
As far as the claim of job insecurity...
It seems like, according to this mailing, J.M. Smucker is growing the former Ainsworth brand. They also seem to be taking care of their employees, even the new hires who start out with some great benefits.
Maybe it's time for Joe to start apologizing to the people he is talking down too and verbally attacking. Today, that apology should go to the Lang family.
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