Thursday, August 12, 2021

Salena Zito: American Labor Crisis Hit All Small Businesses on This One Street

  PITTSBURGH -- It's 4:30 in the morning, and Raymond Mikesell's alarm has gone off. 

 

        Within an hour, as the first rays of pink and orange morning light reflect off the skyscrapers in the city, Mikesell is at his restaurant, Cafe Raymond, in the Strip District, the city's Main Street for small businesses. 

        On his way to the restaurant, he stops by the food terminals, hoping they will have the produce and stock he needs for the day. But he ends up having to turn away the beverage distributor at his own loading dock. 

        "I ordered over $1,000 in bottled water, tea and drinks and he tells me he only has about $100 worth of the supplies I ordered for the day. It's the third time this week this has happened," said Mikesell, 55, shaking his head. 

        And, as far as workers go, all he can do is hope that everyone shows up for their shifts and that maybe today someone will answer the ad he placed in March looking for servers. 

        So far, he said, no one has shown up to interview for the jobs, which pay more than the $15 an hour progressives have demanded all businesses -- including small ones -- pay employees. 

        Joe Mistick, sitting on the balcony of Cafe Raymond, said the problems small business owners face here in the Strip District are a microcosm of what's happening across the country. 

        "If it is happening here, it is happening everywhere," said Mistick, former chief of staff to two Pittsburgh mayors and current law professor at Duquesne University. 

        There are 30.7 million small businesses in the United States, accounting for 99% of all American businesses, according to data collected by the U.S. Small Business Administration. 

        And a lot of small businesses in America are facing a crisis right now that stems from a perfect storm of problems: a short-handed workforce, a broken supply chain and inflation that is very real, despite President Joe Biden's dismissal of it as "temporary." 

        Generous federal unemployment benefits funded by Biden's American Rescue Plan currently give people $300 per week in federal money to supplement state jobless aid, which also averages $300 a week. Add those numbers up, and the motivation for workers to stay home rather than get a job is real. 

        "We Are Hiring" signs are plastered all over small shops in the Strip District. A poster saying "Temporarily Closed" has hung on the door of Deluca's Diner for weeks because they can't find servers and cooks, according to the owner's father. 

        This has all led to a broken supply chain, explains Jimmy Coen, owner of three sports-themed variety stores called Yinzers. 

        "If, somewhere along the supply chain, someone does not have enough workers to either make their products or load their products or deliver their products, the small businessperson is left uncertain if he or she will have in stock what the consumer demands." 

        As a result, shortages in everything have spread across the country -- from labor to lumber and from swimming pool chemicals to ketchup packages. Even if products are getting made, there's a dearth of drivers to deliver them. 

        Coen is president of the Strip District Business Association that includes nearly 30 small businesses along Penn Avenue. He said that, without getting the goods they need, small business owners will be forced to raise prices to make ends meet. 

        "These shortages are what is making inflation skyrocket," he said. 

        Last week, the Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 5.4% in June, the fastest pace recorded in 13 years.
        The cost of fresh meat is especially out of control, Mikesell said. 

        "Brisket went up 30% easy, beef in general is going outrageous. So has salmon. So has chicken. And don't get me started on fuel charges for when you do deliveries." 

        Mistick said everyone on Penn Avenue hustled last year to figure out how to stay afloat amid the closures caused by the pandemic. 

        "Raymond was creating Sunday dinners for four for families to pick up, Jimmy was selling masks on tables in front of his stores, Pennsylvania Macaroni was shipping their Italian groceries on dry ice to their customers. They all worked hard to survive, and they did." 

        If you had told Mikesell midway through the COVID-19 crisis that when the economy started to rebound he wouldn't be able to bring in workers nor supplies, he never would have believed you. 

        "Honestly I am shocked," he said. "It blows my mind that this is where we have ended up."              

Salena Zito is a national political reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner as well as a weekly columnist for the New York Post. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between. To find out more about Salena and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pay UP
-or-
Shut DOWN

Anonymous said...

Ross Perot was right.

PittPanther said...

We've spent decades telling minimum wage workers to get better jobs. They finally were able to do it. Good for them, I say!

Anonymous said...

The supply chain was broken by g’mt payments, not a better job. @8:37 I hope you like what you’re paying for.
We’re all screwed.

Anonymous said...

Lazy, scumbag, stay-at-home-and-collect-the-money-I-provide-them-in-taxes.

Biden and the leftists have created this.

Disgusting.

Some people have ZERO skills and ZERO work ethic and bad attitudes, yet DEMAND some crazy hourly wage. They can suck it.

Anonymous said...

@8:37
Exactly. This is what happens when everyone under the age of 30 learns to code.

Just plain tired said...

I was browsing the web the other night for a set of tires for my carto replace the tires I bought for it 3 years ago. The price of the same set of tires and others comparable to them are up more than 50% and the market for cheap Chinese tires has vastly expanded. I wonder if they will last as long as this pandemic.

Anonymous said...

The desired workforce has moved on. The options left are low skilled people in financial crisis, or looking to the border. These aren’t meant to be careers, and that is where business owners fail to see the disconnect. Be thankful that you’re not employing the next Josh Archie. If you hire someone from the border just know that these people form enclaves to start their own businesses in the long run.

Anonymous said...

You people think waiting tables, washing dishes, and food prep isn’t skilled? Yeah it takes a lot of skill to not fuck with the meal of obnoxious Karens. But if you are obnoxious enough we will happily watch you enjoy our special sauce.

PittPanther said...

No one is sitting around collecting checks. They're just no longer working to do your crap job - no insurance, hours change every week, inconsistent if they will even get any hours each week, unable to make plans for child care as a result.

Why would anyone want that job, if they have a better job available?

Anonymous said...

@2:26 you are clueless. If you don't think there are folks sitting around collecting checks, then you are blind. Many are doing it. Many.

Anonymous said...

So the elites/corporations moved the manufacturing sector overseas in order to pay workers less, enrich upper mgt and the stockholders. at this point said American workers had to scrape by working 1 or 2 jobs in the service sector in order to make ends meet. Americans mostly service each other, we don’t really make anything here anymore, so the work environment has changed and small business owners have to change as well, you can either pay workers a living wage or you can move to technology , kiosk, etc… This is not progressive thinking but economic reality!


Recent Comments

Search Jackson Jambalaya

Subscribe to JJ's Youtube channel

Archives

Trollfest '09

Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


Note: Security provided by INS.

Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

Note: Security provided by INS
.