Monday, April 28, 2014

California chases away another one: Toyota moving headquarters to Texas

Read 'em and weep, Sacramento. Your stupid decisions and excessive taxes and regulations have chased another 5000+ jobs out of state.
Toyota Motor Corp. plans to move large numbers of jobs from its sales and marketing headquarters in Torrance to suburban Dallas, according to a person familiar with the automaker's plans. 
The move, creating a new North American headquarters, would put management of Toyota's U.S. business close to where it builds most cars for this market. 
North American Chief Executive Jim Lentz is expected to brief employees Monday, said the person, who was not authorized to speak publicly. Toyota declined to detail its plans. About 5,300 people work at Toyota's Torrance complex. It is unclear how many workers will be asked to move to Texas. The move is expected to take several years.
Jerry Brown must think that the only things businesses care about is the humidity, but he's wrong.  You can't beat low taxes.
The automaker won't be the first big company Texas has poached from California.
Occidental Petroleum Corp. said in February that it was relocating from Los Angeles to Houston, making it one of around 60 companies that have moved to Texas since July 2012, according to Texas Gov. Rick Perry
Perry last month visited California to recruit companies. The group Americans for Economic Freedom also recently launched a $300,000 advertising campaign in which Perry contends 50 California companies have plans to expand or relocate in Texas because it offers a better business climate. 
Like these other companies, Toyota could also save money in an environment of lower business taxes, real estate prices and cost of living. 
Frank Scotto, Torrance's mayor, said he had no warning of Toyota's decision. He said he did know that the automaker planned a corporate announcement for Monday. 
"When any major corporation is courted by another state, it's very difficult to combat that," Scotto said. "We don't have the tools we need to keep major corporations here."
The mayor said businesses bear higher costs in California for workers' compensation and liability insurance, among other expenses. 
"A company can easily see where it would benefit by relocating someplace else," Scotto said.
The temporary reprieve California experienced by boosting taxes only lasts until everyone with money leaves.  After that it's adios muchachos.  My plan is to wait for California to go feral like Chicago, and then buy up Beverly Hills for a couple of hundred bucks.  Till then, I will laugh at the news and at astute cartoons like this.

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