WPCNR NEWS AND COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. March 19, 2006: Did you hear the one about the County Executive that left with an entourage for China to bring more business from the one Chinese company he had enticed to Westchester County, and the day after he leaves the company announces they are moving out of Westchester and headed for North Carolina?

It's true. Did the Spanoliner divert to Korea or Japan or the United Arab Emirates? What liaison work by our County Department of Economic Development! Do we need a Department of Economic Development anyway? What account follow-up!

Especially when the March 14 news release announcing the County Executive's China trip had a statement from County Executive Andy Spano saying "Each time I've gone to China we've been able to build relationships and establish additional networks. We are continuing to pave the way for companies who want to do business here."

Well, WPCNR asked the Department of Communications (before the Lenovo bombshell)  how many companies have come here, doing business here and how many relationships?

Her answer: one. Lenovo.

Lenovo announced Thursday, (as reported by The Associated Press, perhaps as AndyAir's wheels were leaving Runway 31L at JFK),  the company was moving to North Carolina from their Purchase headquarters which has 70 employees.

You cannot make this stuff up. 

Now -- The County Executive is going to talk to Lenovo about staying in Westchester, a change from the press release agenda which said Mr. Spano hoped "to strengthen the relationship between the company and Westchester and to discuss future business possibilities."

You know this would be funny, if it was not so sad. County Executive Spano leaves for China and he has no idea Lenovo is bailing out? Great advance work by the Department of Economic Development prior to the trip, isn't it?  Where's Paul Wood and Melissa Lopez when you need them? Dennis Power has joined the Department of Economic Development just in time. Whew!

When Mayor Joseph Delfino goes to Japan, the city receives grants and money from Temple Shinn-Yo En that locates here in White Plains. A positive relationship that produces results in White Plains. When Andy Spano makes three trips to China, nothing happens.  

That's a lot to show for three Andy Spano trips to China, isn't it Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester?

Assuredly Mr. Spano's trips were paid for by the Chinese government, but he was on our payroll during those trips. Perhaps next trip he should take a leave of absence without pay as should the rest of the entourage. That might make them more productive.

County Executive Spano has made three previous trips to China and so far it has brought just one company to Westchester, Lenovo, the world's third largest personal computer company, and they're leaving. But wait, perhaps we are being too harsh? Surely there were other economic benefits achieved by those trips?

WPCNR was curious as to how much actual hard dollars in Chinese investment Spano's China jaunts have brought to Westchester. According to the County Department of Communications that figure is not available. The CitizeNetReporter was told  that the county has no record of actual China investment in Westchester resulting from the three trips. How about a little followup by our Department of Economic Development? You can't just go on trips without followup and sell.

How about a little stat-keeping by the Department of Economc Development on foreign investment in the county, and work with them -- the companies already here from other countries. You know Dubai might be running Indian Point for all we know.

The Department of Communications spokesperson told WPCNR we were  "missing the point of the trips," it being the creating an atmosphere where Chinese companies would export goods and products to Westchester and buy products and services from Westchester companies.

The press release did point out an academic relationship with Briarcliff High School being worked on. Some meeting in Shanghai to discuss more deals. The County Executive is also bringing a list of 25 companies who want to do business with China. Good luck.

Frankly, I'd try another country on the next junket.

Next time, Andy, stay home, do some work.

 Like fixing the homeless "concentration camps" in Westchester County, instead of kicking them when they are down  and making them sleep on paper sheets. 

Find out why Con Ed and all the power companies in the northeast quadrant of the country cannot put Westchester back online inless than 5 days. Now there's an investigation!

Help day laborers work, instead of letting villages push them around and violate their civil rights. They are trying to work. You think they like standing out in 20 degree weather waiting for somebody to offer them a job for the day? If those persons were white, and not Haitian, Dominican, Cuban,  African-American or what have you, we'd be treating them better.

Stop giving away our money. Like the $4.9 Million tax breaks to that poor, starving indigent developer Reckson Associates to build an office building they'll never fill up, through the County IDA (Incredible Deals Agency) this week, as reported by The New York Times. That $4.9 Million would certainly help create a series of day labor distribution points about the county wouldn't it?

 Stop building affordable housing that's on a per unit basis is as expensive to build as the toniest condos in Westchester.

Pay attention. Turn the plane around and come home. Or better yet, stay there.

Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester would not miss you.

Oh, just to let you know, Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. Westchester, Susan Tolchin  and Larry Schwartz are in charge while County Executive Spano is in China.

What a relief.