#community

Hit the dislike count and lets see how many people actually go on this site!

The past few weeks (or even months) have been tough, but hearing from others who are going through the same thing has been oddly comforting. It helps to know I’m not the only one feeling this dread and uncertainty right now.

Just drop in, plenty of parking and places to sit.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQCYbPOFGpK/

What do all think of this forum?

Exxon Mobil will postpone its plans for a large new plastics production plant on the Gulf Coast of Texas, according to the company. Construction initially was planned to begin next year on the $10 billion facility in rural Calhoun County.

"Based on current market conditions, we are going to slow the pace of our development for the Coastal Plain Venture," Exxon said in an emailed statement. "We're confident in our growth strategy, and we remain interested in a potential project along the US Gulf Coast and in other regions around the world."

Six weeks prior, a county district court judge invalidated the local school board's decision to negotiate a tax break agreement with Exxon, following a lawsuit from Diane Wilson, 77, and her group, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper.

On Aug. 19, the judge ordered the school board to redo its public hearing on Exxon's tax break after Wilson alleged the district provided inadequate notice of the meeting in "a deliberate attempt to avoid public opposition." Wilson, an internationally known environmental advocate, promised to bring a large audience for the repeat hearing.

"I think it definitely played into it," Wilson said of Exxon's pause. "I think if everybody had just rolled over for them, if they got exactly what they wanted and there wasn't a big fight, there would be no delay."

Exxon, which reported nearly $34 billion in profits in 2024, was seeking a 50% reduction in its property taxes to the rural Calhoun County Independent School District for 10 years, beginning in 2031, when the project would come online.

Plans called for the world-scale plastics plant to produce up to 3 million tons per year of polyethylene pellets for export, primarily to Asia, according to Exxon's December 2024 tax abatement application.

John Titas, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corp. in nearby Victoria, said he didn't think Exxon's decision was related to the tax break fight.

"I think they've been very thankful for the support they received in the community," he said. "It's economics. To justify an investment of that magnitude, you've got to make sure the market will provide a return."

In Exxon's latest statement, first reported last week by Independent Commodity Intelligence Services, an industry news service, the company maintained the possibility of resuming the project in the future. "We're maintaining good relationships with community leaders and contractors, so we are ready to reevaluate the project's status when market conditions improve," it said.

Exxon didn't specify which market conditions would need to change. Most projections forecast strong growth in plastics demand over coming years.

The economic intelligence firm Precedence Research expects markets for polyethylene, which the Exxon plant would produce, to grow 64% between 2024 and 2034, according to a June 2025 assessment. Another firm, Expert Market Research, expects overall plastics markets to grow 51% in that time. According to the Plastics Industry Association, "The global plastics industry continues to accelerate, backed by strong demand."

Wilson said the project's delay marked the best news she'd heard since 2019, when she found out that her lawsuit against another nearby petrochemical giant, Formosa Plastics, would end with a settlement worth more than $100 million in penalty payouts, facility upgrades and cleanup projects.

A retired shrimper and mother of five, Wilson learned her tactics of resistance over decades of radical activism in defense of Texas' coastal bays, where four generations of her family have fished for a living. In 2023 she received the Goldman Environmental Prize, the leading global award for environmental activism.

As soon as she heard about the new Exxon project, in December 2024, she said she leapt into action, involving herself in the various public processes she's come to know about, including the school district tax break agreements.

"How a community reacts is extremely important and it's extremely important that you do it in the beginning," she said. "Move fast and don't let up."

This report is published in partnership with Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/exxon-stepping-back-from-texas-gulf-coast-plastics-plant/

P24 seems like a golden age now that Project Mongoose is in effect. Instead of (for most countries) voluntary redundancy, your name and role are on a list. Works council stated this will be an annual thing. So much for the feeling of community at SAP. Also when did the T4 level become poison? Speaking informally with HR T4 positions are not really sought after. T1, T2 highly sought. It's brutal out here now.

Hello everybody in want to warn the community about the mcdonal near the office. I ordered a large fry and all I got was a regular. They think I’m up in hear playing but I got news for them:

I ain’t.

Will never forget where we were 24 yrs ago at 320 Park. We will always remember and never forget. Give to Tunnels to Tower 501(c)(3). Tunnels to Tower should be awarded the Community Partnership Award by Stephen Rich.

It's been over 8 years since we lost our beloved Tom Moran. It was such a huge loss for our community. Below is from an article in Irish America about Mutual of America.

How do we get back to being this kind of organization ? Instead of handing out money that we don't have like it grows on trees, 2 days a year, each associate could volunteer their time at 3-4 local organizations to give back to our communities. We've lost our sense of community, purpose, and moral compass.

/////////////////////////////////////////////
A Man of the People: Thomas J. Moran
By Patricia Harty, Editor-in-Chief

"At the Concern dinner, Elie Wiesel said that while he has come across “humanity” in individuals, the first time he came across it in an entire organization was when he encountered Mutual of America.

Mutual of America is the only corporate board that Elie serves on. He sees us as a unique organization that genuinely cares about making a difference, and that there is, very much, a soul to Mutual of America. In my opinion, that soul was first created by the organizers of the company and nurtured and developed by Bill Flynn in his years there. Hopefully now with my time, I also care deeply about the same issues, which are all involved with making the world a better place. And each and every one of our employees share in that commitment. One hundred percent of our employees participate in some kind of philanthropy, either through volunteering their time or making donations. We are a company that is as proud of what we do outside of the industry as we are of what we accomplish in the industry."

We're at the St. Louis City soccer game. Guess what the promotional item is. Edward Jones sponsored lunch box. Seriously the weekend of he-l week? It sure got people in St Louis talking about how sad and disappointed they were of what happened. This community is behind us and feels our pain!

Reddit, facebook, youtube, tiktok, those are all places that someone popping and going “oh it is not that bad” makes sense. But why here?

This is not a commonly known social media site. You have to look to find it. And the vast majority of us here are scared or mad or both. Why would someone who feels like everything is going just fine and we need to just relax take the time to come here and comment on all these posts?

Are they bots? Trolls? Associates whose job it is to manage the narrative and image? What do they hope to accomplish? Make all of us realize that even though we may lose our livelihood and belief in the company we have devoted so much life to, that really it is no big deal? Or divide us up and make us feel even more alone?

Whoever you are, you have every right to your opinion, but your “copy of a copy” phrases will not change anyone here. We are united in the trauma of this layoff. You can’t change that.

The region jobs do not exist any more. It was a wonderful time to work for Allstate. A team environment. You went to work every morning knowing you were working toward something. If you had the right leadership. We did. We drove growth for the company. Those who were part of that time appreciate the experience. So, there was a time that working for Allstate was something to be proud of and fun. It did happen. New times now. It still can be rewarding. Carry on.

It never stops being exhausting to hear the same complaints repeated endlessly. People vent, post, and talk about the same problems day after day, but nothing ever changes. It’s frustrating, yet at the same time, there’s a strange comfort in knowing you’re not the only one feeling stuck.

What’s the best food from the cafe?

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/atts-leadership-crisis-arrogance-financial-collapse-legacy-gnall-9qfoc/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH2UHobXt1E

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/st-augustine-man-indicted-multi-104233492.html

Anyone know him