(Madison, WI) Imagine if Apple was located in your community. All 3,000 employees. Now imagine that Steve Jobs stepped up to the microphone at your city council meeting and announced that Apple was considering leaving. That’s exactly what happened this week. Watch it here.
I was personally amazed that this seemed like the FIRST TIME Jobs had spoken with the city council. Something similar happened this week in Madison at an economic development breakfast. A Madison-based employer said they were paying a $3/hour premium to employ workers in Madison and were looking to expand elsewhere. A woman in the audience asked, “Have you talked to Mayor Dave about this?” The employer hadn’t.
Madison. Cupertino. Wherever. I wonder why cities and employers don’t work more closely on land use and workforce strategies? Neither cities nor employers can solve the issues - traffic, cost of living, access to affordable technology, infrastructure - that affect us all. So here’s to taking up hands more often…and not holding our breath wondering what Steve Jobs’ announcement will be at our next city council meeting.
