PALMDALE – Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced Tuesday that he’s brokered an agreement between Kinkisharyo International, LLC and labor groups that will keep the light rail manufacturer in Palmdale.
The mediated contract keeps a proposed 250 manufacturing-related jobs from leaving the Antelope Valley as the Japanese rail car manufacturer is now able to expand its assembly operations at its existing space leased at Los Angeles World Airports in Palmdale, according to Mayor Garcetti’s office.
Garcetti, who also chairs the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), said he jump-started stalled talks between the parties to prevent the company’s manufacturing operations for its next order of Metro light rail cars from leaving the county.
“Because we brought both sides back to the table to grind out night and day negotiations with my office, L.A. County is going to see new middle class jobs and an expansion of our manufacturing base,” Mayor Garcetti said. “Creating good, local jobs as we strengthen our local infrastructure is key to my back-to-basics agenda for L.A.”
A labor dispute between the manufacturer and Antelope Valley Residents for Responsible Development, a labor-supported group objecting to the plant for environmental reasons, resulted in Kinkisharyo scrubbing its plans for building a $60 million rail plant at Avenue M near Sierra Highway. The company faced legal challenges filed by AVRRD, which includes members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union Number Eleven (IBEW 11), that threatened to delay the manufacturer’s delivery schedule with Metro.
The proposed 400,000-square-foot rail car plant was expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and nearly 200 permanent high-paying jobs once completed. However, Madeline Janis, director of Jobs to Move America, a coalition of labor and environmental groups, denied that environmental legal action or other union activities were to blame for Kinkisharyo’s decision to pull out of Palmdale. Instead, she argued that Kinkisharyo, a company with nearly $1 billion in taxpayer funds, should make good on its commitment to “create good, green Los Angeles County jobs.”
Garcetti pointed out in his statement Tuesday that the agreement allows Kinkisharyo to expand the current light rail car assembly and testing operations at its existing site in Palmdale to include manufacturing tasks, which will create a total of 250 jobs. The expansion allows the company to fulfill an order for 97 additional cars. Kinkisharyo is currently assembling and testing 78 light rail cars at its Palmdale facility under a 2012 Metro contract.
Donald Boss, General Manager, Program Management, Los Angeles, for Kinkisharyo, said the negotiations were not easy, although the company is now in a better place with labor. “We are confident that as a result of our agreement with IBEW 11, we will continue to do what we do best – manufacture quality rail cars and deliver them on time and on budget,” Boss said in a released statement.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich said the agreement makes the Antelope Valley all the more attractive for business investments, especially for the transportation sector.
“The establishment of Kinkisharyo in Palmdale and electric vehicle manufacturer BYD (Build Your Dreams) in Lancaster is making the Antelope Valley a premier destination for Pacific Rim businesses to locate within the United States,” Antonovich said in a released statement following the LA Mayor’s announcement. “The Antelope Valley is now home to the best bus and train manufacturers in the world, and our residents will build high-performing electric buses and high-quality rail cars for the nation.”
When asked about his reaction to Kinkasharyo staying on track with manufacturing jobs in the Antelope Valley, Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford told The AV Times it’s a “win-win.”
“We get to keep Kinkisharyo, we get the jobs, and Kinkisharyo gets an opportunity to get a lot more business from Los Angeles County,” Mayor Ledford said by phone, explaining that the region is becoming a transportation epicenter with Metrolink, light rail, and hopes for high-speed rail in the future. “We believe Kinkysharo is looking for more than just this contract; they have an opportunity, I think, to position themselves as a real Southern California developer/ manufacturer of all types of transportation modes.”
The Los Angeles Mayor’s office said the agreement includes a neutrality agreement, along with a commitment to explore additional skills training and assistance for disadvantaged L.A. County workers.
Marvin Kropke, Business Manager of IBEW 11, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, while thanking Kinkisharyo for its commitment to a better future for workers. “This settlement recognizes the value of good middle class jobs in rail car manufacturing,” Kropke said. “We will continue to advocate for healthier communities and good, green jobs in the Antelope Valley and throughout L.A. County.”
Another term of the agreement provides that Kinkisharyo and the Jobs to Move America coalition explore ways to expand opportunities for disadvantaged L.A. County workers, including military veterans, women and people of color, while also exploring potential job readiness training programs.
In addition, the agreement provides that Metro will work with the coalition to develop new public records act protocols. The LA Mayor’s office said labor and community groups settled a public records act lawsuit and agreed that all environmental challenges are now moot.
Jobs to Move America Director Madeline Janis said the settlement is a win for working families in Los Angeles County, as well as the environment. “Our public transit dollars can go the distance to create high-quality jobs, promote clean transit choices, and generate opportunities for disadvantaged people,” she said as part of Mayor Garcetti’s announcement.
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About the author
Jim E. Winburn is freelance reporter covering news of public interest. –Previous related stories:
AVAQMD Board seeks Governor Brown’s assistance in Kinkisharyo dispute
Plans for Kinkisharyo plant in Palmdale derailed by labor dispute
Residents offer solution to Kinkisharyo to mitigate environmental concerns
Pig says
Lol I log on here just to read the retard ramblings of the malcontents of the AV.
Mule says
I log on here to find out what’s really going on with the mayor of Lancaster. The paper won’t cover all his antics. Thank goodness we have the AV Times, something he doesn’t control.
bird says
As the article states, Antelope Valley is becoming a premier location for Pacific Rim businesses to locate in the United States, and that also includes Lancaster and BYD. This is a win-win situation for all. These businesses hire from all locations in this valley, not just Palmdale.
William says
Wow! Another brilliant comment telling us the obvious from the article.
What else can we expect from bird?
Really? Workers from all over the AV work in both cities. Who knew?
Only bird knows that, it seems.
By bird’s brilliant and extraordinary logic, businesses in the LA basin hire residents from Palmdale and Lancaster too, not just from the LA basin. Who knew?
I’m waiting for more fascinating insights from the bird. She’s just full of it, er, I mean ‘them’.
bird says
The Antelope Valley should come together! Both Lancaster and Palmdale and surrounding areas have a lot to offer. Palmdale almost blew it, but was saved by Mayor Garcetti, thank you Mayor Garcetti!
William says
As usual, the hypocrite ‘bird’ is all over the place. She’s 100% behind Mayor Ledford but then blames Palmdale for messing it up.
She talks out of both sides of her ‘mouths’ and if she had more sides, she’d do that too.
That’s what you get with her shallow, binary brain. Nothing useful at all. Ever.
bird says
Sorry but you are the one that talks out of both sides of your mouth William. First you say all Republicans are morons, and then you say you back Mayor Ledford, but you don’t like who he backs. I have always backed Mayor Ledford, but Kathy McClaren who lives in Palmdale, and her group almost messed it up. I said nothing about Mayor Ledford, and as usual you try your deflecting techniques. Mayor Ledford only wants what is best for Palmdale. You can’t even keep your stories straight. You should never assume or imply.
Stinger says
So, bird, based upon your comments, (i.e: “Palmdale almost blew it…” & “but Kathy McClaren … and her group almost messed it up.”) you are implicitly granting the traitorous Mac Laren representational rights for the entire City of Palmdale over the duly elected Mayor of said city, Jim Ledford. William’s confusion as to whom you assign blame regarding what occurred in Palmdale is understandable in such light.
As you say, “You should never assume or imply.”
That said, I join you in your gratitude to LA Mayor Garcetti for stepping in to save the day. I believe that William con agree with that, too. We all share one thing in common – we all want what is best for the AV. We just differ in approach.
William says
@Stinger
In one of my other comments, I wrote that even after the deadline passed, I still stood for the possibility of things working out while most people here were throwing in the towel.
I didn’t take Kinkisharyo’s idea to look out of state as written in stone. They would have had to start all over again somewhere else.
I had a sense that when the media went silent at the end of October, that there was probably work still going on in the background and I contacted someone at Palmdale City Hall about that back on October 25. Although I didn’t get an immediate reply, I assumed that things weren’t ready to be made public yet until something was settled one way or the other.
At that time, it appeared to be up to Gov. Brown to do something but there was no news on it. So, it was a surprise that Mayor Garcetti intervened, a good surprise, as I don’t recall his involvment before, just Antonovich’s.
I’m pretty sure Mayor Ledford wasn’t just sitting around on his hands the whole time. He has pulled a lot of rabbits out of the hat in the last 20 years such as fighting AV Hospital to get the Palmdale Regional Medical Center built and the High Speed Rail station to remain in Palmdale when the tunneling lobby wanted to do the Grapevine route and many other things.
However, I will point out again that since Los Angeles is buying the rail cars, Garcetti does have a lot of clout regarding this. Plus, there was an option to buy 97 more cars. Someone here mocked Mayor Ledford for not making the negotiations happen himself and I pointed out Garcetti’s greater leverage, something that simply flies over bird’s head like water off a duck’s back.
As you may have noticed, Stinger, this kind of discussion is impossible with ‘bird’. It’s 2 complex.
As for the ‘bird’. The name says it all.
William says
Look, bird. The original issue was Knight not supporting polling places on university campuses which was his small part in the voter suppression effort because college students are more likely to vote Democratic. You went off on tangent as usual because you cannot focus on the subject at hand.
You never addressed that and, instead, went off on Mayor Ledford supporting him forgetting that that opened up the Senate seat for Mayor Ledford to run for it. Duh. You are so clueless as to how thiings work in politics.
I also said, that as I Democrat, I made an exception by supporting Mayor Ledford which proves the rule that republicans are morons. Look at Rx, Ron Smith, Marv Crist and the Runner’s and the rest of the ‘good ol’ boys’. But, that just goes right over your widdle head.
Garcetti is a Democrat, bird. Remember that. He bailed out a republican mayor.
Once again, you prove how simple minded you are. Did it ever occur to you that LA is buying the rail cars and that might have something to do with Garcetti’s intervention until I brought it up? That’s because I do my own thinking and just don’t have silly thoughts floating through my head like you do.
But, keep it up. I can beat you every time with your own stuff. And, you have God on your side but a lot of good it does you.
William says
For all your silly comments, bird, I don’t recall you supporting Mayor Ledford during the Palmdale Power Plant discussions. There was a lot of opposition but not a word from the bird supporting it.
I went to the 7 hour hearing last December to support it. Were you there?
I’ve never read any of your comments acknowledging all the new businesses coming to Palmdale recently like Dick’s Sporting Good, Chick Fil A, The Habit and many others when others were knocking them.
Where were you?
So, I don’t take second place to you in supportiing Mayor Ledford. I have supported him for many years and have put my money and participation behind it. What have you done other than say you support him 100% because he endorsed Knight. Big deal. Your comments are so silly, I don’t even believe that.
When someone says “100%” you know it’s a lie.
William says
You’ve denied living in Lancaster, bird, but have never said you live in Palmdale.
Have you voted for Mayor Ledford?
You don’t seem all that interested at all the good things coming to Palmdale for some reason. You stay silent on those issues. Too bad you don’t stay silent altogether.
bird says
It doesn’t matter where I live William, I am retired from Aerospace, and have lived in Palmdale and Lancaster for many more years than you have. I lived on 30th street east back in the 1970’s while I was working on the B-1 prototype at Rockwell. Back then I would look out of my window and see nothing but desert. I know just how much Palmdale has grown, and Mayor Ledford has been a blessing to Palmdale. I came to the Antelope Valley in the 1950’s and my heart is here. Your assumptions are just that, and are always filled with your arrogance, and disrespectful way you treat others. You are NOT the inquisitor although you would like to think you are William. Remember your own words, what you believe is not truth.
William says
@bird
You’re the one who is stuck on ‘belief’ and then you project what it is to ‘believe’ on others.
You are self-righteous about your belief in God and now you come here and proclaim your 100% support of Mayor Ledford in the same righteous way. You use your beliefs to make yourself ‘right’ and others ‘wrong’. You do it to my comments constantly when they have nothing to do with you.
I am now assuming that you live in the county and haven’t been voting for Mayor Ledford or you would have said so.
You’re not shy about talking so why would that be a secret?
Like I said before, where were your comments supporting Mayor Ledford regarding>
-the Palmdale Power Plan
-the lawsuit by Parris over at-large districts
-the High Speed Rail
-or any other the other issues posted here on the AV Times regarding Palmdale and the Mayor.
Then, you come out of the blue with your 100% stuff.
I’ve lived in many cities in the Bay Area, Monterey area and in the Los Angeles area before moving to Palmdale, so I’m not impressed with your provincial mentality and narrow and simple minded take on everything.
Your comments don’t represent someone who worked in aerospace very well.
To use your words, “What you believe is not truth” either.
William says
Mayor Garcetti is a Democrat, bird. You forgot to mention that.
A Democrat helping a Republican mayor in Palmdale.
I wonder if the reverse would ever happen.
bird says
Yes! because Mayor Ledford backed what he did. It should never be about Democrat or Republican, but about the morally upright decisions to make for the good of the people. case in point, bad Mayor (Parris), good Mayor (Ledford), both Republicans. You also have the same scenario with Democrats William.
bird says
Oh yes, and I might add that you’re just the new kid on the block, in the Antelope Valley. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do. When you’re new in an area it’s best to sit back and be quiet and just pay attention, that’s how you learn. There’s nothing more annoying than someone new that shows up in town and wants to be bossy.
William says
@bird
I’ve lived in Palmdale 24 years.
Only in your pathetic little world is that ‘new’.
William says
@bird
That made absolutely no sense as usual.
bird says
It makes no sense to you because you forgot what your comment was. There are so many long winded assumptions, that you lose track of what you’ve assumed. Oh well that’s your problem. Nothing makes sense to you because you’re too busy thinking of what you’re going to say next, instead of listening.
William says
Loosen the bone, Wilma.
I’ll give you the last word…unless you say something stupid.
I realize that’s a high bar for you.
William says
Just as I thought. You haven’t voted for Mayor Ledford because you don’t live in Palmdale.
bird says
There you go again, making assumptions which have no validity at all William. Your comment is irrelevant, so try hooking someone else with the old tired bait you use. You’re soooo transparent.
Jason Zink says
Rip Down this Cactus Curtain and Burn It!
This issue PROVES MY POINT CITIZENS! It takes REGIONAL SOLUTIONS!!! The days of our two city’s competing and fighting for jobs is over where killing eachother, were competing with the WORLD now! It’s time for Antelope Valley to move forward and have a REGIONAL GOVERNMENT too create future jobs! Go BIG or go nowhere AV!
William says
Despite all the naysayers and it seemed like it was a done deal, I kept standing for the possibility that things could be worked out somehow.
Think about it.
-we almost lost the high speed rail station to a Grapevine route.
-we almost lost Palmdale Regional Medical Center due to AV Hosptial fighting its location
-we almost lost the Palmdale Power Plant permitting due to an unfair balance on the AVAQD board vote.
and so on.
Palmdale somehow manages to prevail despite all the obstacles thrown in front of it.
And, that’s why Palmdale is the premier city in the Antelope Valley. Remember, Kinkisharyo had very good things to say about working with Palmdale before the problems erupted from elsewhere.
bird says
You were a naysayer also, read your own comments. It doesn’t matter where the problems were now, but of course Palmdale almost messed it up. It took the Mayor of L.A. to straighten it out. I am thankful for his work for the people.
William says
Shows what you know, bird. You spout off like a bird that won’t stop chirping.
On October 25, this is an email I sent to someone at Palmdale City Hall who was very involved with this issue but I don’t want to reveal the name.
“I haven’t heard anything new about Kinkisharyo for a couple days. I thought there was a 3 day time limit for some decision to be made. If Kinkisharyo had all the plans, permits and whatever to build in Palmdale and they have a deadline to meet, why would starting from scratch in another state help meeting the deadline, looking from their point of view?
I’m still holding the possibility that a solution can be worked out with the governor and others assisting. There sure is a lot of unproductive trash talk on the AV Times about unions, Palmdale, officials, environmentalists, the Kardashians, or whatever not like the Times is the definitive website for thoughtful discussion of issues. LOL
I hope cooler heads prevail. Is the deal done for or is progress being made?”
I do communicate frequently with people at Palmdale City Hall who know something and who can do something about whatever the issue is.
I also handed Assemblymember Steve Fox a letter regarding the issue a few weeks before the election.
In my world, without prayer, I held open the possibility of something being worked out somehow. I didn’t know who or what would cause it or how it would happen, but for me, it worked.
I also went to 3 High Speed Rail authority meetings to support the Palmdale station and spoke at one in Baskersfield while you, bird, were nitpicking my comments. We got the Palmdale station even when the tunnel industry lobby fought for the Grapevine route.
So, whether anything I did made a difference or not, in my world, things are working.
You just spout off here in trite cliches and typical simple-minded talking points. You aren’t able to follow a comment of mine that is more than 2 sentences because of your short attention span.
Work on it. You will get smarter from reading my comments.
William says
I might add that since the mayor of Los Angeles is a PURCHASER of the rail cars, I think he has a much more clout than Palmdale’s mayor. That’s the way things go sometimes.
Mayor Ledford did the groundwork with Kinkisharyo and the company was very satisfied with Palmdale’s ability to work with them.
Palmdalian says
Anyone who lives in Palmdale would be out of his or her mind to want to link up with the disaster that is Lancaster. Really? Eye in the Sky spy planes that cost millions with no kind of return on investment. A mayor that sues his own businesses. Debt up the ying yang. An obsessive focus on the BLVD to the detriment of the rest of the city. A mayor that verbally abuses people who speak up at city meetings. Rampant cronyism. Attempted forced birth tourism. On and on and on. No thank you. Lancaster can sleep in the bed it has made.
William says
@Palmdalian
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
I wanted to say pretty much the same stuff but you said so much better.
The only thing missing was Lancaster’s lowered bond rating.
I keep thinking that Rx won’t run for mayor again. There is too much to FIX and the solar thing doesn’t need his help any longer. Whoever ‘inherits’ the mayor’s job will be starting in a hole. And, will probably continue the digging.
Tom says
Thank you MR.Garcetti this is what a real Mayor looks like.Mr Garrett you have earn your salary.
William says
@Tom
If you gave it a little thought, Tom, you’d realize that Los Angeles is BUYING THE RAIL CARS not Palmdale.
So, it’s likely he had more leverage than Mayor Ledford, dontcha think?
A while back, I suggested that the option to buy 97 more cars could be used to bargain with Kinkisharyo if they moved out of state. Maybe Garcetti did that.
But, face it, Tom. A mayor of a city with almorst 4 million residents has a little more influence than a city of 150,000, wouldn’t you think?
So, think things through a little longer.