20170817

Page 1

Daily Record Financial News &

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Vol. 104, No. 197 • One Section

35¢

www.jaxdailyrecord.com

CSX Corp. shed 785 jobs in July Jacksonville-based railroad eliminated 2,150 positions so far this year. By Mark Basch Contributing Writer After CEO Hunter Harrison said last month that ongoing cuts at CSX Corp. could affect 700 more jobs by the end of this year, the railroad’s latest monthly report filed with the U.S. Surface Transportation Board showed employment dropped by 785 to 22,313 from June to July.

Most of the reduction came in the “transportation (train and engine)” category, which fell by 588. Other cuts include 76 jobs in “maintenance of way and structures.” CSX has disclosed it cut 951 management-level positions this year, mainly at its Jacksonville headquarters. The company’s rail operations cover much of the Eastern U.S., and it has

not detailed its other cuts. With the latest cuts in July, CSX’s total e m p l oy m e n t has dropped by Harrison 2,150 so far this year, including jobs eliminated before Harrison was hired in March, according to the STB data. CSX spokesman Rob Doolittle did not provide details of the latest cuts, but said by email “CSX continues to make adjustments across our network to improve

efficiency and safety and to better serve customers. As a result of those changes, some positions have been eliminated, and there has been some attrition.” As the job cuts continue, Harrison also continues to come under fire for service issues as the company implements his plans to improve operations. The STB last week sent its second letter to Harrison to express its “continued concerns over the widespread degradation of rail service” across the CSX system. Last week’s letter said since a July 27 letter from the STB, “it

is not apparent to the Board or interested stakeholders that service is improving.” The STB wants CSX to provide a detailed schedule for implementation of its new operating plan. “The transition CSX is implementing ultimately will result in better service to our customers, and we are committed to working with customers to ensure they receive the support they require to meet their business needs as we move forward,” Doolittle said. mbasch@jaxdailyrecord.com

CURRY WANTS LANDING BACK

‘RIGHT NOW’ Mayor says he’s willing to begin negotiating deal with owner Toney Sleiman. David Cawton Staff Writer Mayor Lenny Curry wants the Downtown riverfront Jacksonville Landing back. “Right now,” he said Wednesday. It might take longer, but Curry is in a hurry. The mayor said he is willing to begin negotiating a deal with Landing owner Toney Sleiman to return the retail center to the city. “I expect we’ll have a conversation in the near term,” Curry said, but did not have a meeting scheduled. “We won’t get into next year and not have had a discussion,” he said. Curry spoke with Daily Record reporters and editors Wednesday. Sleiman, president of developer Sleiman Enterprises Inc., did not respond to a request for comment. Curry said people are frustrated with the state of the riverfront mall that was built in 1987, which has seen a large drop in tenants and has not lived up to its perceived longterm potential as a popular tourist attraction or central Downtown gathering place. Curry said he believes there is a willingness on both sides to resolve Curry

Public

continued on

Page 4

Photo by Max Marbut

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said Wednesday that people are frustrated with the state of the Jacksonville Landing.

Is Project Zeus Wal-Mart? Curry ‘not saying anything’ By Karen Brune Mathis Editor Mayor Lenny Curry cautioned Wednesday against assuming that “Project Zeus” was Wal-Mart Stores Inc. “A lot of people like to trade rumors, so I would just say, ‘Be careful with your source,’” Curry said. Asked if he was saying that Zeus wasn’t Wal-Mart, he replied: “I’m not

legal notices begin on page

8

saying anything.” Public documents from April and June outline Zeus as an unidentified fulfillment distribution facility of 1.3 million square feet on at least 85 acres. It would need 800 employees and short-listed four sites in the Southeast, including two in Jacksonville. The sites are Imeson International Industrial Park, according to one public document, and possibly NorthPoint Business Park, both in North Jackson-

Published

for

ville near the port. The target for groundbreaking is by year-end, a Cecil Commerce Center executive said in June after reporting to the city that Cecil was cut from consideration for the e-commerce project. Wal-Mart is a probable Zeus candidate because of its size and because the Bentonville, Arkansas-based chain — the largest in the world — has said it

27,258

Zeus

continued on

Page 4

consecutive business days


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.