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Moose EV
The concept of risk/reward is one thing if you’re gambling with your own money but when you lose taxpayer funds we all take a hit. This point was brought home in my reading of the closing of Mike Ryan’s “Green Vehicles” electric car manufacturing plant in Salinas CA, a Monterey County city of 150,000 residents.
You need deep pockets to have a chance at success in the auto industry. As the following report confirms Mr. Ryan received almost $800,000 from the city of Salinas and the California Energy Commission to jump start his car. Apparently he failed to convince any Venture Capitalists to share his dream.
I would like to see Mr. Ryan’s Business Plan where he sold the city on how he intended to carve a niche for his TRIAC 2.0 and the MOOSE with a California manufacturing plant to compete with the industry giants who have invested huge sums of money to capture market share in electric/hybrids, the next generation of small truck and auto manufacturing.
According to the following article the “start-up” company promised city leaders that it would create 70 new jobs and pay $700,000 in taxes a year to Salinas.”
Who made the decision to provide this funding? Where was the due diligence to vet out the plan and prior experience/success of Mr. Ryan to see if his electric car would fly.
In looking at the elected city council member resumes, located on the Salinas web site, the work experience of the mayor and 6 member city council lacks any direct involvement in the auto or any other manufacturing endeavors.
Not to shortchange or diminish the careers of their council, but to scan their background as that experience could add to any negotiations with a prospective employer seeking financial assistance, I add the following.
The Salinas city council members are: a school teacher, one member in TV/Radio advertising, a nurse, an owner of a nursery/landscaping supply company, an Organizing Director, an AG businessman and one member whose employment background I could not locate. According to an Internet search I see that the Salinas council 2009 wages ranged form $18,000 to $20,000 not including benefits. As such this must be a part time position.
What I have found in many California cities is a part time city council who, for the most part, rely on staff to provide direction on these significant Agenda items which overwhelms the concept of “checks and balance.”
http://www.ksbw.com/money/28586219/detail.html#ixzz1SW1LhWUw
http://www.ksbw.com/money/28586219/detail.html#ixzz1T475jSq7
Another competitor for stupidest City Council, right up there with Orange and Costa Mesa. They are probably lucky that Miguel Pulido didn’t find them and sell them a solar powered toxic waste dump.