As a person who works, presently, in a business in which some companies (though, fortunately not ours) seem to take delight in firing 6 to 10 people every year a few days before Christmas to make the bottom-line happy, I can completly identify with and feel the pain of the workers at GM Moraine who got the word on Friday that the plant would close for good December 23rd.

This is particularly painful for me. You see, my grandfather was a master tool maker for G.M. and the "artist" formerly known as Delco. It was a good living for him and, when he passed on, the portion of his inheritance that came my family's way took my parents and myself from "barely getting by" to "not rich, but comfortable". Thanks, grandpa. And thanks, GM.

My father was eventually able to buy me my first "new" car on my 18th birthday. And, not to brag, but it was a silver Chevy Camaro. I've owned many GM cars in my lifetime. I own a GM vehicle now. I'm very happy with it. (Who wouldn't be happy? I just paid it off a few weeks ago and it still runs well.)

So, the closing of GM/Moraine is a big door closing for Dayton and the Miami Valley. But, I've learned in my life the saying that "when one door closes, another one opens" really can happen. But, Dayton...its' leaders and elected officials must make it happen. And, frankly, I've not been much impressed with the work in that area in the past several years. (Thank God for those who made Dayton a big winner in the BRAC realignment out at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, or else we'd really be up a creek without a paddle!)

I hear Mayor McLin plans to run for re-election. But whether she is successful, or not, it must be the absolute top priority for whoever sits in City Hall to put every possible effort into making the Dayton area attractive for business. Job creation and attracting businesses to this area must be job one for some time to come.

To our union folks: I respect your work. I was once a member of AFTRA (the American Federation Of Television And Radio Artists - AFL/CIO). And I've seen both the good side and the bad side of union representation. I would hope you would work with those at City Hall to help attract jobs to the Dayton area. Though ultimately, union representation is the decision of those who work for the companies involved...and I will offer here no opinion one way or the other of how that should go.

We hear the cry, "Dayton is dying". When I got my first job in Dayton radio, we were radio market #45. Today, we're #60, and seem to drop every year. I'm embarrased by that. Dayton is my home. I choose to live here. I remember what it once was, and I know what it can be.

But, it's going to take leadership...real leadership to make that happen. Will we get it? We will if we hold our elected representatives feet to the fire to make it so. And fire those who prove they aren't up to the task.

As an old saying goes: no fighter ever lost a fight by getting knocked down. Only...by staying down.