July 26th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
Many of the unemployed Luke Mill workers have been following the current controversy as residents of the Westphalia community in Prince George’s County protest the proposed Amazon Merchandise Logistics Center. And they have a message for Amazon – bring your jobs to Western Maryland!
The proposed Amazon Fulfillment Center will consist of a 79-acre site, 1,500 jobs, have 1,794 parking spaces, and 267 loading spaces. The actual building would have an 818,423 square foot footprint and be five stories high, creating approximately 4 million gross square feet, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Most of the PG County residents have expressed outrage “I do not want to have this warehouse in my front yard” stated one woman at the July 15th public meeting held in Clinton, MD. Fox 5 reporter Evan Lambert, covering the meeting, said that most nearby residents were “fired up” at the prospect of Amazon moving into the residential community, worried primarily over decreasing property values, and increased traffic.
On July 18th, WHUR radio’s Daily Drum show, people called in to express their thoughts. Overwhelmingly most are “fundamentally mad” at the idea of the Amazon warehouse, according to Bradley Heard.
The Luke Paper mill, technically owned by Verso, an economic engine in Western Maryland for 131 years, and one of the largest employers in Allegany County, closed on June 30th. Over 675 people lost their jobs and they are watching PG County closely with a message for Amazon officials ‘Build your Warehouse here! We want the Amazon Warehouse. We are available for work NOW!
Governor Larry Hogan, State Senator George C. Edwards, and U.S. Rep. David Trone have all pledged to help the area find a new employer. We Want AMAZON !!!
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July 26, 2019 at 4:19 pm, DL said:
I would be thrilled to see Amazon come to Allegany County!
July 27, 2019 at 12:15 pm, Joe Wellberg said:
Ha Ha Ha. Good luck like Amazon is stupid. They wouldn’t pick the location if they didn’t believe the location would be great.
July 27, 2019 at 12:16 pm, Joe Wellberg said:
verso on the other hand should of sold the location to a company that could convert the place for another form of paper
July 27, 2019 at 12:49 pm, mac said:
> I’ve said it before. With the end of plastic grocery bags getting closer and closer that mill should be able to make brown paper bags.
They have the means to pulp wood and brown paper should be much easier to produce than coated paper. Add some folders and viola.
Someone who actually worked there should chime in on this.
July 29, 2019 at 3:30 pm, C,ram said:
Hardwood trees do not make strong paper. The paper machines would require extensive modifications to run bag stock efficiently. It could be done, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.
There is a reason most of those mills are in the southeast.