Councilman VS. ThyssenKrupp

By Tiffany Craig Investigative Reporter
.

Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson and ThyssenKrupp officials explain what the fuss is all about. Councilman VS. ThyssenKrupp
Published: Fri, March 21, 2008 - 6:28 pm
Tiffany Craig
Tiffany Craig
Mobile City Councilman Fred Richardson caused quite a stir Thursday night when he called out representatives of ThyssenKrupp Steel.

He invited a speaker of the steel giant to address questions at a workforce development meeting.

The problems started when no one from the company showed up to address the crowd.

Then, Richardson challenged the media to start asking questions. "I want the news media to call ThyssenKrupp. Is this the kind of business you wanna conduct in Mobile County? If so, you can leave!"

It's safe to say that Fred Richardson was on a roll Thursday night. "My mama didn't raise no fool. I aint going down like that now."

The District 1 councilman didn't mince words when addressing a room full of people wanting to meet the representative from ThyssenKrupp. "Alright John, you better show up. I am writing the CEO in the morning. Fed Ex. I want them to get it the next day. Whatever happened to John, I don't care."

On Friday, Richardson and TK spokesperson Scott Posey talked. Posey says the problem turned out to be a scheduling mix up. "We look for opportunities to tell our story. If we had it on our schedule, we would have loved to participate."

Then, Richardson explains that he was misunderstood at the meeting. "Aint no way in the world I would make that statement about no company in Mobile. You come all the way from Germany to here and I'm gonna tell you to go back home?"

But that's how it sounded when our camera was rolling on Thursday. "Is this is the kind of business you wanna conduct in Mobile County? If so, you can leave!"

Councilman Richardson plans to schedule another workforce development seminar later this year. TK officials say all they need is an invitation and they'll be there!

Since News 5 Investigates started looking into this story, we have uncovered that some are concerned about who will get hired at the new 3.7 billion dollar steel mill.

We have confirmed that 2 letters have been sent to the Mobile office of ThyssenKrupp. One was sent from State Representative James Buskey and the other from the local chapter of the NAACP. They just want to make sure that everyone is included in the company's hiring process.

A representative from Atlantic Marine was also on the list of people asked to attend. We are still waiting for company officials to call us back and explain that no-show.



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What a frickin idiot - Does this guy have a clue as to how stupid and moronic he appears? “Ain’t no way in the world I would make that statement” followed by the video of him saying that....This level of showboating - could put a fast stop on any further new business coming to the area. How about just shutting the heck up! 

What’s worse a school board official that takes money for mardi gras throws, a judge who allegedly paddles people privately or a councilman that runs off of the mouth.

Mobile - stupid people in government. What a legacy.

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mister richardson, mind your own business, this doesnt concern you. the plant is outside your district, WAY outside.

perhaps you need to stay focused on your district and the concerns about things you actually can do something about, instead of just antagonizing a major business that wants to relocate herer. we still havent forgotten your involvement in the case of the murphy student who assaulted a 60 year old teacher at murphy, and your abuse of discretion in writing the school board on city stationary trying to influence the school board in that case pleading for leniency for the youth. is murphy in your district? you should have looked into your crystal ball and seen the trouble he would get into later and left him to his own devices.  i can think of NO excuse for his behavior, either the murphy assault or his later troubling behavior. bad move mr richardson, another very bad move.

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this council man is just trying to bully the big companies that are planning on coming to mobile funny didnt hear of him doing anything to help bring them here he needs to be voted out of office or better yet go to work for boeing hes more their type oh has he even made an attempt to welcome them here no right off hes trying to make demands hes an insult to mobile

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When your IQ is in the single digets and someone that has one in the double digets gives you a tie and suit you can’t expect them to speak or act any better, plus he thinks because someone allowed him out in public as their councilman he can say anything he wants ,because Rev. Jessie & Al are waiting in the wings,(If the check is big enough for them to show) and cover his ignorant self, he needs to learn how to speak or better yet miss the meetings himself!!!!!

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This is HORRIBLE!

So many of us want to see Mobile gain a reasonable place in world economy and we have this guy cutting our throats.

Something needs to be done about this!  Mobile can’t afford to give away its future, because one angry councilman can’t control himself.

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What an embarrassment!

We can not seduce new industry and bring it to this area and at the same time allow this nonsensical drivel to saturate our already humid existence.

This is reprehensible and counter to everything Mobile hopes to achieve!

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“Aint no way in the world I would make that statement about no company in Mobile...” Good grief!  This really means he would make the statement about a company in Mobile.  It’s called a double negative, I think I learned it in second grade. I’ve always wanted to be a councilman, now I are one.

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Bad move by Richardson!  That type of negativity coming from elected officials tarnishes the image of Mobile.  Geographically, Mobile has more to offer than most cities, but that kind of rhetoric blemishes our future.

How in the world can we convince others this City offers a lifestyle like no other, if such selfish verbiage is thrown in their faces?

This is disturbing at many levels!

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This is why caffeine is not a good idea in the evening.

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