It’s time to ‘go to the mattresses’

When I was about 11 years old, back in the day that 11-year-olds were babysitting for other people’s children, I found a paperback edition of Mario Puzo’s blockbuster, “The Godfather.”

I realized pretty quickly that it was probably too “old” of a book for me, but I borrowed it and read it in secret from cover to cover. I learned an awful lot about illicit affairs, violence and unfortunate ends for horses and humans. I also learned a phrase, “go to the mattresses.”

Fast forward to about 1998 and one of my favorite chick flicks, “You’ve Got Mail.” In one exchange the Tom Hanks character (Joe) offers to help the Meg Ryan character (Kathleen) with her business problems. He tells her to “go to the mattresses,” to wage all out war against that which is beleaguering her.

Last Wednesday evening, I had the pleasure of having dinner with Rep. Cathy Harvin and Manning City Administrator Rebecca Rhodes, truly two of my favorite women in Clarendon County.

At one point in the conversation, Cathy said that she was so frustrated with what isn’t going on in our county.

“I am going to invite every executive of every Boeing supplier to my house for a meet and greet so I can convince them to build their businesses here,” she said exasperatedly.

Rebecca and I both cheered her on. But …

Later that evening I started thinking about her plan. One overriding question clouded my mind … “Why hasn’t this already been done? Shouldn’t that have happened the week of the Boeing announcement last November? What ever are we waiting for?”

Now I realize the dynamics at the County’s Economic Development Board have changed over the years and I admit that I may not be fully cognizant of what they do and how they do it.

But I do know we have a County Council of five gentlemen who are supposed to be busting their behinds for the greater good of this county and its citizens.

A quick scan of the press releases from the S.C. Department of Commerce shows announcements from Chester County, Lancaster County, Berkeley County and Marion County accounting for a total of nearly 1,000 jobs … and that is just since the end of February. One of those announcements was for 300 jobs at a landing gear manufacturer planning to locate in Marion County – a county whose demographics are similar to ours … except that it is an hour farther away from the proposed Boeing operation.

Here’s the long and short of it.

It is time for our leaders to go to the mattresses. Our economic health is in grave jeopardy with the recent closures we have had and are anticipating in the next few months.

Boeing suppliers are going to create lots of middle class jobs for people who need to have affordable housing. Those people are going to reinvigorate other businesses like hairdressers, hardware stores, gift shops, doctors, dentists, grocery stores and yes, newspapers.

If you were even mildly conscious this past weekend, you saw why it should not be hard to lure businesses here … we have beautiful weather, an outstanding healthcare system, a reasonably priced housing market and the best people in the whole world.

Each of us needs to put the pressure on our leaders to make sure we are not left in the dust as this incredible business opportunity comes to our state. It is time to go to the mattresses.

Leave the gun; take the cannoli.

About the Author

Cathy Gilbert

Managing Editor, Clarendon Citizen