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Auto Industry Bailout; Chaos in Greece; Factory Takeover
Aired December 07, 2008 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Don Lemon live here at the CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta.
Laid off workers unite. They have taken over their factory. People are taking notice including a noted name. And attention to shifting to the bank at the center of the shutdown.
In the same city, it is the same issue. Barack Obama talks about the economy. What can be done and what he will do once he takes office.
Chaos in Greece. Police and (INAUDIBLE) anarchist battle in the streets after a teenager is shot and killed.
Let's start in Chicago and the latest in the standoff at Republic Windows & Doors, now in day three. The Reverend Jesse Jackson paid a visit today and the focus is shifting to the bank that cut off Republic's credit line. In fact, the bank's role in this story is something the company and its workers actually agree on.
Aaron Baskerville of CNN affiliate CLTV has the very latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON BASKERVILLE, CLTV REPORTER (voice over): Reverend Jesse Jackson arrived at Republic Windows & Doors on the north side, bringing food for the workers and their families camped out at company headquarters since Friday.
These workers are not leaving their jobs until they're paid for their work. And Jackson says this could be the spark to ignite mass worker demonstrations throughout the country.
REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHT ACTIVIST: These workers are, to this struggle, perhaps what Rosa Parks was to social justice 50 years ago. Just maybe workers must begin to show resistance at banks all around the nation.
BASKERVILLE: The company was forced to shut down because its credit was canceled by Bank of America and workers received only three days' notice. Now they're taking a stand until they get the vacation and severance pay which they believe they're entitled to.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean this is just about basic human decency, people getting what they're owed under law and what they've earned with their own labor. So yes, they're very upset. They're very worried about their future.
Being kicked out with three days' notice, penniless on the street? That's just crazy.
BASKERVILLE: About 300 people work at the factory on Hickory Avenue on Goose Island and under law, the company apparently failed to give 60 days' notice before closing its door.
Republic Windows & Doors can't pay their workers because union leaders say the bank won't let them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our problem is -- our workers we don't want to let the company step on us. We have to fight to the end.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And for its part, Bank of America says it's not responsible for the company's financial obligations. Bank officials, workers and company leaders are scheduled to meet tomorrow to talk.
Earlier today, President-elect Obama was asked about the Chicago factory standoff.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: When it comes to the situation here in Chicago, with the workers who are asking for the benefits and payments that they have earned, I think they're absolutely right and understand that what's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The president-elect in Chicago today. Right now I'm joined by one of the workers who is taking part in this protest. It's Melvin Maclin. You see him there on the screen. He has worked for Republic Windows & Doors for seven years.
And as I understand, sir, from speaking with a representatives from the company earlier, you've worked there that long, you have five children, correct, that you need to take care of, not just through the holidays but forever?
MELVIN MACLIN, LAID-OFF WORKER: This is true. As a matter of fact, I have six children and 15 grandchildren.
LEMON: Six children and 15 grandchildren. As someone who has worked there seven years, and I want to tell people what you're fighting for. You believe that you should get 60 days, at least, severance and also back vacation pay.
This will help you, obviously, and many more people like you, who have children, who have obligations, and some of you who -- your healthcare and your benefits are quickly running out.
MACLIN: This is, this is very true. I mean, we've just been shafted, for lack of a better term. We had initially hoped and prayed for a bailout, you know, but since Bank of America chose not to do that, then at least we were looking for vacation pay, which we had already earned.
And they told us three days in advance that the plant was closing. On Friday, they canceled our insurance. So now we have no insurance. We have no vacation pay. As of now, our last check, it's in question whether we will even receive it or not.
And the company nor the bank feels no responsibility towards the Federal Warrant Act to pay us for the 60 days.
LEMON: Yes. I have spoken to several representatives, several workers, too, by telephone and they're saying today, Melvin, that you guys are feeling more empowered as you get help, people -- as you get support from people like the Reverend Jesse Jackson, also from other politicians and leaders in the city as they come in to visit you.
You're feeling more empowered as workers.
MACLIN: Oh, we are feeling, we are feeling fantastic. And it's not just the leaders, but it's the other unions that's behind us. It's the community's support. It's just the private citizens that's bringing in donations and blankets and pillows and just numerous numbers of prayers.
We're feeling very positive at this moment, because now that the light is on, we feel that Bank of America is almost forced to do the right thing.
LEMON: All right. Melvin Maclin, a patriarch of six children, 15 grandchildren, finding himself out of work for this holiday season.
We certainly appreciate you joining us and we wish you the very best, OK?
MACLIN: Thank you so much.
LEMON: Thank you.
CNN's Elaine Quijano was there for Barack Obama's news conference in Chicago and Elaine joins us now.
The president-elect has been talking a lot about jobs and unemployment this weekend. He even mentioned, as you saw, Elaine, when you were there at the press conference, talking about those factory workers, but doing a lot of hinting this weekend at the scope of his jobs program to help people who are in similar situations.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's exactly right, Don. You know, the president-elect has said that he would like to create 2.5 million new jobs and not just talking at his news conference but also in his weekly radio address.
This weekend, the president-elect talking about how he plans to do that. He pledged to launch the biggest public works project since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s.
He also said doing things like modernizing schools, upgrading federal buildings, installing more energy efficient technologies like upgrading old heating systems, energy efficient lightbulbs in some of these buildings, will not only to help save taxpayer dollars, he said, but will also help put people back to work.
And so these are the kinds of details the president-elect has unveiled and he said to expect more details on his economic recovery plan in the weeks ahead -- Don?
LEMON: Elaine, let's move on to talk about the auto companies and the bailout. There are a lot of people who are interested in that, and especially the people who -- who work for those companies or who -- who are heading those companies.
Mr. Obama also said today that Congress is really taking the right approach with this, but certainly a lot more needs to be done when it comes to hammering out this plan.
QUIJANO: That's right. As lawmakers in Washington really try to temporarily, essentially, save the U.S. auto industry, Barack Obama at that news conference today said that he does believe that Congress is taking the right approach, taking what he called a conditioned based approach here, that even as they work to provide some short-term assistance to these big three automakers, at the same time insisting that, look, these companies have to make some very tough business decisions.
He talked about doing things like restructuring, for instance, and said frankly in his view, he thinks restructuring is something that should have happened 10, 20, even 30 years ago. Don?
LEMON: Right. CNN's Elaine Quijano. Elaine, we appreciate that.
The bailout loan to the U.S. auto industry could come to a vote in Congress, that could happen within days. The price tag is expected to be $15 to $17 billion as you look at live pictures of the Capitol there and the White House. That's about half of what the big three CEOs had asked for last week.
Now to ensure White House support, Congress may take -- may have to take the money from a fund already set up to help GM, Ford and Chrysler make more energy efficient cars. Now if the loan package goes through, a senior Democrat warns it could cost one auto executive his job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), BANKING CHAIRMAN: If you're going to really restructure this, you got to bring in a new team to do this, in my view. And these are...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should that be part of the condition of any bailout?
DODD: I think it's going to have to be part of it. And they're in different positions. I think it's clear GM is in the worst shape. Chrysler is, I think, basically gone, probably ought to be merged. Ford is fairly healthy. So -- but we don't want to brand all of these companies exactly the same way. But nonetheless, if you're going to restructure and have a viable manufacturing sector in our country...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So what you're saying about GM is that Rick Wagoner, the chairman, has to go?
DODD: I think he has to move on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, one reason Washington hasn't moved quicker to help automakers, most of you don't think Congress should give any money to the big three. A CNN Opinion Research Poll taken after the first round of hearings on Capitol Hill finds that more than 60 percent of Americans oppose that idea. Only 36 percent say they are in favor of government help.
Well, in Detroit, many Detroit autoworkers see the bailout loan as do or die. The UAW today organized a caravan of union workers to drive to Washington to make their case in person. They are expected to arrive tonight in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, and then continue on to Washington tomorrow morning. The plan calls for a march to Capitol Hill with a news at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
Well, one person in that caravan is Frank Hammer, the retired former president of UAW Local 909. He joins us now by telephone.
Thank you, sir. How is that drive going?
FRANK HAMMER, FMR. PRES. UAW LOCAL 909: It's been real smooth. Thank you.
LEMON: Where are you now?
HAMMER: Just traveling east from Toledo.
LEMON: East from Toledo? Is that correct?
HAMMER: Yes, we're driving east from Toledo going...
LEMON: You're driving east...
HAMMER: Heading toward Cleveland.
LEMON: How many people do you have in the caravan with you? How many cars? How many people?
HAMMER: We have four cars. There will be other cars joining us from -- we're picking up some folks in Ohio and we think there's a couple more cars as well.
LEMON: Your goal is to meet with media reps, is that right? Meet with congressional reps...
HAMMER: That's correct.
LEMON: ... and to convey your concerns about, about what? Getting a bailout, not getting a bailout -- what are your concerns?
HAMMER: Well, our concerns are that we're hoping that people understand what's really going on and we feel that we have -- that autoworkers have been misrepresented in the media.
LEMON: How so?
HAMMER: And I think that's what accounts for the 60 percent that are opposed to the bailout. Possibly...
LEMON: Mr. Hammer?
HAMMER: Pardon me?
LEMON: Mr. Hammer, how have you been misrepresented in the media?
HAMMER: Well, I think the picture that -- Americans have of autoworkers is that, you know, we're fat and lazy and overpaid. And that's the impression that are getting across the media.
And I think that's very unfortunate because as far as we're concerned, all autoworkers in this country, and I'm including the ones that work in Toyota and Nissan and Honda, we pretty much all have the same desires and the same wishes for our families, for our communities, and much of what workers in this country receive in the way of wages and benefits have been the result of the contracts that UAW members have gotten with the Detroit three.
And we see a widdling away of those gains and benefits that we've won in past contracts. A year ago, we gave up a tremendous amount, we gave up...
LEMON: And Mr. Hammer...
HAMMER: Pardon me?
LEMON: I have to ask you this. We're aware of some of the concessions that you made and that are continuing to make, and a lot of people are being forced to make concessions when it comes to jobs. I don't know, personally if I weren't watching this, that I think that, you know, autoworkers have been portrayed as fat and lazy.
Now, on the other hand, the companies you work for, it's -- their criticism is that the companies you work for have not really made themselves viable for this particular century, for greener cars, for cars that use less gas, that you haven't adapted appropriately and that's why you're in the mess that you're in now.
HAMMER: I think there's a lot of truth to that. I think that they've come to the table late in addressing issues, for example, of global warming and what the effects of that are on transportation industry in this country. And to some extent, companies have enablers that have enabled them to resist changes and CAFE standards, for example.
LEMON: Right. HAMMER: We understand that. And one of the reasons we're going to Washington is that we believe that the auto industry, as rank and file workers, we in the auto industry needs to change and that we want to explain autoworkers are behind those changes. We want the big three to be much more compatible with the 21st century.
LEMON: OK.
HAMMER: And we want to see some of the plants that are inevitably going to close to be converted to -- the section of a high speed rail systems so that we can actually have a choice in this country...
LEMON: OK.
HAMMER: ... whether we want to travel by rail or whether we want to travel by private automobile.
LEMON: All right. Frank Hammer, retired former president of UAW Local 909. Heading a caravan from Detroit to Washington. We appreciate it. Travel safety, OK?
HAMMER: Thank you very much.
LEMON: All right. Thank you.
Let's talk now about taking a different approach to a job search.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL NAWROCKI, LOOKING FOR WORK: What I was doing wasn't working. When you're doing something and it doesn't work, you have to do something different.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, we have been telling you about Paul Nawrocki. We told you about him last night, his story, and millions of viewers now checking out his story on CNN.com. And we're taking a closer look tonight at some of the lessons we can all learn in this recession.
Also, we want to know what's on your mind tonight. Make sure you log on and join the conversation. Be a part of our big community here we have on this show. Logon to Twitter, on to Facebook, MySpace, iReport.com and tell us what you're thinking. We got lots of responses yesterday and we appreciate every single one of them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Take a quick look at some of the responses we're getting on Twitter. This is just one. We're also getting some on MySpace and on Facebook as well. Keep them coming and we'll get them on the air. We appreciate your feedback.
By some estimates, about 3 million Americans depend on the auto industry for their livelihoods, either directly or indirectly. Even one of the big three going out of business could be devastating to the overall economy.
Let's talk now to CNN's Poppy Harlow with CNNMoney.com. She joins us now from New York with a look at this staggering numbers as the jobs report came out last week, the worst, Poppy, since 1974.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: That's right, Don. To give you -- just paint the picture for you, on Friday morning this number came in about 8:30 Eastern Time. I was standing on set, ready to go live and the entire newsroom around me groaned when the number came out. That number 533,000 people lost their jobs last month alone, the worst since 1974.
So far this year, 1.9 million Americans have lost their job. Our unemployment rate is at 6.7 percent, the highest it's been since 1993. Don, the number of people that have lost their job this year alone is more than in the entire recession of 2001. That's when we saw 1.6 million jobs lost. And we know this recession is not over. A lot of people say it is far from over.
Also on Friday, they revised the readings of the October and the September jobs that were lost and they were much higher than expected. Look at those numbers. The fear is that the reading that we got on Friday for November could get a lot worse, Don. This is the 11th straight month that hundreds of thousands of Americans...
LEMON: Oh my gosh.
HARLOW: ... in this country have lost their jobs.
LEMON: Well, let's talk -- what does this mean for December, obviously? This is the holidays, a lot of people want to get out and spend money and buy things for their families, home heating. That sort of thing. What does it say about December?
HARLOW: Well, let's look at this week alone. It was unbelievable. This week, 43,402, to be exact, Americans lost their job. Big cuts at AT&T. That telecom company. JPMorgan, a financial industry, being smacked, more than 9,000 jobs lost there. Credit Suisse, another big bank, losing jobs and also General Motors cut 2,000 jobs this week alone.
And Don, we know if they get a bailout, the automaker said they will cut many, many more jobs. So these numbers, coming in just the last week. What it shows you is December could be even worse than the -- than the November number. Don?
LEMON: All right, Poppy Harlow. Poppy, stick around. We want to talk with you a little bit more about what's going on with jobs and the economy so will you hang around with us for a little bit?
HARLOW: I will.
LEMON: All right.
Also, we want to know what's on your mind tonight. Make sure you log on to Facebook, MySpace, iReport, Twitter, all of them. Please tell us what you're thinking. We'd love to get your responses. If you have some questions, we'll try to get them answered for you as well.
Putting his money where his heart is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EARL STAFFORD, PEOPLE'S INAUGURAL PROJECT: We hope that the, that the balcony here, the terrace is filled with those who are disadvantaged, those who are distressed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, one man making a difference and bringing the people to the inauguration. We'll talk to Earl Stafford.
Also, all hour we're taking a closer look at what you can do to get ahead. And if you're in the job market, make sure you check out the food, drink or tobacco industry. According to the Associated Press, this industry is still hiring so look into it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ready, aim, fire.
LEMON: You're looking at the scenes just a short while ago in Honolulu at a remembrance ceremony marking the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
The assault began at 7:55 a.m. on the morning of December 7th, 1941. A day that will live in infamy.
We've all heard that before.
Almost 2400 Americans were killed in the attack and more than 1100 were wounded.
A big winter storm is brewing tonight and the Midwest is right in its sights. Our Jacqui Jeras tracking all of the weather for you.
OK, so the Midwest are going to expert -- are going to get snow, a lot of cold? What's going on?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
LEMON: Yes. Yes and yes.
JERAS: All of the above.
LEMON: Yes.
JERAS: Just throw wind in there and I think you got it all covered.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Uh-oh. Hello, people watching us on TV in the airports.
JERAS: Hello. LEMON: Yes. Just patience, patience. All right. Hope we keep them entertained.
Thank you, Jacqui, very much.
Two days of chaos in downtown Athens, Greece.
Wow, look at this video. Riot police are firing teargas at hundreds of rioters and getting hit with gas bombs in return. The rioters call themselves anarchists. They took to the streets of Athens and another major city yesterday, apparently, furious over the fatal police shooting of a teenager.
Tourists are holed up in their hotels and being warned not to leave their rooms.
More than three dozen officers have reportedly been hurt, and there have been a number of arrests there.
A once-in-a-lifetime chance to see history. All for free.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERICK SPEIGHT, SALES EXECUTIVE, JW MARRIOTT: Stunned, literally stunned. I mean we hear about great benevolence all over the place. It's another story when this gentleman is in your face saying, "Hey, I'm going to do this."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: We will tell you about the People's Inauguration Project and meet the man behind the million-dollar gift.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everyone. Time now for an update on our top stories.
The Reverend Jesse Jackson is intervening on behalf of hundreds of workers holed up in Chicago's Republic Windows & Doors plant. Employees say the -- they only had three days' notice before the factory closed, and they want their severance and their vacation pay.
Jackson's Rainbow Push Coalition says he's trying to get Republic's creditor, Bank of America, to reinstate a line of credit. But the bank says it isn't responsible for the Republic's financial obligations to its workers.
While Congress is still mulling over the details, President-elect Barack Obama says he supports a short-term government bailout loan for the auto industry. Obama says a big three collapse is unacceptable. But he also says the industry needs reforms and that CEOs have ignored long standing problems.
The big three execs spent two days on Capitol Hill last week, asking for emergency loan money. Working Capitol Hill and White House negotiators are now trying to work out a $15 billion short-term loan package. The big three wanted $34 billion.
Well, the president-elect talking about what else? The economy. Barack Obama said something he said before, things are going to get worse before they get better. He also said his plan to get the economy moving again will include help for people trying to keep their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We have not seen the kind of aggressive steps in the housing market to stem foreclosures that I would like to see. And my team is preparing plans to address that foreclosure situation. I -- we have -- my team has had some conversations with the administration about that. If it is not done during the transition, it will be done by me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, Obama today also named retimed Army General Eric Shinseki to be his Veterans Affairs secretary. Shinseki is a decorated veteran who also has a strong following among critics of the Bush administration's Iraq policy.
Before Barack Obama takes over, he has to be inaugurated and the price tag on his inaugural celebration won't be cheap. People are asking if that's a good look for a president in the middle of a recession.
Obama's presidential inaugural committee says, "We're mindful of the fact that people in this country are hurting, that they're going through hard times. On the other hand, we se this not just as a celebration of an election, but as a time for people to come together and celebrate their common values and shared aspirations and goals."
And there you have it. The preparations for the big event go on. Something like 4 million people expected to be on the National Mall come January 20th. And Washington is preparing for huge crowds.
We checked and there are zero rooms or rental cars available in D.C. during the inauguration. Zero rooms, zero rental cars available in D.C. during the inauguration.
So what about the people who want to go to this historic inauguration but don't have the money, the poor, the sick, people struggling to make ends meet, every day more and every day more people are falling into that group.
One very generous Virginia businessman wants to give the experience of a lifetime to 300 of those people.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAMANTHA HAYES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a million-dollar view at the top of the J.W. Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue. And on Inauguration Day, William Stafford decided it should go to those who don't have a penny to spare.
STAFFORD: We hope that the balcony here, the terrace is filled with those who are disadvantaged, those who are distressed.
HAYES: Those who didn't think they would ever be able to see Barack Obama sworn in as president on these steps. Not only will they see it, but Stafford is making sure his guests experience history in style.
STAFFORD: Why not give them an experience they can tell their children and grandchildren about?
HAYES: The entire package includes 300 rooms and four suites, under renovation just for the event.
SPEIGHT: Stunned. Literally stunned. I mean, we hear about great benevolence all over the place. It's another story when this gentleman is in your face, saying, hey, I'm going to do this, here's the money.
HAYES: And an even better story if you're one of those selected. Stafford will be working with organizations like the Urban League.
LAVERN CHATMAN, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, VIRGINIA: I can't imagine it. You know you're sitting there, and you've been seeing the election and you see what the ball is going to look like and everything says, oh, they're sold out, nobody's going to be able to get in town. And then you get a call saying, you've been selected. We're going to fly you to Washington.
HAYES (on camera): While it may sound like a Cinderella story, Stafford hopes it's more than that. He says for those he's giving this historic opportunity, he hopes they go into their own communities and do something good.
Samantha Hayes, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: OK, thanks to CNN's Samantha Hayes.
Earl Stafford joins us now from Washington.
Good evening, sir.
STAFFORD: Good evening, sir. How are you?
LEMON: I'm doing very well. You have helped a lot of us -- you know, do better tonight or feel better tonight, I should say, because of your kindness. Why do this for -- these folks?
STAFFORD: Well, I mentioned before that I was inspired, I'm a Christian, I was inspired by the Lord to do something for those who are hurting during the inaugural period.
We had no idea who would be elected. But we thought that we would do something. As things have evolved, this has just grown and -- to something spectacular. LEMON: You know, I said -- I talked to you a little earlier. I said why, why do it? How is this going to help people, especially now when they're hurting with the economy? How is this going to help people, Mr. Stafford?
STAFFORD: Well, you know, there's -- America is hurting, as you said. There are a lot of people who are in need. We can't address all the needs but we can make a feeble effort to bring some relief, some help to some of them.
Many would never have dreamed of coming to Washington to be part of such a historic event. And we just want to do a little to help out and to reach out.
LEMON: Have you -- you know, some would say, you know, if you got all this money, a million dollars or whatever it is, however much it's going to cost, that it may be better put giving people some money instead of bringing them to Washington?
STAFFORD: You always -- any time you attempt to do good, you will always have critics who have a better idea. But we believe this is what the Lord has inspired us to do, that we will bring people in, we will make them a part of this historic event.
And while they're here, we have plans to provide some empowering to them. Financial planning, life skills and things of this nature so they can return to their communities better prepared.
LEMON: Maybe just by watching and being a part of it that they will be inspired.
Tell us, real quickly, if someone is interested, how -- where do they go to get information?
STAFFORD: Well, the response has been overwhelming. And we're just putting up a Web site. But right away, you can call 703-476-1000 or e-mail inauguration@thestaffordfoundation.org.
LEMON: OK. And you know what, I will put that -- make sure I put it on -- Twitter, Facebook and MySpace so that people can get it if they're interested in getting it.
Hey, Earl Stafford, you're amazing. We really appreciate it. Thank you so much.
STAFFORD: Thank you for the invitation.
LEMON: All right.
We'll be following some of the 300 people that Earl Stafford will be taking with him here on our show on the weekend, so you can keep up with them by watching us.
Meantime, that video you're looking at. Take a look at this. Could this country's crumbling roads -- we want to ask you, could the crumbling roads and bridges be a key to Barack Obama's economic stimulus?
But first, if you are looking for a job, consider the railroad utility, logging or mining industries. Railroad utility, logging or mining industries. According to the Associated Press, they are still growing markets. You may be able to find some jobs there. Good luck.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: He's not going to throw money at the problem. Today, President-elect Barack Obama told reporters his administration has plans to jumpstart the economy, but he adds they are cautious plans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We are not going to simply write a bunch of checks and let them be spent without some very clear criteria as to how this money is going to benefit the overall economy and put people back to work. We're not going to be making decisions on projects simply based on politics and lobbyists.
We're going to make it based on what objective criteria is available to us to see what's going to make the biggest difference in the economy and what will have some long-term benefits.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, one long-term plan the president-elect is working on fixing is the nation's infrastructure. And he wants to put Americans to work doing it. His timing couldn't be better says a report from a non-profit transportation group and our Special Investigations Unit looked into it.
Here's CNN's Abbie Boudreau.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT: The report lists more than 5,100 projects around the country that the association says could be started within six months. If they only had the money.
JOHN HORSELY, ASSN. OF HIGHWAY AND TRANS. OFFICIALS: You got states in every part of the country that have needs, and have practical projects ready to go that can put a lot of people to work.
BOUDREAU: John Horsely, the group's executive director, says the new construction and repair work will generate just the kind of economic stimulus the Obama administration is looking for, creating a possible 1.8 million new jobs.
Just this past week, President-elect Barack Obama told the nation's governors he's looking forward to listening.
OBAMA: Where you think an investment on the part of the federal government will make the biggest difference, how we can reduce healthcare costs, rebuild our roads, our bridges, our schools and ensure that more families can stay in their homes. BOUDREAU: The report says Utah needs $10.8 billion for crumbling roads and bridges. Florida, $6.9 billion. California, $5 billion. Pennsylvania needs $1 billion, partly for fixes to Interstate 95 in Philadelphia. Fixes that could begin shortly after a check is written.
I went along with bridge inspector James White as he examined an elevated section of I-95 built in the 1960s.
(On camera): But this stretch of road had its share of problem. I know it's been shut down due to structural problems just once not too long ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's correct. The 95 was closed down just a little further north of our location right now.
BOUDREAU: Right. And now it's in March, when an inspector actually found a large crack in one of the support beams, and two inches wide, six feet long and caused an emergency closure on parent of this road.
(Voice over): This was that giant crack. And this is what the closure looked like.
CHARLES DAVIES, PA. DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION: We have a serious problem in Pennsylvania.
BOUDREAU: Charles Davies with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation says there is state money for basic maintenance. But he worries without federal funding, needed overhauls won't get done.
I asked him if he fears something bad could happen.
DAVIES: We've sort of become fatalistic. You know, I sort, I sort of think, well, my luck's going to run out at some point. It just did.
BOUDREAU: But Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union cautions that it's a bad idea for Congress to pick up the tab for something the states are supposed to pay for.
PETE SEPP, NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION: Many parts of our infrastructure need to be repaired, need to be fixed, but they need to be done in a thoughtful manner. Throwing money out of Washington, D.C. and showering it across the country on state and local projects is not the way to do it.
BOUDREAU: Abbie Boudreau, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It would be nice to put some Americans to work during these times.
We have been taking your comments on our show all night. And you know, it's interesting, a lot of you basically have been sending us your resume online. So we know how bad things are getting.
Here's what Karen Frost says. "The widening gap between the upper and middle classes has made the weakening economy inevitable."
Lawrence in D.C. says, "It seems that people losing jobs are in their 40s, 50s. If qualified, will those people get jobs in a new green economy?"
Bethbanger, "Lost 75k, corporate hospital job when division closed. Looking for months, two callbacks and 300+ aps, or aps, applications, even willing to relocate self."
Good luck to all of you.
Make sure you log on to Twitter, Facebook, MySpace or iReport.com. Tell us what you're thinking. We want to get those responses on the air.
We have a very tough sign of the times for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAWROCKI: Pride doesn't mean anything. You need to find work. I have to take care of my family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: One man takes his job search to the streets. We catch up with him.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So last night we told you about Paul Nawrocki. He is a former toy company executive who has been walking the streets of New York with a sandwich board trying to find a job. It has become one of the most popular stories on CNN.com after we brought it to you.
And you know what, our Richard Roth caught up with him. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): He looks like a typical commuter wearing a suit and tie in the crowds of workers pouring into Manhattan.
Paul Nawrocki doesn't have to go far to get to his office. It's right on the corner. His jobs these days is to look for a job. And he's making sure people know he is available by wearing this large advertising board.
NAWROCKI: What I was doing wasn't working. When you're doing something and it doesn't work, you have to do something different.
ROTH: Nawrocki worked in the toy industry in operations for 36 years. He was laid off in February shortly before his company went bankrupt.
NAWROCKI: My daughter said to me, she said, you know, you should take some resumes and hand them out on the streets. ROTH: Paul's unemployment insurance will soon run out. His wife is partially disabled and his daughter has student loans.
(On camera): How humiliating is it for you right now walking on the streets of Manhattan with a sign like this?
NAWROCKI: When you're out of work and you face having nothing, I mean having no income, your -- there's -- pride doesn't mean anything. You need to find work. I have to take care of my family.
ROTH (voice over): Nawrocki stands in the cold for hours. New Yorkers, used to the homeless and sidewalk pitch men, look but don't often stop.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel sorry for him. I wish I could help him.
ROTH: A passerby offers a suggestion to try down the street at the United Nations. And he becomes a photo-op for international media.
At Paul's favorite corners, some competition from charity groups and then from a young man searching for a girl he likes whose phone number his roommate threw away.
There was one hopeful moment.
STEVE WARREN, EXECUTIVE RECRUITER: I'm a head of an executive search firm...
NAWROCKI: Uh-huh.
WARREN: ... in New York. So why don't you give me your resume and...
ROTH: Nawrocki takes a break at a nearby park to check e-mails.
NAWROCKI: Nothing so far. A lot of junk mail.
ROTH: It's a sign of the times.
Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Paul Nawrocki joined us live last night from New York to talk about his experience. Here's a portion of that interview for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NAWROCKI: Well, there are a lot of people that are in the same position that I'm in. One of the things that's happened as a result of this is I've gotten e-mails from people all over the country, in fact, all over the world from people like myself, who are -- who have had long careers, sometimes very successful careers, making good salaries, who are suddenly out of work, and find they can't get an interview from anybody despite the fact they had superlative messages and wonderful resumes.
It's -- an interesting.
LEMON: Yes.
NAWROCKI: I didn't put the board on for the publicity but I think the media attention is partly because it's an invisible thing that exists much more than we realize. I think there are a lot of people out there that are in the same position that I'm in right now. And it's a little frightening.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: It is. It's a lot frightening. You know some of you wanted to know more about Nawrocki's job experience. And here's how you can contact him. We've had so many people asked. Contact him at opsman2008, opsman2008@aol.com. OK? Thank you. The best of luck to him.
Earlier we talked about people losing their jobs. 533,000 just last month. Well, how can those people, many of whom have worked at the same place for years, some for decades -- well, how can they be more successful in their search for new employment?
CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow joins us now with some help that people can get on this. Creative ways to look for a job.
Poppy, help us out here.
HARLOW: Yes, you know, it's interesting. You heard what that man with that sign, Paul said, he said you're doing something, nothing comes of it, you're doing something wrong. He's trying something radical, getting a lot of attention for it and hopefully a gig out of it.
But for people out there who can't walk the streets of New York with a sign but you want your resume or qualifications to be seen, start online. You don't have to leave your home to do it.
And let's be creative. Don't just go to Hotjobs.com or Monster.com. Your resume, essentially right now, is likely going to get lost in the mix. If you're going to look online and post your resume, use some specialty sites.
Here are three. Right them down. Dice.com. That's for technology jobs. Efinancialcareers.com. That's for financial jobs. There are still some finance jobs out there. And some aggregators like Indeed.com. That takes together a lot of jobs that are posted online and in your local newspaper because, believe it or not, only 4 to 5 percent of available jobs are even posted online.
And besides that, Don, you can go to our Web site CNNmoney.com. Every day we talk about job losses, job opportunities on the sites. And there's this search on there with CareerBuilder where you can search for jobs and also if you put this in the search device on our sites, it is "Ask Annie Three Best Web Sites for Job Hunters."
Those are some ways to use the Internet but to use it wisely, and not to waste your time, Don?
LEMON: Poppy, that's great information. And you know, I -- it seems like all the -- I've become a repository for job applications...
HARLOW: Yes.
LEMON: ... and people's resumes because they send me, they send me things. And then they want to know how can they get a job? You know I'm thinking of having a job fair. Don't know if I can do it in the (INAUDIBLE) so we talked about it.
Real quickly, if you have a tip, we've got like 20 seconds left. Do you have any other tips...
HARLOW: All right.
LEMON: ... that you can help folks with?
HARLOW: Yes, we have some good tips. Best one is network with your friends and family. That's most likely to get you some help. Also consider using your free time here, number five on that list. Volunteer. Why not do something good and put it on your resume? Don.
LEMON: We're trying to help. Poppy Harlow, thank you.
More information you need right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: You know we are committed to showing you the faces of this recession. Those hit hardest by America's money crisis. We're in a time when people are relying on their faith and a faith-based community is reaching out, putting their money where their crisis is.
New Birth Church in Atlanta, right here, is one of those doing that. Bishop Eddie Long is the pastor there and he will join me tonight at 10:00 p.m. to tell us about something that happened today in church that really got his attention. Never before he said in all of his years has he seen it like this.
Also CNN iReporters have been very vocal about bailing out the auto industry. This iReport captures the sentiment we've been hearing all week. Two ordinary dudes talking about their old buddy, Ford.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold on. It's Ford. Hello. Oh, yes, yes. Are you serious? This just happened a week ago.
You're not going to believe this. It's Ford.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What, what did he want?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He got arrested and he wants us to bail him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wants us to bail him out? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, he expects us to bail him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I thought I told him there is no way we have that much money. They set it up, it's thousands of dollars. That's ridiculous. So he has to quit running with GM and Chrysler like that.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's an idiot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What, they want bailed out every other week.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know. We don't have the money...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That's CNN iReporters Zach and Franco.
Thank you very much, guys. We appreciate it.
I'm Don Lemon. We have a lot for you tonight at 10:00 p.m. Eastern. We hope you will join us then.
