SOUTHERN AUTOMOTIVE WHOLESALERS INC.
597 NORTH SAGINAW STREET
PONTIAC MI 48342-1468
TEL 248-335-5555 FAX 248-335-1564
March 12, 1999
Manager, Planning, Research & Activation
Attn: Robert C. Grieser
Federal Prison Industries Inc.
320 First Street N.W.
Washington D C 20534
FAX: 202-305-7358
RE: Competitive Impact Study of FPI'S Proposed Production of Engine Electrical Components
Dear Mr. Grieser:
I have submitted a response to you upon receipt of the above mentioned proposal, dated February 23, 1999. It was sent certified mail and signed for at your office on March 1, 1999. I received your response (dated March 4, 1999) to my letter. According to your letter it appears that the road to putting Southern Automotive Wholesalers Inc. out of business is paved with good intentions. Your letter defends the accuracy of the information in the Impact Study and explains your sources. However, it does not alter the fact that on page 20 the study states ""that FPI may have a minimal impact on this firm.", when in fact it would destroy this firm. That is an inaccuracy. You also replied in your letter to my mention that the City of Pontiac is a Federal Labor Surplus Area. You stated that the Detroit Primary Metropolitan Statistical Area is experiencing an unemployment rate of 2.9%, even lower than the state of Michigan. I spoke to Mr. Jim Rhein, at the Michigan Unemployment Agency on March 10, 1999, he informed me that the unemployment rate as of January 1999, for the City of Pontiac was 8.6%. The annual average is 7.3%. His phone number is 313-876-5427, if you would like to call him. Once again, the information you are receiving is unrelated to the actual situation. I do not wish to argue your sources further, but if people are going to make opinions based on the information you supply I feel they should know the truth. Their decisions should not be made based on some vague broad sweeping statistic.
Also, number 5 of FPI's Public Involvement Procedures states that "FPI will contact known trade association representing manufactures of the relevant product,". I would like to receive a list of the trade associations that were contacted if that is possible.
I will proceed in my effort to prevent this proposal from putting Southern Automotive Wholesalers Inc. out of business. I resent having to spend vast amounts of time and money, that a small business such as ourselves cannot afford, defending ourselves against this predatory attack, (yes, that is what it feels like to us), unable now to attend to normal business activities.
As to the issue with Prestolite mentioned in my letter dated February 23, 1999, perhaps there is more to it than you know, and you can be sure we will be investigating this further.
I would like to participate and be present at hearings and/or meetings regarding this issue. Please copy me on all information relevant to the above proposal. I await your timely response.
Respectfully,
Thomas Tyson
President
Southern Automotive Wholesalers Inc.
certified mail # Z 109 437 388 3/12/99