Does this include the "L" blast furnace?

If that's razed then yes, it's truly the end.

"The county will spend more than $1 million to hire four more workers to do outreach work with displaced steel workers." This seems like an excessive salary for just 4 outreach workers.

Uh didn't Hilco Oversee assets for Solyundra? Kevin it's sick how you gave these workers false hopes.god bless allthose point employees. They were used by venture capitalists and then lied to by county officials , they KNEW when it went into Hilco hands there was NO Chance.

Everybody knew that it was a done deal. The Sparrows Point workers knew what was happening for about the last 20 years or so. If they didn't save their money, well. it's their fault.

How many of them voted for Mitt Romney? What a bunch of stupid asses...

Totally agree with Steve.

Kamenetz is an idiot and has no idea what he's doing

I shudder to think of what will become of the property. I picture some hideous mega shopping complex or a hoarde of new homes the schools and community infrastructure can't support. What a disaster for the community and for this country. So many times I rode past there over the years and pondered how magnificent it must have been to have a steel giant operating right in our back yards and the robust economy it supported. Now it's just a shell of its former self, just like this country is becoming under the current economic leadership we have. I feel for the workers, although they sadly have known this was coming and hopefully have prepared in other ways the best they could. At least now we have "cheap imported steel", which seems like what the powers that be wanted all along. Sad situation.

Ten bucks says they will want to put in a casino.

Mr. Kamenetz, I have questions:
What 'game plan' do you have in place? How much will it cost Baltimore County taxpayers? What financial gains do YOU get out of it?

Just asking.

This is what they wanted to happen. The point didn't get any help because they want to use the property for the port.

Enjoy the Mcjobs of the future.

Why do the steelworkers get special help from the County? Others get laid off all the time and are on their own. Let their wonderful union help them. It's the ridiculous union wages and benefits that are the ultimate cause of the downfall of the steel industry anyway.

This is the direct result of years of union rule.

I wonder where all the salvage materials will end up. If it goes to China ( and we need steel ) I guess they will supply it. If the Point is changed over to create jobs that would be great. The transistion period might take many years, meanwhile the laid off steelworkers ( many at retirement age ) are left with few options and no insurance. If the President saved the auto industry ( by pumping in funds ) is it in his best interest to help the our failing steel industry ? Many looked to the unions to support them but the bargaining tools they used were based on a robust economy .If we get into a situation where our country needs an immediate use for steel should we be dependent on another country as we are on oil ? Everybody looks at the profit margin in a business but at whose expense ? A profitable business is great as long as it supports our economy.

It's not the Union's fault. That's hogwash. They are just being made a scapegoat. The steel industry collapsed due to the strong dollar, the explosion of energy prices , and the softening of demand in some sectors

Legacy costs due to union demands killed Beth Steel.
In the 1980's BS had more retirees and dependents than workers. 35000 workers and 75000 retirees and dependents. Hardly sustainable. Hardly something any prospective buyer could not cope with.

It also had a pension plan that it judged underfunded by more than $1 billion. The company was meanwhile feeling the great rise in medical costs that walloped the 1980s. And for its medical promises to retirees, Bethlehem had no funding at all. None.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/04/05/366339/index.htm

"U.S. Steel will scrap plans to buy Bethlehem Steel because the Bush administration will not pay health care costs for retirees, Bethlehem Steel's chairman said Tuesday."
http://articles.mcall.com/2002-03-06/news/3391991_1_burns-harbor-bethlehem-steel-legacy-costs

"Bethlehem Steel seeks help with its legacy costs
CEO tells Congress it was U.S. policies that put industry in debt."

Some people deny things daily and refuse to see the truth.

"'Legacy' Costs Drive Big Changes
In Steel, and Retirees Lose Out
By ROBERT GUY MATTHEWS
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
The American steel industry is in the midst of a quiet but potentially profound transformation driven by companies' costly obligations to retirees.
U.S. steelmakers face an estimated $10 billion in costs for the health care, life insurance and pensions they promised in the past to retirees, who now far outnumber active steelworkers. These expenses, known as legacy costs, make it harder to compete with imports and are a key reason many companies can't earn a profit. In the past four years, 31 have filed for bankruptcy, either to liquidate or reorganize. The liquidating ones have left 125,000 retirees and dependents without the benefits they had been promised."

Legacy costs due to union demands killed Beth Steel.
In the 1980's BS had more retirees and dependents than workers. 35000 workers and 75000 retirees and dependents. Hardly sustainable. Hardly something any prospective buyer could not cope with.

It also had a pension plan that it judged underfunded by more than $1 billion. The company was meanwhile feeling the great rise in medical costs that walloped the 1980s. And for its medical promises to retirees, Bethlehem had no funding at all. None.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2004/04/05/366339/index.htm

"U.S. Steel will scrap plans to buy Bethlehem Steel because the Bush administration will not pay health care costs for retirees, Bethlehem Steel's chairman said Tuesday."
http://articles.mcall.com/2002-03-06/news/3391991_1_burns-harbor-bethlehem-steel-legacy-costs

"Bethlehem Steel seeks help with its legacy costs
CEO tells Congress it was U.S. policies that put industry in debt."

Some people deny things daily and refuse to see the truth.

Oh Geez,
Now JoeBlob/aka Sanchez is going to try and inundate this thread with his usual cut and paste nonsense.

The Steel industry in General and Beth Steel in particular didn't crater because of labor costs. If that was even a possibility than the non Union Steelmakers in the US wouldn't be in trouble. They are in the same boat.

Stevie says "how dare someone come here and provide support for their comments? How dare they say something that they can back up with facts."

Stevie, please explain how any company that has 35000 workers that are supposed to support 75000 retirees and dependents.. You have yet been able to explain anything you spew forth other than it is your opinion.

I have an oil painting done back in the late 1800's of Sparrows Point when it was an orchard and farm land. The painting was done as if you were on a boat just off shore on water known as Jones' Creek. If it goes back to nature it won't be all bad.

As far as the politics involved with the steel business, all business for that matter, it really doesn't matter the party or who was in office. Cheap foreign imports made by workers who live in slave conditions have replaced most everything ever made here by industry. Black and Decker is another example. They even tried having their products made in China in order to compete. In a nation where the standard of living is relatively high compared to other places the outcome is inevitable for our somewhat naive society. The knockout blow coming when we were sold the free trade fantasy. Other nations, some enemies merely used this means to strip our nation of it's industrial base leaving us vulnerable. Without real change (not the kind Washington offers) there will be a continuation of the downhill slide and downfall of this country. Sparrows Point is only one facet on this journey. Selling the scrap from what's left of the buildings to China and others will seal the deal. And only hard work will even allow us to survive with any dignity. Worst is the fact that many believe hard work is something others do.

One place to start to rebuild is to end the government yoke on business with it's myriad of regulations.

America of the future is sad. Sparrows Point was one of the few integrated mills left standing from an era of prosperity. Today's kids will grow up to a life in poverty and never know the prosperity we once had here in America. I'm not a union guy just a person who is witnessing a downfall of this nation. Wages just keep getting lower and things just keep getting worse. We are well on our way to being Mexico. The service jobs will never fill the holes in the economy that big manufacturing once filled.

It was a free trade fantasy alright. I'm still waiting for all the jobs, jobs, jobs Clinton said would be here. I knew it was a lie from the start and the reason I will never vote or trust a Democrat. I'd rather pay low taxes on my suppressed wages than be taxed up to the eyeballs. Either way with either party there will be no jobs because both have sold us out.

The unions are responsible for the automation of much of the manufacturing in the US. The auto plants were some of the first large manufacturing that spawned robotics for many of the line jobs. the robots did not break for lunch with weed and alcohol, they did not demand days off, they did not threaten strikes. robotics is what allowed the US auto industry to last as long as it did. Without that efficiency added the price of auto's would have been high enough to keep sales low and thus financial problems.

If unions are not the problem, why did the foreign manufacturers build all their new plants in right to work states in the south?

Sparrows Point was just a junk pile that had been picked over and left to rot by the Vulture Capitalists. This was the only piece that was worth salvaging.

What's wrong with Mexico. They are forecasting a boom in their economy next year. Mexican employers will be paying the Aquinalda which is the mandated guaranteed annual bonus.

The Lord deals with nations the same as with individuals. He told us if we failed to heed his statutes and commandments the earth would vomit us out. Ironic the talk has turned to Mexico. I live down here on the border being a transplant from Edgemere and the only thing Mexico is making besides babies is drugs and the sales to the US are phenominal. The local sherrif is busy all the time catching loads of the stuff and is only getting a small portion headed for the urban centers up north. Drugs are a great way to soothe those who have no hope finding work. I suppose when the final collapse does occur the enemy will find our people in a haze of drug enduced stupor. I think it was the founder of Home Depot who told reporters recently that he could not start the same business in America today due to all that now exists.

"If unions are not the problem, why did the foreign manufacturers build all their new plants in right to work states in the south?"

1.Cheap Infrastructure
2. Hefty state subsidies
3. People. The Southern states have the people to work in and support the auto plants. The population of the South has been growing in leaps and bounds.

".... the only thing Mexico is making besides babies is drugs." That's an asinine statement.

Mexico is:

The 6th largest electronics exporter in the World
#1 in the world in the manufacture of TV's
#3 in the world in the manufacture of computers
#3 in the world in the manufacture of mobile phones
#6 in the world in oil production
#2 in the wold in the mining of Silver

.......and the list goes on..

Mark Reutter wrote a really good piece on why the Point bit the dust.

http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/05/25/six-reasons-why-the-sparrows-point-steel-mill-collapsed/

Sanchez - Steve and Fifa are Trolls. Thanks for you intelligent input. I learn some NEW things today.

Another Hershey Park would be nice (after you sprayed it with Lysol & covered it
in concrete).

I believe it is time to seriously think about replacing the 2000 jobs with ones that are real and well paying. This will help the community, county and region. The industrial land, owned by ELT and not the county, is exploring long term alternatives for its use. It's strategic location on deepwater and a still active freight rail sytem makes it a rather unique and potentially sought-after peninsula found nowhere else in Maryland, or perhaps the east coast. It is time for the community get behind a logical and well thought through future for the acreage. New and real jobs are the key. Hopefully, logic will prevail.

What would any reasonable person expect? Stay in Maryland and struggle every day fending off the regulations, politicians and red tape by the many agencies whose sole purpose is to increase the cost of doing business in Maryland
Under O'Malley, Kamenetz and their cronies, Maryland is so anti business, filled with taxes, permits, regulations,harassment, red tape and other nonsense, companies are fleeing from our once Great State. The exodus will continue at increasing rates with business and families running, not walking out of this State. Just how many companies and how many thousands jobs have been lost under the O'Malley administration?
What a shame, Maryland is in the toilet and there is no excuse that this wonderful business in now finished because of union demands, Government stupidity and economic realities of trying to run a business in Maryland. Maryland needs to be a right to work State so business can compete on a fair basis.
Our General Assembly should look into the reasons why The Sparrows Point Steel Mill is being razed. Start with Kamanetz and ask him, Mr. County Executive what did you do specifically to try to save this 2,000 person employee company. When he has no answers ask the same questions to Governor O'Malley and his brain trusts. Then go to the General Assembly and remember their answers in 2014 then let's thrown the bums out!
Wake up folks it is almost too late. Business and citizens are not ATM's for the State of Maryland. Or are they?

How about the LPG Plant? That could have been in the process of being built right now, putting people to work. Now Sparrows Point is an empty wasteland generating no revenue for anyone. Would a LPG plant really be worse then a giant steel making plant ? I can't imagine it would.

The plants in West Virginia are belly up too. Is that the Governor's fault ?

If you don't like it here then move.

I partially agree with Rob J Kamenetez is and idiot, and political hack; but, is smart enough to get some hefty "pay outs" for his "employment" with the State of Maryland. It is no wonder this County and State are damn near bankrupt. Under the current administration, another two years will push this State over the fiscal cliff and O'Malley's buddy in the White House will bail Maryland out of this mess.

This is really a bad joke on Maryland citizens!

Dan, I am ex-railroader who understands how valuable it is to have two class one RR's (CSX and NS) be able to bring and take goods out of an area. That provides an excellent competitive environment. I don't represent the county or the port, only speaking facts. You raise a good point, however. Who from the community should be involved? Do they care about developing industrial land for new jobs? What should be the goal for the community?

I have been reading alot of the comments by various individuals who sound like they are very knowledgeable with the current situation at the Sparrows Point Plant. I guess the truth of the matter is what will be done next. The truth of the matter is that nothing will be done unless we stop the finger pointing to place blame. Yes maybe we should take a hard look at what went wwrong. But do it honestly

just show up,you don't have to work,look at the Damn union then take a good look at your self.I would be down there working on the caster's and RG's people would be on break all damn day long.what a bunch of crap.you people supported the people that cost us all our jobs.

our local government,and local 9477 new all along what was going too happen.as for the worker's they should have worked their Damn jobs instead of the damn break room.I worked on the steel caster's and if and when they were down,they could care less.they wanted overtime so they could set on their asses and get a pay check.It may not been all of them,but there was more people not working then there was working.and that's a Damn shame.