Goldberg: Don't Be Fooled By Honeywell Threats

The letters keep coming in about 's statements it would consider a move out of Morris Township if it isn't able to plans to expand the company's corporate campus, as reported by the Daily Record. Before Honeywell could begin redevelopment, township officials would have to rezone the area it's in, a process that would first begin with amendments to the township's mater plan; the next planning board hearing on those amendments is April 2.

But former township committeeman Ron Goldberg says in a letter to Patch, printed below, township officials shouldn't be intimidated by such talk. In fact, he says, it's just a bunch of hollow threats.

His letter:

Honeywell is now threatening to move out of Morris Township if it doesn't quickly get its rezoning and the land-sale-windfall it creates. The threat to leave town was unstated until now, so I guess someone struck a corporate nerve. And I've heard that Morris Township officials don't like to be threatened. But threats aside, is there really linkage between the re-zoning and how long Honeywell stays in Morris Township? You bet there is, but it's reverse linkage. A re-zoning windfall would actually be an incentive for Honeywell to leave, to "take the money and run." Once it took windfall cash out, what would keep Honeywell in Morris Township? Contaminated soil under one of its buildings? State level tax credits? Pride in community or decades of history?

And if it doesn't get what it wants from the Morris Township Planning Board, would Honeywell really abandon its current campus without the cash windfall? Would it instead run to Hanover or elsewhere to invest other cash and get into the town house and CCRC business? Just to spite Morris Township? Certainly not. This is all theater. Honeywell's stated purpose is to reap profit from its land by selling some of it to developers at a very high price. The price and profit would go way up the moment the land was rezoned. Honeywell would not abandon its current campus and recklessly tie up capital.

Let's not forget that a corporation is not a living person with conscience and social memory. A well-run corporation will do whatever, within the law, brings the best returns to its investors. Decisions will be "business decisions."

Morris Township, don't be  distracted by theater. Be careful, be deliberate, master plan well. To assure a corporation feels  "at home" in Morris Township, make a plan in which it remains invested in Morris Township.  That means it must leave some value or  cash on the table or in the  ground and then  be praised for doing so. The corporation and  community must be partners such that both lose if either walks  away, and  both profit while they stay together. As it is right now, the more money Honeywell gets up front to stay in town, the less there is to keep it in town.