Maybe it's not so easy keeping factories in Seattle

I'm a big fan of the Puget Sound Business Journal, which this week has a story about four high-profile factories that might leave Seattle. A lot of media attention has followed efforts to keep Korry Electronics, which was looking at the Port of Seattle's Interbay site. (I refuse to call it North Bay.) For me, the big news is the restlessness of GM Nameplate, a family-owned maker of nameplates, switches and other electronic gizmos at 2040 15th Avenue West. That's the one to watch because it's been a particular focus for Mayor Greg Nickels. The mayor, properly, wants to protect blue-collar jobs in Seattle — we can't all write software for Google. Owned by the Root family, GM Nameplate employs 450 people in the city. Nickels has made keeping GM Nameplate a priority. Here's one speech: "Let's act. Let's work aggressively with the Manufacturing Industrial Council and the Port to market Seattle as a great place to create jobs. When great homegrown companies like GM Nameplate need space to expand, the port supplies the land and we supply the permits. The issue is not complicated. It just takes commitment and hard work." Well put, if I do say so. And when did Hizzoner say that?