Weeks of Dread Suddenly End in 2-Weeks’ Notice

SANTA ANA —  His handsome face a mask of worry, James Colon waited in the rain for his wife, not knowing how he would find the words to tell her.

He thought of his four children, especially the 11-year-old, a boy who had just started reading the newspapers because he sensed that those blaring bankruptcy headlines were making Daddy nervous.

Wednesday night was cold and dreary for everyone trying to get home in the driving rain, but it was especially bleak for Colon, 43, who was summoned into his boss’ office an hour before quitting time and summarily laid off.

After more than five years as a real estate agent for the county, Colon and his $44,000 salary would no longer be in the budget. He was given two weeks’ notice.

Along with 71 other workers in the General Services Agency, Colon learned Wednesday afternoon that “unprecedented financial difficulty” had made him expendable.

“The news has been so bad, I was just mentally prepared,” he said, standing outside the General Services building, looking not a bit prepared. As a real estate agent for the county, Colon thought his work had value, especially at a time when the county faces a $172-million budget deficit over the next six months. Colon brought in money by leasing and selling property, and he was heartened to hear a rumor last week that the Board of Supervisors intended to right the county ship through real estate transactions.

That is a job for which someone with Colon’s expertise might be needed.

“I’m not shocked,” he said, his voice croaky. “I’m not angry. I’m just very concerned that after years of doing good work for the county--I’ve made millions for the county--that the county would see fit to lay me off.” True to the day’s cost-cutting theme, Colon’s final meeting with his bosses was extremely economical. “They were very brief,” Colon whispered.

One boss handed him a letter.

“Dear Mr. Colon,” it began. “The County of Orange is in bankruptcy. . . . As a result, your position has been affected and you are being laid off effective the end of your work shift on January 19, 1995.”

It was over in five minutes. Colon conceded that he hadn’t always gotten along with his superiors, which, he said, couldn’t have helped his chances.

Before the day was out, Colon heard that five more people in his small real estate department would be gone. The man in the cubicle next to his was laid off as well. Colon tried to speak to him, but it was useless.

“He’s taking it very hard,” he said.

Colon tried not to worry during the holidays and did his best to make his family forget what might be in store. Every time they started to panic, he gathered them together and offered some reassurance.

“I told them regardless of what happened, we’d still have our little family,” he said, his eyes growing glassy.

But at night, after calming his family, Colon tossed and turned. There was no one to reassure him. “During the last couple of weeks, I’ve slept in catnaps,” he said.

Wednesday, once the ax had fallen, he wondered how he would break the news at home. His wife was coming to get him at 4 p.m., and he dreaded having to face her.

“I don’t know that I’ll tell her today,” he said. “I don’t know how I’ll handle that.”

He thought of different ways he might cushion the blow for the children, who range in age from 3 to 11. “Maybe I’ll take them out for a banana split at their favorite ice cream shop,” he said.

During the evenings and his lunch hour, Colon has been sharpening his resume. But he frowned about his prospects: a 43-year-old real estate expert in an uncertain economy?

“I’ve got a big deal closing in the next couple of weeks,” he said. In fact, the deal will net the county $2.1 million, a fact that made Colon smile ruefully as he turned it over in his head.

“It took two years of excruciating analysis and structuring the transaction,” he said. It was set up in such a unique way, he added, that you might say James Colon “pioneered” this kind of deal.

“This is no time to be modest,” he said.

A woman walked out of the building and sneered at the rain. She flipped her umbrella open and marched forward.

Then she stopped.

“Did you get laid off today, Jim?” she said.

“Sure did,” he said.

“Me too,” the woman said.

“Sorry,” Colon said.

“Me too,” she said.

Before leaving for the day, Colon said he was reprimanded by his boss for talking to a reporter. His boss reminded him that he is expected to put in a full day’s work, every day, until the 19th.

Colon’s supervisor, Don Johnson, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“What’s he going to do?” Colon said, chuckling. “Fire me?”