Story by Carlos Martinez 
I felt great indignation reading your story this weekend, “Did you see
the giant inflatable rats on South Main in Rockford? Here’s why they
were here.”
I understand that the developer of Colman Yards and the union workers
have a discrepancy that they should address through dialogue and
attempts to reach an agreement, if possible.
However, did it necessitate inflating rats and cockroaches in front of a
building that would have been demolished if J. Jeffers & Company had
not invested in it? I do not have data on the ratio of local to
non-local workers employed for this construction.
It is hard to imagine how a workforce of 400 full-time employees could
all be from Wisconsin. This does not consider the workers who will be
hired after the construction is completed.
And if they are employing workers from Wisconsin, so what? We house and
provide jobs for those around the area of northern Illinois, and certain
towns in Wisconsin like Beloit.
Treating outside investors and entrepreneurs as pests will only hinder
the opening of new businesses in the area, and for that purpose, local
employment.
Carlos Martinez, Beloit, Wisconsin
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Letter: Rockford should treat outside investors,
entrepreneurs with respect
