Letter: Rockford should treat outside investors, entrepreneurs with respect

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: Give outside investors, entrepreneurs respect in Rockford