Business Retention

After reading “Wilson Seeks Breaks for Taco Bell, Other Firms” (June 14), it became apparent to me that our so-called “state leaders” would rather protect white-collar paper- pushing management jobs (for an industry that hires mostly low-paid unskilled workers) rather than high-paid, skilled workers in the manufacturing industry.

Three years ago, I lost my good-paying machinist job.

My current job (part time, low pay) is with an outfit that services air pollution control equipment. Some of our business is dismantling and cleaning equipment owned by manufacturing companies that are leaving the state or the country. Tax credits should be allowed as an incentive for companies to purchase and maintain better pollution control equipment.

Attitudes like “The company (Taco Bell) represents the sort of clean, profitable industry state leaders want to retain” is disturbing to me.

My income is now 80% less than it was three years ago.

With good-paying jobs scarce these days, I am no longer able to afford to eat at Taco Bell or any other restaurant as I could in the past.

RICHARD STONE

Costa Mesa