Readers' Forum

Open-minded management
I hated to see all of the negative response from the sidebar “Shooting an Elephant” (October 2009). I am an avid hunter who feels no desire to hunt in Africa. However, I do understand game management. It is unfortunate that some of your readers took such great offense to the article. Hopefully these same great landscapers are managing their pest populations and weed populations with more of an open mind. It will be their loss to no longer receive your magazine, as it provides valuable business tools and insight.
 
Wade Evans
Owner
Dreamscapes
Baton Rouge, La.

Change Congress’ mind-set
We always see news stories about how Congress wants to come down on contractors who hire undocumented workers. The funny thing is, in all my years of operating as a licensed contractor, neither I nor any of my colleagues has operated this way. 
   
What I do see a tremendous amount of in the market is the homeowner hiring these guys. I have seen so many projects that have been improperly conceptualized and implemented with the cheapest type of material and the weakest procedures, it really has come to the point of being pathetic.

I sound like a broken record every time I am asked to evaluate these situations and yet I don’t see any change in the public’s perception of what a quality-oriented, tax-paying, job-creating entity provides.

Congress wants to keep applying the burden on the contractor. They can’t accept responsibility for the misguided bills they promote and the lack of enforcement of the laws that are in place.

Until we manage to change the mind-set of these folks and make them understand that it is the public who is trying to avoid paying all of the taxes that are applied to the contractor and businesses, we as professionals will continue to suffer from both ends of the spectrum, from the undocumented worker and the cash-strapped public.

Scott Korba
Owner/operator
SK Landscape Design & Installation
San Jose, Calif.

Correction
The location of  Fallen Leaf Lawn & Yard Care, was incorrect in the October 2009 State of the Industry Report. It is in East Haven, Conn., not Stamford, Conn.