West Columbia chicken plant should stay put

I rarely eat chicken or any other meat, but I was interested in your article about how some residents of the new “upscale neighborhoods” in West Columbia are upset that the chicken plant produces odors and, feathers and is an eyesore in general “West Columbia riverfront has restaurants, condos — and a chicken plant,” Aug 27). They want it gone. For more upscale housing?

As a long-time resident who lives near the plant, I have a different perspective. Many of the 800 people who work there walk to their jobs. Will critics move these people to homes near a new plant? Or buy them cars so they can get to work? Or do something about the pathetic lack of public transportation? Or consider a compromise with the plant and camouflage it so the poor upscale neighbors don’t have to see where their chicken comes from?

Personally, I’d rather see efforts being made to stop polluting the river instead of taking jobs away from people who need them.