To the editor:

Your paper clearly outlined the issues with EN Engineering’s unfortunate departure in the May 21 edition and May 23 editorial. It should be no surprise that the Illinois-based management of EN Engineering has no loyalty to Lawrence. Of equal importance is the fact that the Midwest is awash in vacant commercial and industrial buildings of all types. EN management no doubt acted in the best interest of their bottom line.

It is unfortunate that the landlord was not willing to have a month-to-month lease with EN until a new building could be built. That way he might have had income for another year or more. Now, we will see how long his building stands vacant before another lease is signed.

It is hard to imagine that any leader in this city would consider for a second giving money to the landlord if EN moved before a two-year lease ended. With citizens, including other landlords, already having their backs to the wall with property and sales taxes, this is a type of corporate welfare that citizens would never tolerate. Anyway, if money was going to reimburse landlords for tenants that move before their lease is up, they could head down Massachusetts Street with a wheelbarrow full of cash. That won’t happen either.