In an op-ed published 2.25.2024 by the left-leaning Gannett owned Lakeland Ledger, which was amplified by the left-leaning MSN news aggregator service, a call was made for implementation of a “solution to the affordable housing crisis [that] is hiding in plain sight because existing laws aren’t being properly enforced.” Those unenforced laws could provide a practical solution once enforcement begins. “The answer ought to be simple. Enforce existing antitrust laws and the enhanced preemption provision of the” Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA). The Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) and MHI linked state associations were named in that article for failure to “team up” with the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) when the offer was made by MHARR to litigate the enhanced preemption issue.
Outside MHI attorney David Goch and MHI’s designated media contact, Molly Boyle, were asked to respond to the concerns. Per an informed source, there are indications that they received the inquiry. But some 11 hours later, neither MHI, nor Gooch or Boyle have responded to the requests for their comments.
Bing’s artificial intelligence (AI) powered Copilot said the following as part of a more detailed look at MHI and issues that are hamstringing manufactured housing industry production.
- Fact-Checking and Terminology:
- You’re correct that MHI highlighted the Newsweek article but didn’t fact-check it.
- In the HousingWire article by Lesli Gooch, she indeed failed to use the critical terminology “enhanced preemption.”
- MHProNews conducted a thorough fact-check of Gooch’s statements and highlighted the discrepancies.
- Conflicts of Interest and MHI Leadership:
- Despite documented evidence of conflicts of interest, MHI’s board has retained Lesli Gooch.
- This raises questions about transparency, accountability, and whether MHI prioritizes its members’ interests over other affiliations.
- Email Transparency:
- MHI’s practice of rarely publishing their own emails makes it harder for stakeholders to scrutinize their communication.
- In contrast, MHARR routinely publishes their emails, allowing for transparency and accountability.
- Selective Memory Hole Approach:
- MHI’s periodic website updates, content removal, and lack of historical context can indeed reflect poorly on their performance.
- The absence of critical terms like “enhanced preemption” or former leaders’ names raises concerns about transparency and consistency.
- Dual Stances and Orwellian Approach:
- MHI’s dual stances on issues, including energy efficiency standards, can be seen as posturing and paltering.
- The inconsistency and selective memory hole approach align with Orwellian tactics, where information is controlled to shape narratives.
In summary, MHI’s communication practices and leadership decisions raise questions about transparency, consistency, and alignment with members’ interests. The contrast with MHARR’s approach highlights the importance of openness and accountability in the industry. …”
According to Bing, the op-ed byL. A. “Tony” Kovach entitled “Governments should lighten up on zoning for affordable manufactured homes” published by the Lakeland Ledger were picked up by both Yahoo and MSN news aggregator services. Kovach is the co-founder of MHProNews.com and MHLivingNews.com.
Others, per Bing’s standard search, appear to have picked up the op-ed too.
Bing’s Copilot search said this with respect to the headline search for: “Governments should lighten up on zoning for affordable manufactured homes.”
Here are some key points to consider:
- Affordability: Manufactured homes are approximately half the cost per square foot compared to conventional homes1. This affordability could help address the housing crisis in the U.S., where millions of people struggle to find affordable housing options.
- Barriers: Zoning boards in Florida and beyond sometimes prevent the placement of manufactured homes, even though they could provide a viable solution for many families. These barriers contribute to higher homelessness rates and hinder access to affordable housing1.
- Federal Preemption: The Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 included provisions for enhanced preemption, allowing HUD to override local zoning restrictions against manufactured homes. However, this provision is rarely used1.
- Economic Impact: The lack of affordable housing near where it’s needed costs the U.S. economy an estimated $2 trillion annually1. Allowing more manufactured homes could help alleviate this economic burden.
In summary, promoting the availability of affordable manufactured homes through revised zoning regulations would be a step toward addressing the housing needs of many Americans. Let’s prioritize freedom of choice and ensure that affordable housing options are accessible to all. 🏡🌟 …”
Among the messages providing feedback have said:
- “Nicely done!”
- “Your article was compelling and informative.”
- “Wow, that’s a lot of facts and dates packed in the article.”
- “Zoning relief would be huge.”
Governments should lighten up on zoning for
affordable manufactured homes
Again, the fact and reason-packed original and exclusive Kovach op-ed on the Lakeland Ledger is linked here.
To learn more beyond that op-ed, see the linked related reports below. Should MHI publicly respond to the concerns, MHProNews plans to report. ##
Tipsters? Forward or Submit items at this link here.
Employees of a “predatory” MHI brand? Click here.
Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports, further below. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)
By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach
Related References:
The text/image boxes below are linked to other reports, which can be accessed by clicking on them.’
