What follows below is a column by MHI’s Executive Vice President and Chief Lobbyist, Lesli Gooch, Ph.D. They are her views, not ours, in her own words. The text in the red text bubbles are a section-by-section ‘fisking’ or fact-check and analysis of her statements and claims.
This is revealing.
Her article was first published on the MHI ‘partner’ – as MHI is described by MHVillage owned MHInsider. But as a recent fact check, plus one or more of their own internal documents show, their readership is a tiny fraction of the claims they boastfully project. ICYMI, see the reports linked here and here, which cites their own data vs. their own puffed up claims. Note too MHI and MHInsider’s parent leaders were invited to refute, respond to, or otherwise debunk our MHProNews analysis. Silence. So, our MHProNews’ analysis stands unchallenged at this time.
Rephrased, based upon the historic data, Gooch’s words published in full further below will get more readers here in a day than they may have in a month on MHInsider.
Several Significant Statements by Gooch
That said, what she said is significant, both for what she stated and for what she didn’t say. Comparing MHI’s claimed positions to industry members vs. such published musings by Gooch are highly revealing. It may boost her odds of succeeding Jennison as MHI’s next president. Or not. Time will tell.
Among the keys not mentioned in her missive are an explanation of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000, or enhanced preemption. Here is what the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) President and CEO Mark Weiss had to sum up on the issue.
When it comes to those nearly magical words, “enhanced preemption,” one can know that Gooch is aware of them thanks to our investigative report which once more cited her own statements. That expose is linked below.
For new MHProNews readers, or for a refresher for longer time readers, recall that MHI claimed last summer that they wanted HUD Secretary Carson to ‘enforce’ “enhanced preemption.”
Under Pressure, MHI Pivots “HUD Must Implement and Enforce its Enhanced Preemption Authority”
If so, then why was an article like this by Gooch on MHInsider needed at all? Keep the answer to that question in mind.
Here is her recent article in its entirety, with analysis and commentary by MHProNews in the red text boxes. More analysis will follow after her column.
MHProNews called out MHI weeks ago for claiming to be for the enforcement of federal enhanced preemption, but doing so only as a fig leaf to mollify concerns raised by our fact-checks and investigations. One of several examples is linked here below, that made it clear just days after their letter to HUD Secretary Carson when they voted against an enforcement of that very provision. Ooops.
It takes time to do such fact-checks and analysis. It is easier to lie, paraphrasing what Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain, observed, then it is to debunk the deception.
We not only debunk their claims, but invite them to respond. Given their lack of response, we have also asked fact-checker Snopes to do a review of a key issue studied by MHLivingNews and MHProNews.
We’re confident in our research, because it is based upon evidence, and reason, not conjecture or mere opinion.
MHI and their puppet masters appear to be more interested in arguable examples of ducking, hiding, and head-fakes.
The industry is underperforming. Instead of advancing, as Gooch claims, the data reveals that most states and the nation at large are in retreat.
Comparing Manufactured Home Single and Multi-Sectional Data, State by State, 2018 vs. 2019
The Arlington, VA based MHI says that they’ve prompted the industry’s image. Really? If so, then why does Zillow research reveal that there is less interest in manufactured housing than 2 years before?
That is your third installment just before midnight today of the news from the industry’s #1 source for manufactured home “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (News, analysis, periodic entertainment, inspiration, and commentary.)
Soheyla is a managing member of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn here and and here.
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