A dear, wise soul told me years ago that 'news is gossip for intellectuals.' It was meant to be witty as well as often being a truism. Some 'news' – entertainment news comes to mind – is indeed gossipy. But other news and commentary are more serious, notably when it impacts people's lives, including our own.
An association leader has told me repeatedly (probably so I'd "get it…") that if we simply narrowed our focus in Washington DC, we would be more successful with our industry agenda there.
Specifically, that leader suggested that we need HUD to appoint a non-career administrator, as called for by the industry's coveted Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000), and to get the legislative fix passed for Dodd-Frank (DF).
That DF fix, which has been filed in the House as HR 1779 and will be filled soon in the Senate, both with bi-partisan support. U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly looked us in the eye last February and said we will get this done. Let's not think it will get done without our effort!
So the next Two Big Things, contact your Congressional Rep to support HR 1779 – details are found or linked above – and then get others who you know or who work with you to do the same. Don't delay on this one!
More Gossipy: "the Carrier"
Okay, those above are 'newsy issues' that we ought to act upon.
But let me tarry for a bit on less important – more gossipy but still interesting – thoughts that have been floated in industry circles for some weeks now about “the carrier.”
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The removable chassis (or carrier, or frame) issue for HUD Code homes was floated by MHARR recently. That thread was picked up by at least three commentators, plus their followers.
I tend to side with MHARR's position on this issue. HUD should not compel manufacturers, retailers and communities to forever keep the chassis (frame, carrier) under a HUD Code manufactured home.
In an age of recycling, cost controls and 'it just looks better,' there are no practical reasons I can see why we should have to keep the frame. Let it be used for transport, let it have the option to be removable (like hitches are) to effect a lower ground set, help end the tr- -ler stigma and make us a step closer to MODs and conventional housing. Many reason could be shared as to why it is a good idea.
Among those commenting on this topic, all of those taking the contrarian position in their commentary to MHARR's thinking on the optional removable frame – as polite toward MHARR as it has been – seems odd.
The opposing thoughts I've seen on the removal of the chassis or frame falls into a bucket more like intellectual gossip rather than a serious rationale.
MODs don't need a permanent carrier/frame, neither should we on HUDs. The air around the ' reasons' – like losing the frame will turn MH into a commodity – upon careful examination is mostly just that, air. Are MODs a commodity? I don't think so. Neither would HUD Code manufactured homes become a commodity due solely to the removal of their carrier/frame.
Far more interesting in the frame/carrier topic is how the tax treatment of MH would be impacted if frames are removed. That's another topic, for later on down the road.
But the wise association leader's point above – that for now we should focus on two things in DC – also comes to mind on this issue.
If we had that non-career administrator (NCA) in place at HUD as the MHIA 2000 requires, and the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) was functioning like it should, this could be one of many no-brainers for our industry.
Industry leaders could go in and make the case to the NCA at HUD. We'd be doing more than talking. We'd have action! The same might be said about AC Letters, which today are a pain for most manufacturers when the AC process ought to be stream lined and be a source for innovation for HUD Code homes. A non-career administrator could help the program – and our industry – in a variety of ways.
Part of the original genius of the HUD Code is that it should be a performance driven code!
Our's is not supposed to be a proscriptive code, as in the case of conventional building codes. Performance driven means that its the outcome – the performance or end result – that would matter. HUD may need to be reminded about that too, as it fits into the whole DC narrative of making America a more innovative place to be and do business.
Recap and a Shout Out
We need to focus on the House bill HR 1779, and the upcoming Senate companion bill, which could be introduced later this month!
But then, once that is done, lets set our sites on a non-career administrator at HUD. It will help us far beyond the interesting topic of a chassis, which is arguably no where near the top of what we must focus upon today.
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On a personal note, a Happy Mother's Day shout out to all the mom's out there! We couldn't be doing what we are doing without you! ##
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L. A. "Tony" Kovach
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