Some years ago, Ishbel Dickens was offered an opportunity to publicly debate this writer. She declined, but said that perhaps someday she would be open to a public discussion, if certain things occurred. Well, what she wanted has occurred. Dickens has not yet debated. Dickens’ specifics are shared below noting that she represented at the time an association of manufactured home community residents. Since then, a few things that Dickens’ and this writer might have seen differently at the time have evolved. So, perhaps the delay was a good thing. That noted, debates of various lengths have occurred in what is sometimes lovingly referred to as MHVille (the manufactured housing industry). One was between Andy Gedo, a partner in ManageAmerica and a Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) member and this writer for MHProNews. There were other briefer but still significant and published engagements between what could broadly be called MHI members/supporters. There were individuals who are promoting themselves, their brand, or whatever who have lightly/briefly engaged in discussions in the actual or virtual presence of others; but frankly, there have been more that have ducked or dodged debate. That noted, where verbal discussion occurred, there were zero bodily injuries that occurred in any of those dialogues/debates. There may have been some mildly bruised egos. But there was arguably more good that flowed from those public engagements then the possibly mild and fleeting emotional bruises that occurred. In short, the case can be made that reasonably respectful debate and discussions with reason-based guardrails can be good.

Thus, “Debate is not a four-letter word.” Cheryl Tilly via LinkedIn raised that topic, rhetorically asking: When did “debate” become a 4-letter word?

Indeed, in politics – and we are fully into the 2022 U.S. political season – what passes for ‘debate’ is part of the process of getting into elected office. Just looking at the featured images above remind us of the fascinating process that passes as debate, with Michael Bloomberg – who served as a nominally Republican Mayor of New York City – ran in the 2020 Democratic presidential cycle as a Democrat. While the case can be made that political debates are superficial at best – due in part to forced brief answers on topics that talking heads select – nevertheless, even a superficial debate is arguably better than no debate.

Succinctly, good debates can be revealing. Even less than ideal debates are telling.

In asserting the notion that “debate is not a four-letter word,” one of the healthy rules of debate should be that four letter words (cursing out or at an opponent) ought to be forbidden.  Debates often feature ‘cheap shots’ at a rival. Sometimes those cheap shots are based on an actual issue. But often enough cheap shots are glorified slurs which aim to weaken an opponent in the minds of enough members of the audience from gathering information on more serious issues. Such slurs can keep those listening from reaching a more rationale conclusion based on evidence rather than innuendo or smears. The point is that debates can have different qualities, but in the ideal, they do have the ability to advance the public interest. Debates are often highly rated – meaning large audiences – when they are on television.

 

Over the Target Reactions in MHVille – Facts, Examples and Expert Viewpoints

The case can be made that what MHI “member emeritus” George Allen intended in part as a distraction has served a useful purpose. Allen is intelligent enough. But he has yet to follow through in what could be said is an intellectual and honorable fashion in any of the public skirmishes he has periodically launched. What he rightly or wrong accuses others of doing, he may be doing himself. It has been said by sources deemed reliable that Allen has at various times over the years attempted to slur this writer behind my back. The mailed smears alleged are similar to those used by some who are clearly MHI’s and their dominating brands’ supporter(s). A federal agent has told MHProNews that what they saw looked like the kind of research performed by private investigators. The purpose? Seemingly efforts to silence this platform and our MHLivingNews sister site from publishing on the topics we have been engaged in for some years now. Who said? That veteran federal investigator.

Amusingly, such a recent anonymously mailed package admitted several pages into the documents that the key slur – the one near the heart of all the others – was adjudicated in a court of law and that this writer won that case. Opps, but there goes those inconvenient facts.

The evidence suggests that that something like that package – or prior iterations of it – has been circulated among x numbers of pros in our industry. It is what it is.

It is but one of several possible examples of an “over the target reaction” that has not stopped us from publishing. For those who need the reminder, “The Flak Only Gets Heavy When You’re Over the Target,” said Eminently Quotable. Flak has not stopped me, nor should it stop MHProNews. Because nothing alleged against this writer is to be feared if all of the facts are presented and objectively viewed.

The reality that from time to time over a period of years, anonymous packages are sent from various parts of the country that are pro-MHI and designed to deter us from publishing is oblique evidence that what we have published items accurate that are “over the target.” If they were errant or missed the mark, why has MHI leaders and/or one or more of their attorneys busy publicly refuting them in a way that makes them look great and us look foolish? Could it be that they know that the evidence presented can’t be disproven by reason or evidence alone? It is a reasonable conclusion that an objective thinker might arrive at.

In fairness, other tactics – lets call them financial hits – have been deployed. Has that stopped MHProNews/MHLivingNews? Obviously not. But that is not to say that there haven’t been costs. There have been. Tick tock, whatever their array of tactics deployed may be, our time at bat may come; but that isn’t a key point here.

Additionally, a different type of tactic – another over the target reaction – has been deployed. Let’s call it the attempted ‘honey pot’ trap. It is almost funny. That too has failed, though it has been tried repeatedly over a period of years. For a while, the honey pot trap rose in incidence-count beyond the mailed and other threats. No matter. Such over the target reactions, attempts at distractions, subversions, and betrayals of various types are among the reasons we believe that our evidence is sound. Why else would they try such methods?

If authentic and public debate were not feared by MHI and their puppet masters, then they would have either done so and/or they would have sued us in an attempt to shut us up or shut MHProNews down, if they could. In America, regrettably, people with deep pockets can sue even if there is little or no sound basis for a civil action.

 

Another Warning…

While an IRS employee has denied it, there are reasons to believe that someone reached out to the agency and attempted to weaponize the IRS against us. Fascinating, isn’t it? After years of quiet battle with those feds – some of whom were quite honorable, others of whom were arguably not – is now winding down. A series of IRS documents the agency recently sent essentially mean that we have won. What they claimed was demonstrably wrong. What they tried to do in the way of a multi-year audit is all but concluded. Among the IRS letters in hand? One that reverses all of their financial claims. We owe not a dime. Instead, they owe us. So says an IRS team member, who is working on the clean up parts of the case that has consumed time but has yielded several victories. Think about how they must feel, and by contrast, what that says about our efforts for accuracy and careful documentation.

Why say things like the above that has been – and might yet again – be twisted and used against us? Simple. They are true and they are shared with our audience to make a point. That point is this. If we can push these issues of accountability publicly for years and ‘get away with it’ – because they apparently are true – then you or others could too.

There are risks in trying, but there are arguably risks for not acting too. Don’t believe it? Think about the thousands of companies in our industry that vanished, as Kevin Clayton himself told Congress.

Before pressing ahead, let’s remind readers how much more robust and diverse the manufactured home industry – or the mobile homes before June 15, 1976 – used to be. There was a time when our industry was literally reaching toward the sky! It turns out that those who allege that monopolization – through oligopolies or other such alliances – causing less creativity, reduced opportunities for employees and independent businesses alike – have evidence found to that effect in the manufactured housing industry.

 

The MH Solution and “Scientia Potentia Est” Latin Aphorism Meaning “Knowledge is Potential Power”

Readers like yourself have potential power. The moat built by some in our industry can demonstrably be breached by applying existing laws. You don’t have to have Warren Buffett’s, Bill Gates’, or George Soros’ bucks in order to fight back effectively against those who have ‘rigged the system’ in their own favor.

The system may well be rigged in America, but that doesn’t mean that the legal system can’t still function as intended. We at MHProNews are living proof of that claim. That’s not shared to brag, it is shared to inspire those who have been reticent to test the potential power – and profitable opportunities – that are waiting during one of the worst affordable housing crises in American history.

Manufactured housing is a key part of that affordable housing solution. The opportunities are all around you, if you are in our industry as an independent professional. If you are a corporate employee tired of watching disgusting things occurring, you could have more opportunities in MHVille too if the chains limiting our profession are unshackled locally, regionally, or nationally.

Let’s be clear. The dirty tricks – some of which are arguably illegal – that are used against consumers, competitors, and others are all areas of weakness for the apparent giants of our industry.

Why do we keep publishing a string of examples of abuses in our profession? Several reasons, including they are occurring but also because when they occur they are routinely revealing vulnerabilities for the powers that be in our profession. What the manufactured housing industry’s black hats do that intimidates others could be Hobbs Act, RICO, antitrust or other violations of federal and/or state laws.

Do you see how publicly revealing and/or discussing/debating the issues that are arguably artificially and unjustly limiting our industry can lead to curing the problems being discussed? Let’s explore that notion.

 

Facts About Echo Chambers, Info-Wars and Psyops

The term “info wars” is akin to what the military and intelligence communities call ‘psyops.’

Psyops are demonstrably real, as numbers of mainstream, alternative media, nonprofits and others have documented.

Manipulation of much – not all – of the public through what the Capital Research Center (CRC) aptly calls “Deception and Misdirection” is an authentic issue. Who says? Among others, Perdue University and WarefareStudy.com, not just CRC, our or other media platforms.

Why did MHProNews pivot toward routinely longer reports that lay out significant evidence and link more? In part because it gives readers an opportunity to see what our editorial views are based upon; the facts, the data, the proof, and reason-based support for a given claim.

An astonishing thing has and is continuing to occur on this platform and our MHLivingNews.com sister-site. Third-party generated data and metrics on our two main sites speak volumes when reviewed.

The data tell us that engagement by readers like you on our site is longer and deeper than generally occurs on mainstream media. No doubt, some skim articles that ought to be carefully read, or should even re-read several times to fully grasp the meaning of the content.

Let’s note that while most of you are directly connected to manufactured housing, others are outsiders looking in. The penetrating question we’ve periodically raised – why is manufactured housing underperforming during an affordable housing crisis – is on other minds too. Some outsiders looking in do so on our trade media sites. When they reach out and comment, they routinely find themselves in agreement with the thesis advanced.

Those outsiders looking in are another reason why more detailed reports, fact-checks, and analysis matters. One never knows which one someone ‘discovers’ via a Google search, and which one gets someone looking into MHVille only to discover: ‘Aha! That’s an obvious factor why the affordable housing crisis is so severe!’

The statistics also tells us that the typical readers are visiting multiple articles per visit. The typical readers are clicking on linked reports, not just the article a normal reader began. Pages-per-visit are high, even though we have been publishing fewer articles weekly than a few years ago. Despite publishing less, we still get millions of visitors annually.

Additionally, we get feedback from readers. Some of those tips and insights are also surprising.

• Feedback tells us that our readers include the leaders and/or top lieutenants (upper management) of the companies and/or organizations that we report on.
• But also among those readers are retail managers, plant managers, and community managers are among our readers. Just how upsetting is it to upper management at Clayton Homes, Yes Communities, Sun Communities, or a range of other MHI member firms that numbers of their rank-and-file managers and employees are reading regularly here on MHProNews and on MHLivingNews?

But there is more.

We’re credibly told that federal and state officials are routine readers on both sites. While we don’t have a name with those who visit, our websites’ metrics ‘sense’ (detect) .gov and .mil (among other) extensions. Wikipedia says about the .mil extension: “mil. The domain name mil is the sponsored top-level domain (sTLD) in the Domain Name System of the Internet for the United States Department of Defense and its subsidiary or affiliated organizations.”

Nonprofits – .org and .edu – are among our routine visitors too, to name but a few. Messages and feedback from Congressional staff or other public officials speak volumes. So, while that contact is limited in the sense that we can’t normally reach back to them (because we do not have a name/contact info), we do know that that array of sources are routinely checking out MHProNews.

When the array of inputs and data mentioned are ‘laid out’ it paints a picture. What do those various puzzle pieces look like when they are assembled?

In no specific order of importance:

• A) That we are over the target in our factual and evidence-laced reports, analysis, and commentary. Who says? Intelligent folks in and outside of our industry, plus difficult to dispute data.
• B) Perhaps as or more important, if we at MHProNews/MHLivingNews can do this type of exposés, others can too.
• C) Yes, there are costs, hassles, and risk involved in push-back.
• D) But if we as modestly funded trade media can navigate those treacherous man-eating amphibians that Warren Buffett described as part of his “moat,” that logically implies that others can successfully do so too.
• E) Indeed, there is a case to be made that if sufficient numbers of manufactured home pros are willing to push-back, the best days of our industry are yet to come.
• F) The flip side of the above is also true. If the industry doesn’t push back, the modest gains (and periodic modest slides) are what the industry has to look forward to in the future.
• ***>>> G) For those independent producers who have very reliable independent retailers and/or they have their own vertically integrated retail manufactured home sales operations look objectively at what has occurred and what could lie ahead, here is a wake-up call. Whatever has happened before can happen again. Furthermore, as more manufactured home communities are steadily climbing toward capacity, one of the sources for about 31 percent of all new HUD Code manufactured home shipments will in the forgeable future will be at capacity. What then? Isn’t it obvious that if the zoning and placement issue isn’t successfully resolved by implementing the “enhanced preemption” powers of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (MHIA) of 2000, that a production drop is looming? More on that below.
• H) Furthermore, if those manufactured home pros willing to step up and who are ‘white hats’ and that want to be in alignment with the interests of manufactured home owners and MHCommunity residents, the potential power of that coalition between good independents, residents/manufactured homeowners, MHARR and our platforms could total in the millions of souls.
• I) Once millions who own and are involved in manufactured housing professionally are properly aligned and engaged – think the Dickens’ tease above and quoted below – the ability to get public officials to act grows substantially.
• J) Perhaps the key for consumers, MH Residents/Owners, white hats and others to get good laws enforced is precisely in getting and staying in genuine alignment. A few hundred in a trade group? Not bad. But several million represented by several trade and homeowner groups that are all pointing to a few bad actors as the source of most problems? That is potentially powerful. Even a healthy fraction of 22 million Americans living in manufactured homes with business and nonprofits could swing key elections at the local, state, and national level.

Let’s be clear. Anyone who is in business today is pushing back against a tide of encroaching powers that include financial, legal, media, and other forces.

Not all in media are corrupt, some are just stuck in habitual thinking and/or are misled. Some reporters in media are on a tight leash. Some are aware of what’s wrong but are afraid to lose their jobs and can’t publish something without their editor’s say so anyway.

Editors have good and problematic people among them too. But they have to do what the higher level bosses say.

Those higher-level bosses over editorial and news aren’t stupid. They often know what’s going wrong in the USA. Yes, some are ‘into’ the rigged system. Others are going along to get along, not unlike those in MHVille who go along to get along, hoping that one or more of the giants don’t take notice and target them for elimination. But some are willing to buck the system, at least for a time, as the examples of the Tampa Free Press and Baptist Global News revealed.

'Half Priced New Homes'-TampaFP-MHLivingNews Reveals Federally Certified, 3rd Party Inspected New Affordable Homes

The above is shorter than the below, each covers slightly different but related ground.

'Half Priced New Homes'-TampaFP-MHLivingNews Reveals Federally Certified, 3rd Party Inspected New Affordable Homes

LendingTree “Mobile Home Values Are Rising Faster Than Single-Family” Homes-Why Manufactured Homes Appreciate/Depreciate

 

The Social Glue of MHI – How It Works, How It Can be Supplanted

The case can be made that some at MHI and/or their state association affiliates are there for social and camaraderie purposes. For those who fit that description, that is entirely understandable.

The case can be made that some at MHI and/or their state association affiliates are there because they want to be bought out, or they are seeking some other kind of benefits they hope will come their way because they are willing to play along.

The case can be made that because not all are readers of MHProNews/MHLivingNews, that some at MHI and/or their state association affiliates are ignorant of what is occurring in the manufactured home industry. They may not realize what is occurring in the broader ever-more consolidating American business landscape.

Never forget that paltering is a tool the box of the top level manipulators.

That said, the Biden White House has aptly noted that over 75 percent of industries and professions have been consolidating for years. Quoting: “For decades, corporate consolidation has been accelerating. In over 75% of U.S. industries, a smaller number of large companies now control more of the business than they did twenty years ago. This is true across healthcare, financial services, agriculture and more.”

When such facts are deployed, it is ridiculous for MHI and/or their corporate masters to deny what is occurring in our profession. The White House and Democratic Administration that they often give fealty to is saying what MHI and their corporate masters want to duck, dodge, deflect from and deny.

• MHI has arguably become manufactured housing consolidation central. Something similar can be said about most state affiliates.
• Something similar can be said about Allen/Spencer Roane in their SECO meeting, or many if not most of the bloggers and trade publishers in our industry.

But ironically, Kurt Kelley’s MHReview and blogger Allen have both de facto acknowledged several of the points we have been raising for years, even if they sometimes do so obliquely. Let me note that we have respect for Kelley on several levels, but think he isn’t doing all that he could be. Kelley has said as much.

As to Allen, ego is a prime driver for him. Who says? One of his more insightful ex-clients, one he used to brag about for years. Per that client, ‘With George, it is always AAA. All About Allen.’ Why did MHI team up with Allen after they rejected him and Roane years back? Among the likely motivators is that Allen has long moaned and groaned privately and publicly about us, this writer specifically, and our pro-industry, pro-growth work. That doesn’t mean that Allen can’t occasionally feign a smile or swallow his pride, as he apparently did in the statement linked here.

Similarly, MHI’s prior president and CEO, Dick Jennison, had to force himself to say nice things but did so in the video below? Why? Per a reliable source, because Tim Williams at 21^st Mortgage Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway owned company and a sister-brand to Clayton Homes, told him to do so.

 

 

What’s It All About?

The American Dream isn’t dead. One can be a Republican or Independent and agree that it is under assault and has been for decades, as that Democratic Biden White House fact sheet cited above reflects.

Keep in mind that from the outset, our purposes included, but where not necessarily limited to, a simple notion. That manufactured housing has been underperforming and continues to underperform.

At the retail, community, plant or other unit or market levels, an individual, location, or group could intelligently grow their business with high customer satisfaction that would yield authentic referrals. Not the kind of ‘NPS scores’ that Clayton claims but whose own data arguably contradicts, but real growth from correct marketing and sales methods, prior treatment of teammates and customers alike.

‘Announcing!’ ‘Manufactured Community Owners’ Association of America’ ‘Finally Bringing Fight To Manufactured Home Community Sector of the Industry’ – plus Sunday Weekly Manufactured Housing Headlines Review  

 

We’ve been true believers in manufactured housing’s potential since before we launched what is now called MHProNews in mid-October 2009 and remain so. But believers can still – and should – call to account those who sully our industry by problematic if not illegal behavior.

It was the slow and somewhat bitter realization that our industry was in good measure being subverted from within by black hat behavior that took us time to digest, process, and adapt to in our publishing.

The nature of that black hat subversion harms consumers, business independents, and corporate employees alike.

Furthermore, that subversion significantly harms taxpayers. There are ripple effects to a lack of affordable housing – and manufactured homes specifically – in America. That means that white hat investors and white hat public officials are also being impacted negatively by what’s occurring in our profession.

 

Summing Up

Our reports and analysis stand the test of time.

The types of reactions and responses outlined herein are evidence that our articles, op-eds, and fact-packed viewpoints are “over the target” and that is why we “catch flak.”

If MHProNews can weather the storms that were stirred up and thrown our way, you and others can too.

If our business can push-back publicly and continue to profit, so can others adapt as needed, push back and profit too.

Unlike MHReview’s or Allen’s announcements, which the reports linked below explain what is apparently errant or missing in them, MHProNews pushes the notion for a new ‘white hat’ trade group has a simpler, purer, and arguably superior ideal in mind.

• 1) That ideal would robustly protect consumers and the white hats of our industry.
• 2) That ideal would use existing laws in an effort to more rapidly accomplish what trying to create good laws that might never get enacted (or if passed, may not get implemented as desired) could achieve.
• 3) There are federal, state, other nonprofits and/or private legal resources that could be aligned to work with a new post-production trade group.
• 4) Safeguards should be put in place to keep a new post-production trade group from being subverted as MHI has been (see Allen’s published comments, linked here). It should avoid what occurred with NAMHCO. That is not said as a put down to them, see link above, but simply as a cautionary tale that is stating the facts, evidence, and lessons learned. This is not a time for egos to get in the way!
• 5) An authentic white hat post-production trade group should be of a quality that being a member is far better than any MHI award ever can be, given the apparently corrupt nature of MHI.
• 6) An authentic white hat post-production trade group should hold its own trade shows that ought to include public as well as industry-professional only days.
• 7) An authentic white hat post-production trade group should have recognized business leaders of smaller to larger sized firms that adhere to a meaningful code of conduct and antitrust regulations, and not pay lip service to those as MHI has been credibly accused of doing.
• 8) Such meaningful codes of conduct would make membership in that trade group more important than any RV MH Hall of Fame award could ever be in the contemporary era (let’s acknowledge that for a time the Hall wasn’t as subverted by the big boys as they are today).
• 9) Beyond pushing back against the oligopoly style of monopolistic-minded brands symbolized by MHI, authentic, profitable, and robust growth should be top priorities for a new trade group. It is no contradiction to have good customer service that yields happy customers and higher profits. Both have long been part of the American Dream. The new post-production trade group should do so too.

The fact that Allen has been on both sides of the fence with MHI and a new trade group speaks volumes about him. Why trust the duplicitous who has never confessed his duplicity? Why trust someone who MHI rejected and then re-embraced for the purposes of his part in the failed attempt to neutralize this pro-white hat, pro-consumer, pro-MHIndustry site? But it would not be a surprise if Allen et al launch something. Whether such a group aligned with Allen, Kelley, perhaps ‘Frank and Dave’ or others like them ‘succeeds’ or fails is arguably irrelevant to MHI. Who says? Read between the lines, and Allen does.

The fact that Allen/Martens have publicly stated that they have reserved URLs (web addresses) for such a group indicates that they have committed to a plan.

 

Cavco’s Market Cap Fall; Paul F Marten, Manufactured Home Pros Plug ‘New National Trade Association to Represent-Advocate for Disfranchised of Our Industry;’ MHI-DOE-MHARR Regs, plus MHMarket Update

 

That noted, in essence, all such efforts are tacit admissions that MHI is a failure at authentically representing the interests of “all segments” of manufactured housing. That MHI claim of representing all segments of the industry is and has long been pure BS.

But the rest of what Marty Lavin, former MHI award winner, has said quoted below could be applied to Allen and those who might emerge from his circle-fest to launch something new. Let them create MHI-lite. It is nominally still a free country.

 

 

But let not those who have secretly hungered for a trade group of their own to embrace that will help them not only survive but thrive be encouraged by such talk and efforts.

There are firms that could, but won’t be named here, that have survived or even mildly thrived in this difficult environment. One or a few of those could solo launch a new and authentic trade group and make it easy for other independents to jump on board.

But make no mistake, while there are risks admitted above to publicly pushing back against the MHI-insider crowd, there are subtler ways mentioned in the report linked below that can be used.

Randy Rowe, Green Courte Partners 5 Point Plan for Manufactured Home Industry Recovery Revisions – plus Sunday Weekly MHVille Headlines with Satirical Review

Either the method outlined in the report above, what’s stated here in more detail, or both ways are possible.

For a new post-production trade group to start and thrive, it can and should learn from producer-focused MHARR. Look at the revolving staff door at MHI, for instance. Then compare MHI’s revolving door to the stability at MHARR. There are obviously committed individuals at MHARR and then there are those who come to MHI for a paycheck, who hope to grease the path to a bigger trade group, more pay elsewhere, or dream of retirement from MHI and/or their state affiliate. After all, imagine a sweeter gig than one that you don’t have to actually perform, all you have to do is posture and kiss the appropriate derrieres.

• Furthermore, for a new post-production trade group to start and thrive, it ought to publicly team up with MHARR.
• MHARR has specifically advocated for such a new post-production trade group.
• MHARR has also specifically said that they are not going to expand into post-production. They want to stay true to their producing members. MHARR encourages the post-production to establish the same level of dedication, which Allen, Martens, NAMHCO, and others have admitted is not been occurring at MHI.

Additionally, MHProNews – somewhat differently than MHARR has advocated – believes that such a post-production trade association should encourage members to get involved in other nonprofit groups whose membership fees are modest, but who are generic business interests. More should be said, but briefly:

• NFIB and/or JCN come to mind. At NFIB, at least check, less than $200 a year creates a membership. Per NFIB to MHProNews a few years ago, several hundred manufactured housing industry firms are already members. That beachhead plus a good post-production trade group could lead to some mutually beneficial efforts that can be explored another time.
• us (at last check, maybe $20 a year) for those who are 50+. They briefly believe in traditional American values and what could be called the American Way. Speaking for myself, the benefits outweigh the modest annual cost.
• Those and other nonprofit and member-driven organizations could prove useful if a new post-production trade group and producer-focused MHARR teamed up with them to push for the types of changes necessary to make the America Dream real for millions of more people.

We started this column with the notion that debate is not a four-letter word.

As promised above, here is what Ishbel Dickens said.

Note that Dickens’ point completely changes the meaning of the narrative told MHI members during the “Preserving Access to Manufactured Housing” push. Taken at face value, Dickens said that the industry could have saved millions in lobbying and accomplished what actually occurred after President Donald J. Trump and the GOP took over the White House and Congress.

Put differently, Dickens’ remarks reveal once again that MHI is either massively inept and/or corrupt. We’ve cited Nathan Smith, prior MHI chairman, before and do so again to make the point.

MHProNews has for years pressed for MHI and/or their corporate leaders to get on stage and be publicly accountable for their performance, or lack thereof on behalf of “all segments” of the manufactured home industry.

What apparent public debate drop-out and dodger Tim Williams/OMHA called “scorched earth” two years ago was just a warmup. Stay tuned as more exposés and pro-growth solution-oriented op-ed (expert opinion) presentations like this one are coming. Tips from readers and other sources are ahead. Check back and surf the links found here on your primary source for the demonstrably true, troubling, but potential solutions ahead.

Honorable debates and authentic discussions can spotlight the source of problems. Couple with good advocacy and reports with appropriate analysis, they can lead to profitable solutions that could literally benefit millions. The alternative? The status quo, sometimes better, sometimes worse. ##

Cavco’s Market Cap Fall; Paul F Marten, Manufactured Home Pros Plug ‘New National Trade Association to Represent-Advocate for Disfranchised of Our Industry;’ MHI-DOE-MHARR Regs, plus MHMarket Update

 

Burying Lead? Manufactured Home Community (MHC) Research Reveals MHC Owners Losing Money While Roaring Biden-Era Inflation, Predatory Operators Pressure Residents; plus MHVille Markets

Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) Calls Out Department of Energy for Manufactured Home Energy Standards ‘Bait and Switch’ – Facts, Related Info & Analysis

Can Manufactured Housing Institute, Key MHI Firms Duck Accountability to Members, Shareholders, Stakeholders with Head-Fakes, Unkept Promises? Surprising Insights; plus, Sunday Weekly MH Headlines Review

Sandy Garrett, J.D., Chief Disciplinary Counsel TBPR.org Supreme Court of Tennessee-Tom Hodges, J.D.; How Manufactured Housing Could Achieve Higher Sales, Profits; Sunday Weekly Headlines Recap

 

Next up is our daily business news recap of yesterday evening’s market report, related left-right headlines, and manufactured housing connected equities.

The Business Daily Manufactured Home Industry Connected Stock Market Updates.  Plus, Market Moving Left leaning CNN and Right-leaning (Newsmax) Headlines Snapshot. While the layout of this daily business report has been evolving over time, several elements of the basic concepts used previously are still the same. For instance. The headlines that follow below can be reviewed at a glance to save time while providing insights across the left-right media divide. Additionally, those headlines often provide clues as to possible ‘market-moving’ news items.

 

Market Indicator Closing Summaries – Yahoo Finance Closing Tickers on MHProNews…

Headlines from left-of-center CNN Business – from the evening of 5.12.2022

• $7 trillion wiped out
• In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Robert Charmak, left, and specialist Gregg Maloney work on the floor, Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Stocks fell on Wall Street Wednesday after inflation slowed last month but still came in worse than feared.
• The stock market is getting hammered this year, with tech stocks hit particularly hard
• Meme mania returns. GameStop and AMC soar
• Not all recessions are the same. Here’s what could happen to the economy and markets
• Panic in the crypto market has Janet Yellen’s attention
• Why the black sheep of the crypto world has investors in a panic
• Jerome Powell confirmed for second term as Fed Chair
• Twitter announces partial hiring freeze and senior exec exits
• Another key inflation measure slowed in April
• Manhattan rents have never been this expensive
• Analysis: Europe is running out of time to find alternatives to Russian gas
• Adidas sports bra ads banned in UK over bare breasts
• Opinion: No more union-busting. It’s time for companies to give workers what they deserve
• FILE – In this April 22, 2020, file photo, a truck leaves the Tyson Foods pork plant in Perry, Iowa. Even though meatpacking plants have rebounded from the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, it will take months to work through the backlog of millions of cattle and pigs that was created this spring when dozens of plants were closed. That will continue to create headaches for farmers and ranchers who are struggling to find space for all those animals and face weak prices when they do sell them.
• Coronavirus committee: Meat companies lied about impending shortage and put workers at risk
• Mortgage rates continue to climb
• Las Vegas casino owner surprises 5,000 employees with $5,000 bonuses
• GROCERIES
• A customer pushes a shopping cart past pallets of toilet paper at a Costco Wholesale Corp. store in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., on Wednesday, May 29, 2019.
• Why every Costco product is called ‘Kirkland Signature’
• Wait, Trader Joe was a real guy?
• Here’s what’s getting more expensive at the grocery store
• Walgreens replaced some fridge doors with screens
• Palm oil is in half your groceries. Here’s why prices might shoot up
• CAREER
• These ‘boomerang’ employees went back to their old jobs. They tell us why
• How to get a reference when you’re new to the job market
• The dos and don’ts of the modern resume
• The job hunt can be exhausting. Here’s how to cope
• Congrats on your first job! Here’s what to do with your 401(k)

Headlines from right-of-center Newsmax 5.12.2022

• Trump on Barnette: She Will ‘Never’ Win in November
• Kathy Barnette takes part in a forum for Republican candidates for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania at the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in Camp Hill early last month. (AP)
• Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• Zelenskyy Says He’s Ready to Talk With Putin
• UN Considers Investigation Into Possible Russian War Crimes in Ukraine
• Ukraine to Hold First War Crimes Trial of Captured Russian
• Russian Ambassador Storms Out of Israeli Parliament Over Ukraine
• Why Finland, Sweden Joining NATO Will Be Big Deal
• Russia Claims to Hit 2 Ammo Depots in Chernihiv Region
• Finland Seeks Quick NATO Membership
• Russian Ambassador: US Trying to ‘Cancel’ Russia
• UK Strikes New Security Agreement With Sweden and Finland
• More Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• Newsmax TV
• JD Vance: Ohio Senate Race to Expose Biden’s Failed Agenda, ‘Stooge’ Tim Ryan | video
• Newsmax’s Greg Kelly: ‘Phony’ Senate Candidate Barnette No MAGA Member | video
• Mullin: Makes No Sense to Halt Alaska, Gulf Drilling Permits | video
• Ronny Jackson: Biden Won’t Last 4 Years | video
• Marshall to Newsmax: Dems’ Abortion Bill ‘Egregious Attack’ on Unborn | video
• Paul: Democrats’ Position Is ‘Abortion Until the Time of Birth’ | video
• Oz: Producing More Energy Would Be ‘Quick Fix’ to Inflation | video
• More Newsmax TV
• Newsfront
• China Prepping for Missile Attacks on US Navy, Aircraft Carriers
• New satellite photos show that China is preparing for potential missile attacks on U.S. targets, reports USNI News…. [Full Story]
• Poll: Economy, Abortion Headline Key Issues Heading Into November Midterms
• A new Monmouth University poll identifies the economy and abortion [Full Story]
• Senate Confirms Powell for 2nd Term as Fed Fights Inflation
• The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jerome Powell for a second four-year [Full Story]
• New Biden Press Secretary Is ‘Progressive’ Spewing ‘Misinformation’
• Incoming Biden administration press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s [Full Story] | Platinum Article
• Trump on Barnette: She Will ‘Never’ Win in November
• Former President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed conservative [Full Story]
• Ukraine Aid Puts America Last, Say 57 House Republicans
• Frustrated by a worsening financial crisis affecting Americans at [Full Story] | Platinum Article
• What You Need to Know About the Baby Formula Shortage
• Many parents are hunting for infant formula after a combination of [Full Story]
• Texas Law Reinstated Halting Social Media Cos. From Banning Users Over Political Views
• A Texas law prohibiting social media companies from banning users for [Full Story]
• Norman on Khashoggi Killing: ‘We’ve All Made Mistakes’
• Australian golf legend Greg Norman this week, while discussing an [Full Story]
• Nikki Haley Endorses Air Force Vet Green in Indiana US House Race
• Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on Thursday endorsed pro-Trump Air [Full Story]
• Psaki to Newsmax: Build Back Better Biggest WH Regret
• Looking back at her last 15 months in the White House, outgoing press [Full Story] | video
• Biden Admin Canceling 3 Major Offshore Oil Lease Sales
• The Biden administration Wednesday said it was canceling three major [Full Story]
• Astronomers Capture First Image of Milky Way’s Huge Black Hole
• The world got a look Thursday at the first wild but fuzzy image of [Full Story]
• Musk Looks to Scrap Tesla Margin Loan With New Twitter Funding
• Musk Looks to Scrap Tesla Margin Loan With New Twitter Funding
• Elon Musk is in talks to raise enough equity and preferred financing [Full Story]
• Related
• Twitter CEO: Two Top Execs Out, New Hire Freeze
• Warren Bill Would Force Companies to Explain Price Increases
• Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., isseeking to empower the Federal [Full Story]
• Biden Demonizes ‘Ultra-MAGA’ Republicans While Quietly Working With GOP
• With six months left before the congressional midterm electionsin [Full Story]
• Navy Chief Defends Decision to Scrap Nine Warships
• The head of the U.S. Navy this week defended the military branchs [Full Story]
• Plants Sprout From Seeds Planted in 50-Year-Old Moon Soil
• Scientists for the first time have grown seeds in soil from the moon [Full Story]
• Crowd Stops Out-of-Control Car After Driver Suffers Convulsions
• A West Palm Beach, Florida woman who suffered a medical emergency [Full Story] | video
• Lufthansa Issues Apology After Kicking Visibly Jewish Passengers Off Flight
• The German airline Lufthansa issued an apology following an unusual [Full Story]
• Cawthorn Proposes Bill Requiring CDC to Include Abortions in US Death Rates
• Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., introduced House legislation Thursday [Full Story]
• 6 Panel Subpoenas McCarthy, 4 Other GOP Lawmakers
• House investigators said Thursday they have issued subpoenas to House [Full Story]
• Feds Launch Grand Jury Probe Into Trump’s Handling of Classified Records: NY Times
• Federal prosecutors have launched a grand jury investigation into [Full Story]
• Russian Ambassador Storms Out of Israeli Parliament Over Ukraine
• The Russian ambassador to Israel, Anatoly Viktorov, stormed out of [Full Story]
• Biden: Supreme Court Doesn’t Believe in Right to Privacy
• President Joe Biden told Democrat donors that a conservative-leaning [Full Story]
• Texas Gov. Abbott: State Could Get Federal Pushback If Invasion Is Declared
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’s resisting conservatives’ calls for [Full Story]
• Homes Burn in Wealthy California Town of Laguna Niguel
• Fire swept through the wealthy Southern California enclave of Laguna [Full Story]
• Biden Marks 1M US COVID Deaths
• President Joe Biden will appeal for a renewed international [Full Story]
• California Gov. Newsom Adding $57M to Budget for Anticipated Intrastate Abortion Demand
• California’s Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday that [Full Story]
• Finland Seeks Quick NATO Membership, Russia Vows Response
• Finland said Thursday it would apply to join NATO “without delay,” [Full Story]
• Teen Arrested for Bomb Threat During Doug Emhoff Visit
• A 17-year-old girl has been arrested for allegedly making a bomb [Full Story]
• More Newsfront
• Finance
• Crypto Comes to Washington. Will the Millions Buy Influence?
• Erin Houchin braced for the worst when a mysterious, well-financed group started buying television ads last month in her highly competitive southern Indiana congressional race…. [Full Story]
• GE Sees Growth Improvement in H2
• Crypto Meltdown Prompts Yellen to Call for New Regulation
• Lawmakers Ask Tech Giants to Archive Evidence of Potential Russian War Crimes
• Steve Cohen Brings Hedge Fund Analytics to Power Mets
• More Finance
• Health
• Study: Smell, Taste Loss Less Likely With Newer COVID Variants
• Since the early days of the pandemic, loss of smell and taste have been tied to COVID-19 infection. But a new study shows those telltale traits are much less likely with the omicron variant than the earlier alpha and delta versions of the coronavirus. The findings are…… [Full Story]
• This Type of Coffee Could Raise Your Cholesterol
• Anti-Inflammatory Treatment May Ease Long COVID
• Moderna Completes FDA Submission For COVID Shot in Children
• 6 Surprising High Blood Pressure Triggers

MHProNews has pioneered in our profession several reporting elements that keep our regular and attentive readers as arguably the best informed in the manufactured housing industry. Among the items shared after ‘every business day’ (when markets are open) is our left-right headline recap summary. At a glance in two to three minutes, key ‘market moving’ news items are covered from left-of-center CNN Business and right-of-center Newsmax. “We Provide, You Decide.” ^© Additionally, MHProNews provides expert commentary and analysis on the issues that others can’t or won’t cover that help explain why manufactured housing has been underperforming during the Berkshire era while an affordable housing crisis and hundreds of thousands of homeless in America rages on. These are “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use” ^© features and others made and kept us the runaway #1 in manufactured housing trade publisher for a dozen years and counting. 

 

Manufactured Housing Industry Investments Connected Equities Closing Tickers

Some of these firms invest in manufactured housing, or are otherwise connected, but may do other forms of investing or business activities too.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • NOTE: The chart below includes the Canadian stock, ECN, which purchased Triad Financial Services, a manufactured home industry lender
                          • NOTE: Drew changed its name and trading symbol at the end of 2016 to Lippert (LCII).
                          • NOTE: Deer Valley was largely taken private, say company insiders in a message to MHProNews on 12.15.2020, but there are still some outstanding shares of  the stock from the days when it was a publicly traded firm.  Thus, there is still periodic activity on DVLY.

Manufactured Home Communities (a.k.a. ‘Mobile Home Parks’ – SIC) – Exploring UMH Properties; Fellow Manufactured Housing Institute Member Yes! Communities Suits and Settlements; plus MH Markets Updates

‘Announcing!’ ‘Manufactured Community Owners’ Association of America’ ‘Finally Bringing Fight To Manufactured Home Community Sector of the Industry’ – plus Sunday Weekly Manufactured Housing Headlines Review  

• • 2022 …Berkshire Hathaway is the parent company to Clayton Homes, 21^st Mortgage, Vanderbilt Mortgage and other factory-built housing industry suppliers.
    · LCI Industries, Patrick, UFPI, and LP each are suppliers to the manufactured housing industry, among others.
    · AMG, CG, and TAVFX have investments in manufactured housing related businesses. For insights from third-parties and clients about our publisher, click here.
    Enjoy these ‘blast from the past’ comments. MHProNews. MHProNews – previously a.k.a. MHMSM.com – has celebrated our 11th year of publishing and have completed over a dozen years of serving the industry as the runaway most-read trade media.

Sample Kudos over the years…

It is now 12+ years and counting…

Learn more about our evolutionary journey as the industry’s leading trade media, at the report linked below.

· For expert manufactured housing business development or other professional services, click here.
· To sign up in seconds for our industry leading emailed headline news updates, click here.

Disclosure. MHProNews holds no positions in the stocks in this report.

That’s a wrap on this installment of “News Through the Lens of Manufactured Homes and Factory-Built Housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, stock, investing, data, metrics, 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.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship along with numerous awards in history. There have been several awards and honors and also recognition 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.