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The Associated Press (AP) reported that “The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted Wednesday of luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by the American millionaire Jeffrey Epstein. The [jury] verdict capped a monthlong trial featuring sordid accounts of the sexual exploitation of girls as young as 14, told by four women who described being abused as teens in the 1990s and early 2000s at Epstein’s palatial homes in Florida, New York and New Mexico. Jurors deliberated for five full days before finding Maxwell guilty of five of six counts.” According to Just the News, which touts its nonpartisan bona fides, “Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial could set new legal standard for willful ignorance.” This case may seem at first to have little or no connection to manufactured housing. But what a legal “Expert calls trial a ‘holy hell’ moment” will underscore the risks to the “world’s enablers.”
While the salacious nature of the case has been the focus, Just the News said before the verdict was rendered that “the biggest legal bombshell may have come during the judge’s instructions to the jury.” That source said that “U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan gave the green light for the jury to find Maxwell guilty if jurors believed she “consciously avoided” knowledge of Epstein’s sexual encounters with teen-age girls.”
Some are saying that this troubling case and strong jury verdict may be applicable well beyond sex trafficking. That is why it is being presented in this affordable manufactured housing trade media. Because there are other possible ramifications from this case.
“This is a Holy Hell moment to hold those accountable who turn a blind eye,” said Homayra Sellier. “Sellier studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the CELSA Paris and graduated in 1983 with a master’s degree in public and human relations,” per Wiki.
Per Just the News:
· Maxwell’s defense countered that Maxwell’s criminal trial was not about sex trafficking, but about “memory, manipulation, and money.” Her lawyers claimed Maxwell was not like Jeffrey Epstein and was innocent because Epstein “compartmentalized” his life.
· The defense argued that victims’ memories were false, clouded by the manipulation of their own lawyers, and influenced by money.
Additional insights connecting some of the players involved in manufactured housing with the Epstein/Maxwell case are shown in reports linked below.
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Additional Information, More MHLivingNews Analysis and Commentary
These are issues of moral and legal culpability that could emerge as an issue for dozens, perhaps hundreds of manufactured housing professionals in the months ahead.
Agree or disagree with author Upton Sinclair’s politics, this quotable quip by him is insightful and arguably relevant: “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
It is fair to say that many have ‘turned a blind eye’ to issues within the boundaries of the manufactured housing profession because it was perceived as a risk to someone’s income and/or career.
Tipping the Hat Analysis – Acknowledging Rivals, Sellouts, and Avoidable Tragedies in Affordable Manufactured Housing
As was recently noted for the benefit of new readers, the Masthead is an editorial blog [editor’s note: see postscript]. Additionally, at the top left of virtually every page on the MHProNews website is our logo with the tag line that this is a site dedicated to manufactured housing “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use.” © With that in mind, as a disclosure, in reflecting on recent years this writer confesses to a certain kind of duality about my years as an active member of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI).
First, the ‘positive.’
- There were numerous interesting and even fun times associated with MHI and other industry meetings.
- At MHI, various state association events, or at trade shows – I met with several of the leaders of the manufactured home industry.
- Those personal encounters include the key and secondary current rivals in trade publishing. This report will mention 5 by name.
- Let’s begin by saying what thousands know who have also met these fellows and several of the industry’s self-proclaimed ‘leaders’ at MHI.
- They are intelligent. They are often well educated. They can be interesting. They can be entertaining. They can say apparently thoughtful things. Perhaps at some level, they might secretly aspire at their deepest core to become ‘good people.’
- Indeed, it is perhaps due in part to such affable qualities that have helped make several of them who they are.
- Additionally, at some point in their respective careers, they might well have contributed – or seem to have contributed – to the ‘advancement’ of manufactured housing.
- During the Christmas season and with the run-up to New Years and “resolutions” time, is a time when millions ponder the meaning of life. Because God isn’t done with any of us yet, there may well be a “Come to Jesus” moment for one or more of these individuals. The true meaning of Christmas is reflected in several movies and seasonal specials. So, thoughts about the coming of Christ influence people to make ‘new year’s resolutions.’
That makes a useful transition to the ‘negatives’ involving MHI that should be pondered.
Precisely because of the positives, and in the light of known facts that they have cited, a series of obvious concerns should arise for discerning minds about MHI and several of their dominating brands. As has periodically been exposed here on MHLivingNews – and on our MHProNews sister site – there are far too many examples of “predatory” behavior that are associated with well known MHI member companies.
Why has MHI not held them to account, using their “Code of Ethical Conduct” standards? Hold that thought in reading any of the linked reports from 2021 above.
Then, in terms of MHI’s claims of supporting honorable manufactured housing industry growth, consider these concerns.
- How is it possible that during an affordable housing crisis, that manufactured housing suffered a 2½ year downturn? From late 2018 until the spring of 2021, manufactured housing was in a modest year-over-year decline. This came after MHI declared “momentum” and the launch of their “new class of manufactured homes” which became their “CrossModTM homes initiative.
- CrossMods have proven to be a marketplace failure, if that is measured by the miniscule actual sales of those units compared to the years of ongoing hype.
- How is it possible that with good federal laws on the books, that the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has failed to sue to get those laws properly enforced? After all, they seem to claim much the same as the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) does – on paper – with respect to the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act (MHIA) of 2000 and enhanced preemption. MHI and MHARR seem to often say something similar on the Duty to Serve (DTS) manufactured housing mandated by Congress in the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008.
- When personalities such as Kevin Clayton, Warren Buffett and others have paid lip service to getting DTS enforced for lower cost home only or “chattel” lending on manufactured homes, are we seriously supposed to believe that they can’t get the law enforced if they wanted to do so? Especially when Doug Ryan with Prosperity Now has publicly accused MHI and Clayton of thwarting enforcement of DTS, because lending is so profitable to Berkshire-owned Clayton’s affiliated lending units?
Buffett video Will Go Here – Keep paltering, head fakes, and posturing in mind.
The video above is from 2003. There is clear evidence that Buffett planned on ‘holding the Clayton finance paper’ after Berkshire bought Clayton Homes. That plan would only work in their moat strategy if more competitive FHA Title 1, or Duty to Serve (DTS) lending from the GSEs were thwarted or limited. As one example, see pages 77-81 of this pro-Berkshire source linked here.
- How is it possible that when MHI – their staff, corporate leaders, and de facto trade publishing and blogging mouthpieces – fail to do the obvious things necessary which their own leaders have often said are necessary or useful to do? How is it possible that they do such counterintuitive things, such as advocating for stances as part of a ‘housing coalition’ that mitigate against the benefits of HUD Code manufactured homes?
There are reams of reports and examples between our two trade media sites that document the stunning difference between manufactured housing potential and performance. This simply can’t be explained as a brief temporary lapse of good judgement, or mistakes made in execution. That is apparent when they have been part of a fact- and evidence-based pattern that has continued for well over a decade.
Marty Lavin, J.D., an MHI award winner signaled some years ago the standard that should be used to measure the behavior of MHI.
Those comments from a longtime MHI member plus the withdrawal of two state association affiliates, saying that MHI was ineffective, should have been enough to signal authentic trade publishers and bloggers that something was seriously awry. Then why the dearth of coverage of negative or ineffective behaviors by MHI and several of its corporate brands respective behaviors?
While MHAction merits credit for documenting several problems among MHI member brands, they have for whatever reason not hammered away at the obvious connection between MHI and these problematic behaviors. When MHAction is quite accurate on specific details with troubling business practices with Impact, RHP, Havenpark, ELS, Sun, and others – then how could the miss the bigger picture that they are all MHI members? Is it because Buffett bucks are part of their funding? Hold that thought.
Additionally, MHAction has failed to press for solutions that go to the root causes of the problems. The thoughts of the late resident-advocate Bob Van Cleef are worth exploring as 2021 draws to a close.
Van Cleef was reportedly involved in MHAction, as well as other resident-advocate groups. He is one of many personalities who died in 2021 that will be missed.
There are several possible takeaways already from the facts that are shown and linked. Among them? Among both manufactured housing professionals, and certainly with some in resident groups, there have been arguably posturing personalities. They may seem to be doing or saying something useful. But when carefully examined, they often fail to produce a bottom line result that benefits those that they claim to advocate on behalf of – which goes to the issue of accountability.
The Maxwell trial is a reminder that turning a blind eye to problematic and illegal behavior can have serious consequences.
The very fact that so much positive has been ignored or downplayed by both supposed manufactured housing professional advocates and manufactured home resident advocates are a warning sign.
From specific professionals and certain resident-advocates, the fact that problematic behavior is often downplayed, or acknowledged without effective follow through, are reasons for concern.
Not much would make this writer personally happier than to see one or more of these talented people do what we have strived to do with MHProNews and MHLivingNews in recent years. Namely, to take the blinders off and look at the often-sobering realities of manufactured housing. To look at the underlying causes of sometimes inspiring but at other times troubling facts.
Objective Reality Checks
The late Zig Ziglar used to say that we all need a checkup from the neck up. Meaning, we must look in the mirror and see how our beliefs line up with our deeds.
Similarly, the Society of Professional Journalists requires publishers to make a public admission to their readers/viewers/listeners when something has been reported incorrectly. If it isn’t easy for some to apologize or to confess an error in private, imagine how much more difficult it is to confess some error(s) in public?
- Then imagine making such an admission more than once, as we have done on MHProNews/MHLivingNews? That’s not said to pat our own backs. Rather, it is to recognize that some helped us to better understand this or that prior misreading of events or facts so that we as trade media could adjust to reality. Much could be summed up like this. The facts on the ground have long been faithfully reported by our platforms, but it was a misreading of the motivations and behaviors of several key players involved at MHI that was erroneous. Something similar could be applied to certain, not all, resident groups.
- With new facts, tips, and hindsight, it is now apparent that 20+ years after the enactment of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA) and it’s so-called “enhanced preemption” feature, it is almost inconceivable that MHI leaders – and by extension, industry trade publishers and bloggers – do not see that MHI is posturing and preening without doing what is necessary to make a law they admit is not being properly enforced into full effect.
- Something similar is necessary for resident leaders to grasp too. For those who understandably push for rent control, for instance, when a pro-resident advocate – Paul Bradley at ROC USA – observed years ago that rent control is not a solution ought to be a wakeup call.
- Additionally, when MHI member Equity LifeStyle Properties (ELS) president and CEO Marguerite Nader says that they have learned how to navigate rent control issues, that too is a warning sign for resident advocates and for white hat independent businesses too.
- Only a robust supply of new homesites and new homes will change the troubling trends in manufactured housing specifically and in the search for more affordable housing in general. This is simply economics 101. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) chief economist has said as much. Lawrence Yun, Ph.D., said the following.
- Yun then advised Scholastica D. “Gay” Cororaton, Certified Business Economist (CBE) to do a research study of manufactured housing. Cororaton’s LinkedIn profile says she is the “Senior Economist & Director of Housing and Commercial Research at National Association of REALTORS®”.
- Reams of such research exists, which MHLivingNews and MHProNews have periodically publicized for some years. It is not possible that MHI, nor a group such as MHAction, are unaware of such often third-party studies. Informed sources tell our trade media that leaders for MHI and various resident-advocacy groups are periodic or even regular readers of our reports. Our reports strive to point out common sense solutions – based on evidence and research – that would be useful for consumers and still profitable for honest businesses. Meaning, at MHI and MHAction (among others), there are apparent disconnects that are fueling the troubled status quo. It is not enough to say someone wants some good outcome. The behavior and advocacy should align with the steps needed to achieve a good outcome.
- For instance. MHAction certainly has an attorney – Liz Voight. They also have a network that they tap into of advocates. Why haven’t they sued to get DTS or the MHIA enforced? Why haven’t they engaged in a campaign that clearly connects the dots between MHI and their predatory brand members?
- That should be briefly explained for newcomers. The Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing made law 13 years ago as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. MHI and key leaders have admitted that the law is not being fully and properly enforced, because financial support for all HUD Code manufactured homes – especially in the case of personal property, home only or “chattel” loans is not being enforced. If MHI wanted those enforced, why didn’t they sign onto a letter to the regulatory of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Specifically, why hasn’t MHI acted legally to get DTS mandated for the Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) of Fannie and Freddie enforced by their regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency?
- By analogy, the difficulties faced by our rivals, especially since one or more may face the possibility of the Upton Sinclair crisis of confronting the loss or reduction of their respective paychecks or earnings.
- Before naming names among MHI connected trade-media, let’s observe that Upton Sinclair only captured part of the truth in his insightful quotation. “It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”
- If someone is in business and must make a public admission of error to their readers, there are risks in both doing whatever is right or not doing whatever is correct. That is a relevant takeaway from Judge Nathan’s jury instructions to the Maxwell jurors.
Against that backdrop, let’s begin with observations and reflections about arguably the least like an authentic trade publisher, but likely the most financially successful duo: Frank Rolfe and Dave Reynolds.
When carefully examined, almost all that Rolfe and Reynolds do could be viewed as self-promotional. Even interviews with successful students or colleagues of theirs amounts to part of their nonstop marketing pitches.
Their pitch, when examined, is a recipe for human misery. Who says? Their own residents, numbers of mainstream media reports, and research reports too.
Rolfe and Reynolds have apparently taken the Buffett moat method to examine and exploit the ‘weaknesses’ in the markets of manufactured home communities. By creating a difficult regulatory and business environment, caused in part by the well-publicized “predatory” behavior of themselves, Havenpark Communities, RHP Properties, and others moral ‘white hat’ independents have experienced the effects of weaponized media, markets, and advocacy. The result is a record number of independents are selling out, often to the very brands that have made such weaponization possible. This is arguably an issue for MHI. But it is also arguably an issue for MHAction, or any others like them.
Others in manufactured home professional media have inadequately addressed or have entirely ignored these evidence-based trends.
When searching for the factors that explain why manufactured housing is underperforming in an affordable housing crisis, it would be entirely correct to explore the role that Frank, Dave, Mobile Home University, Impact Communities, and their various businesses have had in creating a negative perception about manufactured housing. Who says? Among others, by implication, there is Darren Krolewski, who is a titular leader of MHInsider.
But Krolewski – who is aware of the pernicious effects of bad new on the marketplace, has failed to connect the dots – via MHInsider – to those who are an apparent part of that behavior.
Then there is George F. Allen, retired a Marine officer and once a modest community operator. Allen acknowledged on his blogs that MHLivingNews/MHProNews were spotlighting the “predatory” behavior of specific brands by name.
Allen, in fairness, has himself raised such issues.
Which means he is arguably morally – or perhaps legally? – culpable, in the light of the verdict and commentary in the Maxwell case and its implications for manufactured housing.
Kurt Kelley, is perhaps the most moral of the various trade media operators. He has obliquely raised concerns, but has deliberately not connected the dots. He says that he has left that to our platforms and others – presumably meaning MHARR.
Brad Nelms at ManufacturedHomes has bragged about their blog. In fairness, his business produces fine quality videos, websites and other marketing resources. But he has consistently declined to engage on the issues that keep manufactured housing underperforming. As informed sources tell MHProNews, Nelms and others on his team are on our websites – they know the legal and moral issues raised on our platforms. He stated publicly at a social gathering we both attended his umbrage over the periodic statement we publish below.
But hasn’t that quotation above proven to be accurate? If pretty pictures, videos, or 3D tours were the answer to manufactured housing industry growth, then why haven’t his platform, MHVillage, and others failed to robustly raise the production and shipment levels of manufactured housing back to their historic norms?
Facts are what they are. Additionally, there are research reports such as the one by Samuel “Sam” Strommen from Knudson Law.
As a disclosure, when Sam Strommen contacted me about his research into antitrust violations involving manufactured housing, I suggested during the Q&A and related follow ups that he focus on producers and lending. I’m glad he ignored that advice.
Strommen’s thesis is stronger with the manufactured housing communities segment in it.
Additionally, in the light of the Maxwell verdict and other cases linked herein, it must be added that while some so-called bad actors seem to be riding high at the moment, they could at some point in the foreseeable future be staring at several years of life in prison.
Perhaps, hypothetically speaking, people like Rolfe and Reynolds may already have money pre-positioned in offshore accounts and a getaway prepared. Certainly, someone like Warren Buffett, or Kevin Clayton at Clayton Homes could have similar getaway plans, if the long-arm of the law were to begin to more apparently move against his firm.
As bad as they, Bill Gates, Charlie Munger, or others with apparent ties to our profession have arguably behaved when it comes to predatory, harmful and seemingly illegal behavior, there is more than just legal consequences possible. Let’s first note that in the 21st century alone, there is over a baker’s dozen cases of illegal behavior by once seemingly untouchable souls.
One of those matters is also approaching closure in the Theranos case and the long-delayed trail of Elizabeth Holmes. But there is more for personalities involved in the harmful twisting of manufactured housing that Minneapolis Federal Reserve Researchers have documented and raised.
Beyond the secular consequences, the recent death of Bill Matchneer and other manufactured housing figures reminds us we will have a personal judgment day.
The End – Considering Fairy Tale Theology?
Despite the fairy tale style theology that some spin are notions promoted in videos such as “All dogs go to heaven,” or preachers who believe or claim “once saved always saved.” But try to find those words or thoughts explicitly anywhere in Hebrew or Christian Scriptures. Good luck looking for it, because they aren’t there.
Pilgrim’s Progress was a classic tale told by a Protestant (non-Catholic) Christian pastor. It clearly stressed the notion of judgement for those who started down the road of faith but failed to follow it through to its logical conclusion.
The evidence-based case can be made that justice always comes. Sometimes justice comes on earth, as the Maxwell verdict or those other cases linked above and below makes clear.
But the traditional notion of the merciful God is also an image of a just God. Scripture says that God is not mocked. The devil will laugh for all eternity at the torments of those whom he conned or cajoled by one means or another into conning or denying the legitimate rights of others.
As holiday tales like Scrooge and various Charles Dickens-inspired tales like the Grinch that Stole Christmas remind millions, there is a judgement. When faced with that eternal reality, some do repent.
Some may die before they repent, that’s theology and reality 101. Christianity, Judaism, Islam. and other faiths believe in the reality of heaven and hell.
Documented Specific Outreaches to Manufactured Housing Corporate Leaders
The reports with related analysis and commentary stand publicly unchallenged. Additionally, specific messages to MHI leaders and their attorneys that asked for a formal reply to specific allegations have been met with silence. The message below was sent during November. It includes other MHVille trade media in BCCs. It is difficult, therefor, for them to claim they are ignorant. Additionally, trade media should be aware of what is occurring in their profession. So, those trade publishers and bloggers noted herein are doubly responsible for failing to routinely spotlight what has hampered manufactured housing professionals for years. Those same harms are points of concern for millions of current and would-be manufactured home residents too. MHAction has been copied in such messages, as the one below. They too can’t readily claim ‘ignorance’ when they can do good research on other matters. The Maxwell verdict is just one more reason why ‘the blind eye’ defense is not going to work.
This specific email to MHI leaders and their attorneys is one of several such efforts. They certainly have a right to silence in response. But their silence also leaves the allegations that follow publicly unchallenged. Given the examples of several MHI leaders, including some of those below, specifically praising our objective journalism, it is difficult for them to now say that we suddenly have lost our objectivity.
| from: | L. A. Tony Kovach |
| to: | “Hodges, Tom” General Counsel Clayton Homes, “Clayton, Kevin” CEO at Clayton Homes Tim Williams CEO at 21st Mortgage Corp, Eric Hamilton CEO at Vanderbilt Mortgage and Finance (VMF) (these companies are Berkshire Hathaway owned brands), Matt Webb General Counsel at 21st Mortgage Corp. Lesli Gooch, Ph.D. CEO at Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) David Goch – outside attorney, MHI, at WC-B law John Greiner – outside attorney, MHI @ Graydon.law> |
RE: Tom Hodges, Berkshire Hathaway, Clayton Homes, 21st, VMF, Manufactured Housing Institute Leadership, request for comments
Tom, MHI Corporate and staff leadership,
As you may know, Clayton Homes General Counsel and MHI Chairman Thomas “Tom” Hodges has been accused of various acts that include felonies and suborning perjury. Should that claim prove accurate, it is apparent that others involved at Berkshire Hathaway, MHI, and various member brands could also be accused of similar illegalities.
15 U.S. Code § 2 – Monopolizing trade a felony; penalty
Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony, and, on conviction thereof, shall be punished by fine not exceeding $100,000,000 if a corporation, or, if any other person, $1,000,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or by both said punishments, in the discretion of the court.
According to Criminal Defense Attorney: “Federal laws against suborning perjury set the punishment at up to five years in prison, plus fines. States also punish suborning perjury, which is always a felony and will carry the possibility of at least a year in state prison.”
Hodges, and MHI board members have per your own organization’s statements been authorizing MHI’s president and CEO to sign off on the following statement to the IRS, which is made under penalties of perjury.
These 990 statements are made under penalties of perjury.
Such a statement had apparently been signed for years. While I’m not an attorney, where statutes of limitations might apply, “Tolling is a legal doctrine that allows for the pausing or delaying of the running of the period of time set forth by a statute of limitations, such that a lawsuit may potentially be filed even after the statute of limitations has run.” Wikipedia. There are doubtlessly numbers of manufactured housing professionals who have been unaware of what this evidence-based allegations may mean for their business interests. Even more consumers are thus impacted too.
Later, MHI’s 990 read as follows: “THE MANUFACTURED HOUSING INSTITUTE (MHI) IS THE ONLY NATIONAL TRADE ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING ALL SEGMENTS OF THE FACTORY-BUILT HOUSING INDUSTRY MHI MEMBERS INCLUDE HOME BUILDERS, RETAILERS, COMMUNITY OPERATORS, LENDERS, SUPPLIERS AND AFFILIATED STATE ORGANIZATIONS MEMBERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN 85 PERCENT OF THE HOMES PRODUCED EACH YEAR.”
The word “represent” and variations have specific meaning: “represent. v. 1) to act as the agent for another. 2) to act as a client’s attorney.” – per Dictionary.Law.com.”
Additionally, on August 30, 2021, MHI used “the wires” to send out an email that said the following.
“The Manufactured Housing Institute is at the forefront of protecting your business and expanding opportunities.”
Meaning, MHI has repeatedly claimed to be working for the best interests of “all segments” of the industry. The MHI board was recently shown as shown here. Tenenbaum Legal says about nonprofit board member duties: “the ultimate legal responsibility for the actions (and inactions) of the nonprofit rests with the board. (Note that the term “directors” is synonymous with “board members.”)” That includes a “Fiduciary Duty” which that source says: “In short, this means they are required to act reasonably, prudently and in the best interests of the organization, to avoid negligence and fraud, and to avoid conflicts of interest.” There is a Duty of Care and a Duty of Loyalty: “In other words, officers and directors cannot put personal interests above the interests of the nonprofit.”
The evidence-based argument has been advanced that MHI has been acting on behalf of a few insider firms that are often board members. Those insider firms have apparently benefited from a failure to implement existing laws. So, while MHI and their leaders have at various times postured support for full implementation of specific laws or policies, failure to accomplish those stated goals has benefited a few at cost to thousands of firms that Kevin Clayton, on behalf of MHI, said cost thousands of firms to fail.
MHI has over the years raised several important topics. But when carefully examined, what has MHI actually done with respect to those issues that they’ve raised?
In no particular order of importance:
1) Enforcing “enhanced preemption” and other provisions of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000. If MHI is serious about getting that enforced, why hasn’t MHI sued for enforcement? Tiny House Hands Up (THHU) and the Institute for Justice (IJ) did to get their rights enforced. Why not MHI, with all of its legal resources?
2) KevinClayton, on behalf of MHI, said in Congressional testimony that manufactured housing needs more liquidity. Then why hasn’t MHI, Clayton Homes, Berkshire, et al sued to get FHFA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, and Ginnie Mae to make the modifications that MHI claims to want?
3) Department of Energy looming mandate. If MHI et al are serious on this issue, then why did MHI previously ask to have this rule expedited? Will MHI et al file suit to stop this rule that they admit is harmful?
4) MHI has said for some 16 years that there was a need for a national image campaign. Then why is the only noteworthy effort in the last 16 years the apparently failed CrossModTMscheme that paralleled a market decline after it was rolled out? Will MHI stop that obviously failed CrossMods plan, and implement an authentic and effective national marketing campaign?
There are more issues, as you know. But addressing those would be valued and will clarify the concerns of readers, public officials, investors, and others. Should you decided to reply this time, we can in turn publish that response and share it with those reading this inquiry.
You are also welcomed to weigh in on any of the reports that follow.
Thank you.
Tony
L. A. “Tony” Kovach
Managing Member
LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC
DBAs:
MHLivingNews.com | MHProNews.com
…
##
As noted, among those that were in the BCC on that were other manufactured housing trade publishers and bloggers named and linked from the reports above. They can’t readily claim ignorance.
MHProNews made it clear some years ago the obvious. If 3D tech, fancy websites, quality videos, or other promotional items alone were sufficient to raise the fortunes of HUD Code manufactured homes, then why did the industry suffer a 2½ year downturn after MHI announced momentum with their so-called CrossMods scheme?
It is simply not plausible for MHI’s leaders not to be aware of what has gone wrong for HUD Code manufactured homes, especially when their own corporate and association leaders have acknowledged it.
Back to Maxwell Case
Just the News said on 12.30.2021 that: “Big question after Maxwell’s sex trafficking conviction: Who’s next?” While sex-trafficking was the focus, there are other cases that the principle of turning a blind eye are equally relevant. Some pull quotes from that source are useful.
- “Satisfaction with Maxwell’s conviction is tempered by the knowledge that other co-conspirators have yet to be held responsible for their involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s extraordinary criminal enterprise,” former prosecutor Jack Scarola said Wednesday after the Maxwell verdict.
- Epstein died in jail in August 2019 awaiting his trial on sex trafficking charges. And Maxwell, 60, may very well spend the rest of her life there, after being convicted Wednesday on five of six charges of sex trafficking minors who were abused as young as 14.
- After his death, Epstein’s estate established a victims’ compensation fund, which doled out more than $120 million to approximately 150 victims and closed in early 2020. The fund issued payments from low-six figures to more than $1 million. The fund received approximately 225 applicants.
- “Doors closed by Epstein’s death may be opened by the very strong motivation Maxwell now has to unlock every door to which she holds a key,” he [attorney] added.
MHProNews has previously reported that tens of billions of dollars are in funds connected to some of the giants preying upon honest ‘white hat’ manufactured housing industry professionals and innocent manufactured home residents.
With the Maxwell jury trial verdict, some are speculating that the real negotiations are about to get underway between the prosecution and defendant Maxwell’s legal team. Maxwell is rumored to ‘have the goods’ on numerous high-profile personalities. Time will tell if other heads will roll, as her legal team is likely to try to mitigate her possible sentence.
The Maxwell case is just the latest reminder that sometimes the so-called American elites escape justice for years alleged crimes and wrongdoing or even a decade or more. But time and again, the 21st century has demonstrated that previously hailed personalities and their business interests came tumbling down. In the case of Bernie Madoff, the persistent pursuit of justice by “Securities analyst Harry Markopolos and his team of investigators” says the plug for the movie Chasing Madoff “spend 10 years trying to blow the lid off Bernie Madoff’s devastating” illegal business scheme.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is apparent that bad behavior has had only minimal consequences to date. But several developments, such as the Institute for Justice case launched on behalf of Tiny House Hands Up nonprofit, make it clear that MHI and their corporate leaders are operating on a wink-and-a-nod ‘see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil’ type of basis. The Maxwell trial verdict is just the latest reminder that some who were once riding high have later been brought to temporal justice.
As 2021 draws to a close, and 2022 looms, we hope and pray that the horrible consequences that have been documented in MHVille by MHProNews, and which are increasingly being documented for others by this writer and allies via other platforms, will cause justice to be brought to bear against the evil doers in our profession.
Stay tuned for more developments as this platform, and those who support our work here and on MHProNews directly or indirectly, work toward accountability for those who have apparently harmed so many by their alleged predatory and arguably criminal behavior. ##
Postscript: Parts of this article was originally drafted pre-verdict, and was originally planned for publication on MHProNews, specifically on the Masthead editorial blog where a mix of facts and opinions based on the evidence is expected. But the outcome of the case, and its implications, go well beyond Maxwell or its implications for complicit professional ‘enablers.’ This article was therefore modified to include MHAction, which the evidence suggests has clear ties to Buffett and Soros bucks, among others. MHAction, while seemingly working on behalf of residents, has failed to step up with authentic long-term solutions for those they claim to be advocating on behalf of, which arguably makes them a mirror of what has been occurring with MHI.
At some point, a pushback from these problematic actors is to be expected. MHLivingNews and MHProNews have been careful about presenting evidence and appropriately labeled commentary that arguably fits the facts. Indeed, several subtle to the public eye – because they are behind the curtain efforts – forms of pushback by some of the sources named have been occurring for years. The fact that some mainstream and specialized media outlets – see the examples above – have published such factual- and evidence-based reports and commentary in recent months indicates that others have examined the concerns, as were comfortable enough to publish them.
Additionally, the numerous citations and references by Strommen’s legal research at Knudson Law demonstrate several important points. Among them? The evidence and contentions advanced by MHLivingNews, MHProNews stands up to third-party scrutiny. Strommen’s thesis parallels those of MHLivingNews/MHProNews. Furthermore, the evidence from the SEC case against major MHI member, Cavco Industries aligns neatly with Strommen’s and our respective research.
While it is not yet as visible, allegations like those raised by Strommen are known by MHProNews to have been examined by state assistant attorneys general in their respective antitrust divisions. They said they found the evidence compelling. Intricate cases take time to develop, as the Epstein/Maxwell case makes clear. But at some point, either critical mass is achieved, and the justice system can and does act successfully.
We lay out the facts and insights that others are too lazy, agenda-driven, or otherwise uninformed to do. That’s what makes our sister site and this location the runaway leaders for authentic information about affordable housing in general, the politics behind the problems, and manufactured homes specifically. 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, 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 MHLivingNews.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
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