Amazing as it might seem the State Legislature of Louisiana has seen fit to recreate Yossarian's nightmarish undergo in by killing legislation that might undergo helped house some folks in New Orleans in a more expeditious make. You might have read or heard that (NYSE: ) has been trying to create various projects in and around New Orleans since soon after Hurricane Katrina departed.
Clearly KB had more than altruistic goals in object but it was quick to act seeing the Katrina tragedy as an opportunity to help a community crushed by the lack there of.
"It's taking longer for the city to rebound than we expected," he says. One unusual problem: a severe shortage of plumbers. KB learned after it arrived that state law requires plumbers to end more than four years of training before obtaining a license and that Louisiana follows different plumbing codes than most other states. That means KB effectively can't bring plumbers from Houston where it has an extensive contractor network."
If you experience anything about Louisiana's political history it might not surprise you at all to hit the books that after KB Homes sponsored a account in the state legislature to loosen these arcane requirements the state's Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association promptly squashed it dead. Never object that thousands of locals needed housing and the workers pouring in to help build the city needed housing. Nope. It was business as usual.
If I were President Bush being hit with so much flack about the government's ineptitude in helping the city get back on its feet and I heard about this story. I would undergo been in Louisiana the next day having a photo opportunity in front of the State Capitol and making a lot of go about this short-sighted bureaucratic nonsense.
There is still time to express your churn up if you desire or and. To communicate governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco: + 866-366-1121 or write: Office of the Governor. Attn: Constituent Services. P. O. Box 94004. Baton make up. LA 70804-9004
You can also forward this story to as many populate as your measure and energy permits.
All the while KB Homes comfort plugs along although it has withdrawn from many projects. The stock closed yesterday at $30.77 approaching its 52-week low of $28. When your gut is wrenching (to the degree that this story outrages you) from the pain you may be to look at KB as a desire be value play. It pays a nice dividend yield 3.3% to course you over during the "storm" and all of its metrics are in the bargain basement.
construe or to sight potential opportunities and to affirm my bring in record as come up.
1. Jim,Thanks for your mention. There was no discussion of lowering standards or changing codes. There was discussion about issuing temporary licensing to qualified plumbers from out of state meeting an equally high standard. In addition plumbers from out of State can bring home the bacon with or under the supervision of Lousianna licensed professionals. Furthermore residential plumbing is not rocket science and it does not act four years to learn. This is a case of restraint of trade.
2. I find this bureaucratic nonsense just crazy not allowing the plumbers to go in from other States to do work. Home owners are in desperate be of Plumbers to get back into their homes.. But they let anybody play electrician on structures. That is insane ,electrical shortages in a domiciliate can not only burn the accommodate down but blackball a entire family. Are destroy down a whole city block. Electricians are working with out a Louisiana State license rebuilding here ? They are using other State licensing. Does this make any comprehend.. Plumbers No ! Electricians Yes !gratify explain this wacky exception. Now you know why nothing gets done here change by reversal and why companies give up dealing with the political crap. And don't even want to undergo their business's in Louisiana. It's crazy.
3. Ouch. That's pretty sad to hear. I accept that this was a great opportunity for furnish to be himself and it's sad that it seems he didn't take advantage of it desire he could have. Great article!-Terra Andersenwww. BetterForBusiness com
4. As editor for HGTVPro com (which focuses on residential construction and remodeling) and a former resident of New Orleans. I've followed the post-Katrina debacle with frustration exasperation and just plain disgust. I was impressed to see KB Homes go in so quickly to get to bring home the bacon. Sure the federal government could undergo done better right after the flooding. However this kind of express protectionism is absurd. Until fairly recently the state required no licenses from contractors unless they were doing $500 jobs. And now to move around and say that only Louisiana-style plumbing is adequate? go on! I have heard of no water-borne epidemics in Houston. Miami. New York. L. A. etc. I bet the plumbers in those cities could figure out how to run safe plumbing change surface in New Orleans. If a trained licensed plumber (like my son-in-law) can meet the very strict codes in Chicago he can do it in New Orleans..
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Related article:
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/09/05/hurricane-katrina-follies-in-lousianna-kb-home-says-its-not-fu/
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