Exposing New Home Builders

A House Divided part 1 & 2; Americans Rendered Helpless by New Home Building Industry – You or Your Family Could Be Next

Building new homes on top of unstable soil has become a common theme for developers and new home builders, “It’s just your house settling; that’s all. It’s completely normal.” How many times have we all heard that?

Let me say up front that you will be subjected to a 30 second commercial before going on to the intended video. There will also be an unrelated piece at the end of the video – sorry, but that’s CNN for ya.

A house divided part 1 2:40 updated Mon, September 10, 2007

The Bruderman family is living a nightmare as their house is literally sinking into the ground.

 A house divided part 2 4:45 updated Mon, September 10, 2007

New homes built on unstable soil are falling apart and owners have little recourse.

Are you outraged by what you just saw?

Do You want to do something about it?

Then do your part to demand accountablility of the new home building indurstry.

Resources for victimized Nevada homeowners:

Las Vegas Lemonade, HADD, HOBB, NewHomeBuildersNewsBlog, ExposingNewHomeBuilders

Protecting Homeowners from Unscrupulous Attorneys and Inspectors

In Nevada, a homeowner has two options, they may either file a claim with the Nevada State Contractors Board at no charge or they may contact a lawyer and file a Chapter 40.  Chapter 40 was written to protect homeowners with homes that have true defects.  A Chapter 40 done by a reputable attorney should only cost the homeowner $40; all other costs are recouped in court from the builder.  An attorney that is implementing Chapter 40 in this way, which is the way the legislature intended, will NOT take a case they cannot win because they will not be paid.

 

Unfortunately, some attorneys and inspectors have found loopholes in the Chapter 40 contracts that allow them to charge excessive fees for inspections and cancellations. For example,one local attorney will agree to file a Chapter 40 on the homeowner's behalf, but if the homeowner gets the builder to make the repair, decides to pay out of pocket for the repair, or finds out they can get the same services for free from the Nevada State Contractors Board, the homeowner is charged $6,000 to cancel the Chapter 40 with the attorney.

 

Senior citizens can be targets of inspectors who tell homeowners their houses have defects that do not exist and get them to subsequently sign contracts with attorneys.  These attorneys don't care if the houses are really defective because they make their money off the cancellation fee, inspection fee, and any other fee they want to charge.  These attorneys are taking advantage of the Chapter 40  law that was designed to protect homeowners. Chapter 40 is written in such a way that a reputable attorney will charge a $40 upfront fee and all other costs are recouped from the builder.  If an attorney is correctly utilizing Chapter 40 to the homeowner's advantage, the homeowner will only be charged $40. 

 

Las Vegas Lemonade's official statement is:  "We encourage all homeowners to contact their builder regarding problems/defects by certified mail.  If the builder will not make a repair, we encourage all homeowners to utilize the FREE services of the Nevada State Contractors Board first.  The Board will tell a homeowner for FREE if they have true construction defects.  If the Board does not rule in the homeowner's favor, contact the local media and Las Vegas Lemonade."

 

There are several construction defect attorneys in the  Las Vegas area with excellent reputations.  These attorneys will thoroughly inspect your home.  If problems/defects are NOT covered by the Nevada law, these reputable attorneys will NOT take your case because they know you cannot win.  They will advise you to pay out of pocket due to owner negligence and/or the defect is beyond the statue of limitations.  Homeowners may be advised to contact the Nevada State Contractors Board for the FREE services of the Real Estate Recovery Fund.  Further, the best construction defect lawyers in town have way too much business and will tell homeowners upfront that the Nevada State Contractors Board will help them for free; and they may get their house repaired more quickly utilizing the Board instead of a lawsuit.  Lawsuits in Nevada generally take 3 years just to be heard in court for the first time.

Redflags for homeowners to watch out for when selecting an attorney:

The attorney has his own inspector. The attorney discourages the homeowner from using the Nevada State Contractors Board.  They may say the Nevada State Contractors Board does not exist, will not help them, and/or is dishonest and always sides with the builder. The attorney says the Nevada State Contractors Board charges a fee. The homeowner is charged more than $40 for a Chapter 40. The homeowner is asked to pay out of pocket for a home inspection, mold testing, or other services.  If an attorney knows you have a true construction defect and knows the case can be won, the attorney will recoup all of these costs in court. If you are charged excessive upfront fees, an disreputable attorney has filed a Chapter 40 they know they can't win and they are recouping their costs upfront because they know there will be no payment from the builder when it gets to court. Excessive cancellation fees. An attorney agrees to file a Chapter 40 on a homeowner's behalf without coming to the house to physically inspect it.  If an attorney is going to take a case for $40, is planning on winning and thus recouping all other fees in court, shouldn't he want to actually see and inspect the property for himself??

Brought to you by,

Robin Vircsik

Founder, Las Vegas Lemonade

http://lasvegaslemonade.org

We Protect Dreams

 

Know someone with a visible mold problem? Las Vegas Lemonade can now do air sampling at NO CHARGE to needy homeowners.

National New Home Builders Campaign Contributions (Q1 & Q2 ’07)

The Ryland Group, Inc., Ryland Homes (RYL):

LARKIN, TODD S MR. LAS VEGAS NV 89117 $ 4600 RYLAND HOMES/EXECUTIVE MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

LARKIN, TODD S MR. LAS VEGAS NV 89117 $ -2300 RYLAND HOMES/EXECUTIVE MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

 

Lennar Corporation, Lennar Homes (LYN):

EDELMON, MARK B MR. AUSTIN TX 78748 $ 200 LENNAR CORPORATION/FIELD VERIFICATI RON PAUL Q2 2007

JONES, ALAN M MR. MESA AZ 85205 $ 500 LENNAR HOMES/REGIONAL VICE PRESIDEN MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

MARLIN, L C MIAMI FL 33133 $ 2100 LENNAR CORP/ATTORNEY JOHN EDWARDS Q1 2007

MARLIN, LAURENCE C MIAMI FL 33133 $ 4600 LENNAR CORP/ATTORNEY JOHN EDWARDS Q1 2007

MILLER, STUART MIAMI FL 33172 $ 2100 LENNAR HOMES INC.  JOE BIDEN Q1 2007

MILLER, STUART A MR. MIAMI FL 33172 $ 2300 LENNAR CORPORATION/C.E.O.  JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

TOLER, ROBERT MESA AZ 85205 $ 250  LENNAR.COM/AREA MANAGER  JOHN EDWARDS Q2 2007

 

 

Centex Corporation (CTX):

BARTOSH, TIM MR. IRVING TX 75038 $ 1500 CENTEX MORTGAGE/PRESIDENT CHRIS DODD Q1 2007

DOUGLASS, RICHARD MR. SAN CLEMENTE CA 92672 $ 1000 CENTEX HOMES - S.
CALIFORNIA COASTA RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

ELLER, TIMOTHY R MR. DALLAS TX 75254 $ 2100  CENTEX CORPORATION/CHAIRMAN & C.E.O  RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

LANGHORNE, WILLIAM LEESBURG VA 20176 $ 50 CENTEX HOMES  BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

LANGHORNE, WILLIAM LEESBURG VA 20176 $ 100 CENTEX HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

LANGHORNE, WILLIAM LEESBURG VA 20176 $ 100 CENTEX HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

WINGER, ETHAN ARLINGTON TX 76012 $ 250 CENTEX HOMES/SALES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

WINGER, ETHANARLINGTON TX 76012 $ 50 CENTEX HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

WINGER, ETHAN ARLINGTON TX 76012 $ 150 CENTEX HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

 

 D.R. Horton, Inc., (DHI):

MAIER, RICHARD AUSTIN TX 78704 $ 50 D.R. HORTON JOHN EDWARDS Q2 2007

MAIER, RICHARD AUSTIN TX 78704 $ 1000 D.R. HORTON/VICE PRESIDENT JOHN EDWARDS Q2 2007

 

 

 Pulte Homes, Inc., (PHM):

BREUER, CHRISTINA CHICAGO IL 60618 $ 250 PULTE HOMES/SALES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

BREUER, CHRISTINA CHICAGO IL 60618 $ 15.05 PULTE HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

BREUER, CHRISTINA MS CHICAGO IL 60618 $ 100 PULTE HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

ESPIRITU, MARCELO SAN JOSE CA 95129 $ 250 PULTE HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

GEAR, KENNETH T MR. ALEXANDRIA VA 22315 $ 1000 PULTE HOMES. INC. /VP GOVERNMENT AFF RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

JAMES, CUBBY A NORTH LAS VEGAS NV 89084 $ 2100 PULTE HOMES/SALES MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

PRICE, GARRET M ALBUQUERQUE NM 87106 $ 1000 PULTE HOMES/DEVELOPER BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

 

 

 Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc., (HOV):

HOVANIAN, ARA K MR. RED BANK NJ 07701 $ 1000 K. HOVNANIAN COMPANIES/PRESIDENT/C.  MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

MCALISTER, COURTNEY YUBA CITY CA 95993 $ 1000 K. HOVNANIAN HOMES/ATTORNEY MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

MCALISTER, COURTNEY YUBA CITY CA 95993 $ 1000 K. HOVNANIAN HOMES/ATTORNEY MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

 

M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., (MDC):

MIZEL, LARRY A MR. DENVER CO 80237 $ 2300 M.D.C. HOLDINGS/CHAIRMAN RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

MIZEL, LARRY A MR. DENVER CO 80237 $ 2300 M.D.C. HOLDINGS/CHAIRMAN RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

BERNS, STEVEN MR. SHORT   HILLS NJ 07078 $ 2300 M.D.C. PARTNERS INC. /EXECUTIVE RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

 

Meritage Homes Corporation (MTH):

MANDELL, ROBERT A ALTAMONTE SPRINGS FL 32714 $ 2300 MERITAGE HOMES/HOMEBUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

MANDELL, ROBERT A ALTAMONTE SPRINGS FL 32714 $ 2300 MERITAGE HOMES/HOMEBUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

 

 

 Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF):

CASEY, DALE F MR. THOUSAND OAKS CA 91320 $ 1000 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES/DIVISION PRE MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

CLARK GARCIA, WENDY A MS. TUSTIN RANCH CA 92762 $ 1000 STANDARD PACIFIC/ATTORNEY JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

DILLARD, G D JR BELVEDERE CA 94920 $ 2300 STANDARD PACIFIC BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

HALVORSEN, CLAY A MR. CORONADEL MAR CA 92625 $ 250 STANDARD PACIFIC CORPORATION/ATTORN MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

PALMAER, TODD CORONA DEL MAR CA 92625 $ 2100 STANDARD PACIFIC/HOMEBUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

PALMAER, TODD CORONA DEL MAR CA 92625 $ 2000 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

PALMAER, TODD CORONA DEL MAR CA 92625 $ 2000 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

PALMAER, TODD CORONA DEL MAR CA 92625 $ 500 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES/HOMEBUILDER BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

SCARBOROUGH, STEPHEN J MR. IRVINE CA 92603 $ 2300 STANDARD PACIFIC CORPORATION/HOMEBU MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

STOWELL, SCOTT MR. SAN JUAN CAPISTRAN CA 92675 $ 2100 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES/REAL ESTATE MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

THIBODEAUX, KATHRYN M MS. MOUNTAIN VIEW CA 94040 $ 500 STANDARD PACIFIC HOMES/VICE PRESIDE RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

WHEELWRIGHT, MATTHEW S MR. BAKERSFIELD CA 93311 $ 4200 STANDARD PACIFIC/DIRECTOR COMMUNITY MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

WHEELWRIGHT, MATTHEW S MR. BAKERSFIELD CA 93311 $ -2100 STANDARD PACIFIC/DIRECTOR COMMUNITY MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

WHEELWRIGHT, MATTHEW S MR. BAKERSFIELD CA 93311 $ 200 STANDARD PACIFIC/DIRECTOR COMMUNITY MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

 

WCI Communities, Inc., (WCI):

MORFORD, QUENTIN C BRADENTON FL 34202 $ 100 WCI COMMUNITIES, INC.  MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

MORFORD, QUENTIN C BRADENTON FL 34202 $ 50 WCI COMMUNITIES, INC.  MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

 

Levitt Corporation (LEV):

LEVITT, BARBARA E BOCA RATON FL 33432 $ 2100 LEVITT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC/FINAN BILL RICHARDSON Q1 2007

LEVITT, BARBARA E BOCA RATON FL 33432 $ 200 LEVITT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC/FINAN BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

LEVITT, BARBARA E BOCA RATON FL 33429 $ 2300 LEVITT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT/FINANCE BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

LEVITT, ROBERT BOCA RATON FL 33432 $ 500 LEVITT CAPITAL MGMT LLC/CIO BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

WIENER, ELLIOT M DELRAY BEACH FL 33446 $ 2300 LEVITT HOMES/PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON Q2 2007

 
Data: FEC

* Subtractions or negative contribution figures can be attributed to things such as a campaigns reorganization of excessive donations by redistributing the excess dollars into another electoral race or via original donor’s spouse; also can be due to bounced checks.

New Home Builders / Developers Campaign Contributions – Florida (Q1 & Q2‘07)

GRECO, RICHARD J MR. OCOEE FL 34761 $ 500 CELEBRATION HOMES INC/HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

TOLL, BRUCE E MR. MANALAPAN FL 33462 $ 2300 TOLL BROTHERS INC. /HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

REHONIC, JOSEPH P MR. PANAMA CITY FL 32408 $ 250 SELF-EMPLOYED/HOME BUILDER/REAL EST RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

BRANDON, DAVID L MR. OZONA FL 34660 $ 4600 BRANDON CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

BRANDON, DAVID L MR. OZONA FL 34660 $ -2300 BRANDON CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

BRANDON, DAVID L MR. OZONA FL 34660 $ 2300 BRANDON CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

GARDNER, CHRISTOPHER   J MR. WINTER PARK FL 32789 $ 500 CONDELL/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

GRECO, RICHARD J MR. OCOEE FL 34761 $ 350 CELEBRATION HOMES INC/HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

WILLARD, ALAN B MR. PARKLAND FL 33067 $ 1000 SELECT BUILD/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

JENNINGS, TONI MS. ORLANDO FL 32803 $ 500 JACK JENNINGS & SONS/BUILDER MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

PELLEGRINI, LINDA MR. WINDERMERE FL 34786 $ 2000 PELLEGRINI HOMES/HOME BUILDER MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

ROBAYNA, EDUARDO MR. PINECREST FL 33156 $ 2300 FINEST DRYWALL INC. /BUILDER MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

NEAL, PATRICK K MR. BRADENTON FL 34202 $ 2300 NEAL COMMUNITIES/BUILDER MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

ATCHLEY, ALAN L MR. BRADENTON FL 34212 $ 500 PRUETT BUILDERS INC. / HOMEBUILDER MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

CHEEZEM, J. M MR. ST. PETER FL 33704 $ 1000 SELF-EMPLOYED/BUILDER/DEVELOPER MITT ROMNEY Q2 2007

ASBURY, TOM TALLAHASSEE FL 32312 $ 750 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

CAVANAUGH, THOMAS L WINTER   PARK FL 32789 $ 500 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

LOMBARDI, VICTOR A VERO BEACH FL 32963 $ 2300 WATERS EDGE COASTWORKS/BUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

MANDELL, ROBERT A ALTAMONTE SPRINGS FL 32714 $ 2300 MERITAGE HOMES/HOMEBUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

MANDELL, ROBERT A ALTAMONTE SPRINGS FL 32714 $ 2300 MERITAGE HOMES/HOMEBUILDER BARACK OBAMA Q2 2007

TIBBS, JAMES F MAITLAND FL 32751 $ 1000 REY-TIBBS CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

BORGES, ALFREDO MIAMI FL 33149 $ 2300 SBG CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

BORGES, ALFREDO MIAMI FL 33149 $ 1700 SBG CONSTRUCTION/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

ISSA, FRANCIS J CELEBRATION FL 34747 $ 2300 ISSA HOMES INC/HOME BUILDER AND REA HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

ISSA, FRANCIS J CELEBRATION FL 34747 $ 2300 ISSA HOMES INC/HOME BUILDER AND REA HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

MOREHOUSE, DEAN F   PALM BEACH GARDENS FL 33410 $ 1000 MTM-BUILDER/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

SCHMATZ, JOHN FT LAUDERDALE FL 33305 $ 2300 HOLLAND BUILDERS INC/EXECUTIVE HILLARY CLINTON Q2 2007

WINAR, THOMAS MERRITT ISLAND FL 32953 $ 500 SELF/BUILDER/LANDLORD RON PAUL Q2 2007

Data: FEC

* Subtractions or negative contribution figures can be attributed to things such as a campaigns reorganization of excessive donations by redistributing the excess dollars into another electoral race or via original donor’s spouse; also can be due to bounced checks.

 

New Home Builders / Developers Campaign Contributions –Texas (Q1 & Q2‘07)

MARIOTT, LARRY MR. COLLEGE STATION TX 77845 $ 1000 SELF-EMPLOYED/HOME BUILDER JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

DORSEY, J. T MR. HOUSTON TX 77024 $ 500 SELF-EMPLOYED/RESIDENTIAL BUILDER JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

GUTIERREZ, ROBERT MR. SAN ANTONIO TX 78218 $ -2300 ARMADILLO HOMES/HOME BUILDER JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

GUTIERREZ, ROBERT MR. SAN ANTONIO TX 78218 $ 4600 ARMADILLO HOMES/HOME BUILDER JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

FRENCH, RANDY MR. COLLEGE STATION TX 77845 $ 1000 STYLECRAFT BUILDERS INC. /HOMEBUILDE JOHN MCCAIN Q2 2007

MCGINNIS, ALLEN R MR.   SUGAR LAND TX 77479$ 500 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

LEIGH, WILLIAM C MR. THE WOODLANDS TX 77387 $ 1000 SELF EMPLOYED/HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

KENT, J. A MR. HOUSTON TX 77069 $ 2300 FLAIR BUILDERS/BUILDER/DEVELOPER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

DARLING, STEVE P MR. FRISCO TX 75034 $ 2300 DARLING HOMES/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ 4600 DARLING HOMES/HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ -2300 DARLING HOMES/HOME BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q1 2007

DARLING, STEVE P MR. FRISCO TX 75034 $ 2300 DARLING HOMES/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, STEVE P MR. FRISCO TX 75034 $ -2300 DARLING HOMES/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, STEVE P MR. FRISCO TX 75034 $ 2300 DARLING HOMES/BUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ 4600 DARLING HOMES/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ -2300 DARLING HOMES/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ 2300 DARLING HOMES/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ -2300 DARLING HOMES/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DARLING, WILLIAM D MR. MCKINNEY TX 75071 $ 2300 DARLING HOMES/HOMEBUILDER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

KENT, JAMES A MR. HOUSTON TX 77069 $ 2300 FLAIR BUILDERS/BUILDER/DEVELOPER RUDY GIULIANI Q2 2007

DUNN, BILL WIMBERLEY TX 78676 $ 1000 CUSTOM HOME BUILDER SAM BROWNBACK Q2 2007

STONE, RICHARD MR. HOUSTON TX 77056 $ 200 NORTHSTONE BUILDERS/
CONSTRUCTION MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

SIMMONS, J. S MR. WESTLAKE TX 76262 $ 500 SIMMONS ESTATE HOMES/HOMEBUILDER & MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

STONE, RICHARD MR. HOUSTON TX 77056 $ 2100 NORTHSTONE BUILDERS/CONSTRUCTION MITT ROMNEY Q1 2007

MORGAN, BOYD HOUSTON TX 77025 $ 250 SELF EMPLOYED/DEVELOPER-BUILDER JOHN EDWARDS Q2 2007

CURRIE, DAVID SAN ANGELO TX 76905 $ 200 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER JOHN EDWARDS Q2 2007

SUTTER, BRUCE E HOUSTON TX 77098 $ 2300 BUILDERS AUCTION COMPANY/CEO BARACK OBAMA Q1 2007

GARZA, JUAN J LA JOYA TX 78560 $ 500 J BUILDERS/GENERAL CONTRACTOR HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

GARZA, JUAN J LA JOYA TX 78560 $ 1800 J BUILDERS/GENERAL CONTRACTOR HILLARY

CLINTON Q1 2007

GARZA, JUAN J LA JOYA TX 78560 $ 1000 J BUILDERS/GENERAL CONTRACTOR HILLARY

CLINTON Q1 2007

GARZA, RUBEN MCALLEN TX 78504 $ 500 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q1 2007

TAGHDISI, MONSOUR HOUSTON TX 77057 $ 1000 PRESTIGE BUILDERS INC/DEVELOPER HILLARY CLINTON Q2 2007

KASHANI, GUITY HOUSTON TX 77057 $ 500 SELF EMPLOYED/BUILDER HILLARY CLINTON Q2 2007

BOMBACH, CARLOS D EL PASO TX 79912 $ 1150 SARALOBA HOMES LTD/HOME BUILDER BILL RICHARDSON Q1 2007

REYES, MARTHA Y EL   PASO TX 79907 $ 903.79 KING BUILDERS OF EL PASO INC/PRESID BILL RICHARDSON Q1 2007

 REYES, MARTHA Y EL   PASO TX 79907 $ 1000 KING BUILDERS OF EL PASO INC/PRESID BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

VILLARREAL, GENE D MCALLEN TX 78501 $ 1000 SELF-EMPLOYED / CONTRACTOR / BUILDER BILL RICHARDSON Q2 2007

HOLMES, TERRY COPPELL TX 75019 $ 4600 THE HOLMES BUILDERS/HOME BUILDER MIKE HUCKABEE Q2 2007

DESPAIN, JOHN HOUSTON TX 77095 $ 500 SELF-EMPLOYED/HOMEBUILDER MIKE HUCKABEE Q2 2007  

JUBENVLLLE, STEPHEN GREGORY MR. PLANO TX 75074 $ 201 STEPHEN DEAN HOMES INC/HOME BUILDER RON PAUL Q2 2007

Data: FEC

* Subtractions or negative contribution figures can be attributed to things such as a campaigns reorganization of excessive donations by redistributing the excess dollars into another electoral race or via original donor’s spouse; also can be due to other items like bounced checks.

'Shelter In Place’; Developers Boost Profits with Risky, Experimental Tactic of Building Homes in Remote, High Fire Severity Zones Without Being Required to Provide Roads for Evacuation

I thought I had heard everything when Developers began lobbying city councils to build new homes in active flood basins simply because the land was considered “unbuildable” therefore cheap for the developer to acquire. Never mind your family’s safety, “We’re looking at record profits here boys! Do what it takes to bring the city council in line.” And bring them in line they did.

Now, San Diego developers in, CA. are lobbying to implement a ‘Shelter in Place’ policy “to build homes in remote, fire-prone areas where they shouldn't because of inadequate roads.”

What is Shelter in Place?

“Shelter-in-Place (SIP) is a strategy for protection against chemical, biological or radioactive contaminants released into the air (such as a chemical tanker spill). SIP was not intended for protection against fire. SIP has never been tested under actual wildland-urban interface wildfire conditions. It is experimental and not an accepted standard of fire protection.”

In other words, if a wildfire is coming, Police, Firemen, and Emergency Personnel would encourage citizens to stay in their shoddily built homes thereby avoiding an evacuation sure to fail due to the city relieving the developers of any responsibility to provide adequate infrastructure, to include emergency evacuation routes, knowing full well that the city is unable to provide these emergency services.

“‘Any development that has to rely on it [Shelter in Place] shouldn't be approved, because it would be a catastrophe," said Madelyn Buchalter, a vocal opponent of the proposed 2,700-home Stonegate project north of San Marcos.’” She and her husband Ira have set up a website at www.llcfire.com to oppose the ‘Shelter in Place’ proposals.

And why?

“It is apparent that developers in San Diego County have taken over the policy-making role of government. In fact, one look at the ‘technical review panel’ for the new wildfire protection policy reveals developers' consultants, ex-fire personnel now on developers' payrolls and developers themselves. Respected scientific, medical and public health organizations are conspicuously absent. The American Lung Association's position paper condemning Shelter-in-Place was totally ignored.’

The bottom line is all about GREED on the part of new home builders and developers at the expense of your family’s safety; don’t think for a moment that it is otherwise!

You should take action now to hold the new home building industry accountable or prepare for the shock and awe that awaits legions of new homeowners all around the county as shoddy new home builders shady schemes come to fruition at homeowner and taxpayer expense.