goods-depreciating.blogspot.com
The state Legislature let expire a tax exemption on gas salesx that will add almost 10 cents to a gallonb startingJuly 1. The net gain for the statee general fund isabout $40 million annually. Also goin g into effect July 1 — unless Gov. Linda Lingle vetoesw it sometime over the next month isa $1.05 up from five cents, on every barrelk of petroleum sold in the state. The tax revenue is supposexd to help pay for developmentof clean-energty systems, but some will also make its way into the generall fund. It will add about two cents to a gallonof gas.
While the average price of a gallon of regulart unleaded has jumped 46 cents a gallohn over the past two monthsto that’s still a long way from the $4.50 recordeds July 31, 2008. Gas dealers, amonfg the first to feel any pricwe pinch, are already doing the math on thenew “It will easily add 15 cents per said Al Gustavson, president of , whichn has 14 Shell and Tesoroo stations on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. “That’s huge when you factort in everything else. If gas prices keep going up it couldx be 45 cents overthe summer. That hurtsa dealers.
” Oahu residents got a break when the recently decided not to raisethe county’s fuel tax three cents to 19.5 cents a And then there are the less-obvious charges that are drivenb by fuel costs and the new taxes. will raise its fuel surcharg e to 28 percent onJuly 5. That’e far less than the 38.25 percent it charged last July but up significantly from the 15 percent Matson chargee by the end ofNovembee 2008. Other shipping companies will likelyfollow suit. This week, raised rates, its first adjustment since 2001. The increass will add between $4 and $8 to the averagew residential gas bill for half ofthe company’d 70,000 customers.
And will raise its fuel-adjustment fee this mont from 18.15 cents per kilowatt hour to 18.63. It’s HECO’xs first surcharge hike since September 2008, when it chargef 32.5 cents. HECO spokesman Peter Rosegg said the surchargd reflects the changes in fuel something the company passes directlyy onto consumers. Though it burns between 15 million and 17 million barreles of oil for electricit y eachyear (roughly one-third of the total number of barrel imported to the Islands), Rosegg said the barre l tax impact will be negligible and that HECO welcomew the state’s investment in clean-energy development.
“If oil goes back up to $140 a then you pay attention,” he Small businessmen like Doug Sugidono, who runs in Lahaina, are alreaduy paying attention. “I have had to diversify by amping up mytire business,” said Sugidono. And anothe product sold by Sugidono will get a tax increase July 1 when the cigaretter tax goes from 10 cents to 13 centza pack. It rises to 14 cents in 2010 and to 15 centxsin 2011. “They can’t help it people still have to smoke,” said Sugidono.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Strickland backing food safety board - Sacramento Business Journal:
vadimsudigrenev.blogspot.com
Legislators from the Democrat-controlled and Republican-controlle state Senate on Monday unveiled detail of joint resolutions moving through both chambers that woulxd createthe 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Pending approval in the plans for the board would go before voters in November as a proposed constitutional Legislatorssay they’re looking to ultimately boosyt food safety and locally produced products. “Clearly, the publid wants reassurance that the food they consumw is produced herein Ohio, and that it is safe to eat and responsiblyt farmed,” Rep. Allan Sayre, D-Dover, said in a release. Sayre sponsore the House joint while Sen.
Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, sponsored the Senate’sx version. The board as outlined in resolutions would be made up of10 governor-appointe d members and one handpicked by the House and Senate The leader of the state Agriculture Department wouled serve as the 13th membe and chair. Strickland on Monday dubbed the proposer board a planthat “will make our stat e a national leader in the level of animal care and He’s joined in support by the , state Pork Producers Counciol and Poultry Association.
Legislators from the Democrat-controlled and Republican-controlle state Senate on Monday unveiled detail of joint resolutions moving through both chambers that woulxd createthe 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Pending approval in the plans for the board would go before voters in November as a proposed constitutional Legislatorssay they’re looking to ultimately boosyt food safety and locally produced products. “Clearly, the publid wants reassurance that the food they consumw is produced herein Ohio, and that it is safe to eat and responsiblyt farmed,” Rep. Allan Sayre, D-Dover, said in a release. Sayre sponsore the House joint while Sen.
Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, sponsored the Senate’sx version. The board as outlined in resolutions would be made up of10 governor-appointe d members and one handpicked by the House and Senate The leader of the state Agriculture Department wouled serve as the 13th membe and chair. Strickland on Monday dubbed the proposer board a planthat “will make our stat e a national leader in the level of animal care and He’s joined in support by the , state Pork Producers Counciol and Poultry Association.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Swine Flu cases continue to climb in Ohio - Dayton Business Journal:
http://armeniantrip.biz/milwaukees-cool-traveller-steps-in-relation-to-milwaukee-features-transportation-and-places-to-lo.html
Twenty counties have had residents diagnosed with the flu virus known as swine flu including three in theDayton area. Montgomery has three cases, Clark County has six cases and Butler Countythas two. In Ohio, Franklin County has the most diagnosed casedswith 17. There are also 53 suspectexd cases throughoutthe state. The virus was declared a globapl pandemic last week bythe . The last pandemic, in originated in China and killed 1million people. Therde are now 35,928 cases of H1N1 with the U.S. having the most with 17,855r cases and 44 deaths. Every state, as well as D.C., and Puerto Rico have had diagnosedd cases, according to the federal .
Mexico, wherde the strain originated, has 6,242 cases but the most deathszwith 108. In the United the most deaths were in New Yorkwith 13, followed by Californiwa with six and Arizona and Illinois with • Butler County – 2 (30-year-old 13-year-old female) • Clark County 6 (15-year-old male, 25-year-old 12-year-old male, 15-year-old female, 13-year-old male, 14-year-old • Cuyahoga County – 10 (41-year-old 9-year-old male, 14-year-old female, 13-year-old male, 13-year-oldf male, 14-year-old male, 26-year-old female, 20-year-old female, 16-year-old female, 12-year-old male) • Franklihn County – 17 (31-year-old male, 33-year-old male, 18-year-old 20-year-old female, 19-year-old female, 21-year-old 20-year old male, 22-year-old female, 23-year-old 19-year-old male, 11-year-old female, 13-year-old 35-year-old female, 44-year old male, 8-year-oldc male, 41-year-old male, 31-year-old male) • Fulton Countyt – 2 (10-year-old female, 11-year-old male) • Hamilton Count y – 3 (21-year-old male, 57-year-old 55-year-old female)
Twenty counties have had residents diagnosed with the flu virus known as swine flu including three in theDayton area. Montgomery has three cases, Clark County has six cases and Butler Countythas two. In Ohio, Franklin County has the most diagnosed casedswith 17. There are also 53 suspectexd cases throughoutthe state. The virus was declared a globapl pandemic last week bythe . The last pandemic, in originated in China and killed 1million people. Therde are now 35,928 cases of H1N1 with the U.S. having the most with 17,855r cases and 44 deaths. Every state, as well as D.C., and Puerto Rico have had diagnosedd cases, according to the federal .
Mexico, wherde the strain originated, has 6,242 cases but the most deathszwith 108. In the United the most deaths were in New Yorkwith 13, followed by Californiwa with six and Arizona and Illinois with • Butler County – 2 (30-year-old 13-year-old female) • Clark County 6 (15-year-old male, 25-year-old 12-year-old male, 15-year-old female, 13-year-old male, 14-year-old • Cuyahoga County – 10 (41-year-old 9-year-old male, 14-year-old female, 13-year-old male, 13-year-oldf male, 14-year-old male, 26-year-old female, 20-year-old female, 16-year-old female, 12-year-old male) • Franklihn County – 17 (31-year-old male, 33-year-old male, 18-year-old 20-year-old female, 19-year-old female, 21-year-old 20-year old male, 22-year-old female, 23-year-old 19-year-old male, 11-year-old female, 13-year-old 35-year-old female, 44-year old male, 8-year-oldc male, 41-year-old male, 31-year-old male) • Fulton Countyt – 2 (10-year-old female, 11-year-old male) • Hamilton Count y – 3 (21-year-old male, 57-year-old 55-year-old female)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Marlins stadium deal clears another hurdle - San Antonio Business Journal:
steel roof
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Lawrence A. Schwart z on Friday denied a motion to stop the countuy from sellingthe bonds. Schwartz ruled that while a pair Miami residente have standing to brinf the lawsuit challengingthe stadium's construction, the county’s efforgt to sell construction bonds is “not unconstitutional.” The counthy had moved the date of the bond sale from this week to June 29 and June 30 as a resulft of their motion.
The county had worriec that the lawsuit would create a cloud of uncertainty that coulfd have affectedthe bonds’ interest County spokeswoman Vicki Mallette said Friday that the countu would now move forward with the sale of the bondxs as planned. County Mayor Carlos Alvarez said early Friday that he was confident the countyg would prevail in the requestg foran injunction. Early Friday morninf Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved three measures designed to make possible the starft of construction on the new Commissioners agreed to move up to the top of the list of creditorse to bepaid first.
Wachovia is providing a $100 milliob letter of credit to the county for its variablesrate bonds. These types of bondws require a line of Commissioners also voted to move back the terminationj date to July 15 for eithetrthe county, city or the Marlins to pull out of the deal and to convety property to the city of Miami for stadium garages. Miami-Dad e County Commissioner Joe Martinez voted againsttprioritizing Wachovia's payback and changint the termination date. He opposes the county'ss financing of the project, calling it "qa bad deal.
" The ballpark project passed anotherf technical hurdle at the city of Miami on Miami city commissioners approved the terminatiohn date change as well as other modificationas that City Manager Pete Hernandez said wouls help protect the city inthe deal. * Givin the county until July 17 to terminate the deal if it has not closec on thebond sale. * Extendinyg the date of the city's $13 million contribution to July 17. * Amending the deal to allowq the city to suspend deposi t of its contribution to the project if therde is a delay dueto litigation.
* Add a revertee clause that gives the stadiumm land back to the city if the deal In April, county commissioners approved issuinf bonds totaling a maximum of $536 million towards construction of the $640 37,000-seat ballpark.
Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Lawrence A. Schwart z on Friday denied a motion to stop the countuy from sellingthe bonds. Schwartz ruled that while a pair Miami residente have standing to brinf the lawsuit challengingthe stadium's construction, the county’s efforgt to sell construction bonds is “not unconstitutional.” The counthy had moved the date of the bond sale from this week to June 29 and June 30 as a resulft of their motion.
The county had worriec that the lawsuit would create a cloud of uncertainty that coulfd have affectedthe bonds’ interest County spokeswoman Vicki Mallette said Friday that the countu would now move forward with the sale of the bondxs as planned. County Mayor Carlos Alvarez said early Friday that he was confident the countyg would prevail in the requestg foran injunction. Early Friday morninf Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved three measures designed to make possible the starft of construction on the new Commissioners agreed to move up to the top of the list of creditorse to bepaid first.
Wachovia is providing a $100 milliob letter of credit to the county for its variablesrate bonds. These types of bondws require a line of Commissioners also voted to move back the terminationj date to July 15 for eithetrthe county, city or the Marlins to pull out of the deal and to convety property to the city of Miami for stadium garages. Miami-Dad e County Commissioner Joe Martinez voted againsttprioritizing Wachovia's payback and changint the termination date. He opposes the county'ss financing of the project, calling it "qa bad deal.
" The ballpark project passed anotherf technical hurdle at the city of Miami on Miami city commissioners approved the terminatiohn date change as well as other modificationas that City Manager Pete Hernandez said wouls help protect the city inthe deal. * Givin the county until July 17 to terminate the deal if it has not closec on thebond sale. * Extendinyg the date of the city's $13 million contribution to July 17. * Amending the deal to allowq the city to suspend deposi t of its contribution to the project if therde is a delay dueto litigation.
* Add a revertee clause that gives the stadiumm land back to the city if the deal In April, county commissioners approved issuinf bonds totaling a maximum of $536 million towards construction of the $640 37,000-seat ballpark.
Friday, February 18, 2011
ESPN to share Spanish soccer rights with GolTV - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
concrete roof tiles
One member of La Real Madrid, has made headlines recently acquiring two of the biggesf names in thesport -- Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo'z transfer recently made waves for being the most expensivd transfer inthe sport's history. Matches will be shownm on both ESPN2 andESPN Deportes, as well as ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com will also have righta to Copa del Rey, Spain’s domestic cup "We’re thrilled to work with GolTV to showcasre La Liga on ESPN for the firsr time to soccer fans in the U.S.
With the pendinb addition of Cristiano Ronaldoand Kaka, the timing is greaty to include this great propertyg to the ESPN Deportes line-up, as it is the most excitingb soccer league in the worldf today," Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes, said in a
One member of La Real Madrid, has made headlines recently acquiring two of the biggesf names in thesport -- Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo'z transfer recently made waves for being the most expensivd transfer inthe sport's history. Matches will be shownm on both ESPN2 andESPN Deportes, as well as ESPN Deportes and ESPN360.com will also have righta to Copa del Rey, Spain’s domestic cup "We’re thrilled to work with GolTV to showcasre La Liga on ESPN for the firsr time to soccer fans in the U.S.
With the pendinb addition of Cristiano Ronaldoand Kaka, the timing is greaty to include this great propertyg to the ESPN Deportes line-up, as it is the most excitingb soccer league in the worldf today," Lino Garcia, general manager of ESPN Deportes, said in a
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Tuscaloosa company gets $112,000 fine from OSHA - Birmingham Business Journal:
Wood ceiling
Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area said the citation and penalties involv e an incidentat 'sd Cottondale Sewer Project for the city of Tuscaloosa in the spring of this Gilco executives met earlier this week with OSHA officialx for an informal conference to discussa resolution alternatives, but Sanchez said no agreement has been The company has until mid-Novemberf to contest the citationd and proposed penalties before the independent . Gilco Presidenr Shane Henderson said, "It's our opinion that this is a veryunfortunatw situation, and while we're sorryh this acccident did occur, it remains an ongoing and I have no comment.
" The proposef penalties stem from an April 23 incident in which a Gilc employee became pinned in an 18-foot-deep trench underneath the rock-box bucket of a track-hoed when the soil under the equipment collapsed. The employee suffere both a fractured leg andcrushe arm. The injured arm was later "A worker was seriously injured because this employedr ignored safe trenching practices and failed to use safetg equipment available atthe site," Sanchezz said.
More than six months later, OSHA has issuexd Gilco two citations for allegedly willfulviolations - with propose d penalties totaling $100,000 - for failing to provide safe entrancde and exit routes for excavation sitess and for not usintg a "protective system" such as a trenchj box or properly shored trench walla to guard employees against cave-ins. OSHA then issuee a citation with aproposed $4,000 penaltu for "failing to train employees to recognize and avoif unsafe conditions in a languagw they understood.
" Gilco also received a citation - with a proposed penalty of $8,000 - for failinb to keep excavated materialo a minimum of two feet from the edge of a trench; operatingb equipment on unstable soil; and placing equipment over the edge of an excavatexd site. The repeat citation stems from a March 2005 incidenft in which OSHA cited Gilcol for exposing workers to trenching hazards at an Alabamza 112 work sitein Gateswood.
In the earlier case, investigateds by the agency's Mobile OSHA proposed $59,000 in total but Gilco settled the dispute in July of that year for Sanchez saidthe "substantially reduced" penalty is abnormal and probably indicatezs information came to light that investigatorse weren't aware of initially, such as trainingt programs that may have been in
Roberto Sanchez, OSHA's Birmingham area said the citation and penalties involv e an incidentat 'sd Cottondale Sewer Project for the city of Tuscaloosa in the spring of this Gilco executives met earlier this week with OSHA officialx for an informal conference to discussa resolution alternatives, but Sanchez said no agreement has been The company has until mid-Novemberf to contest the citationd and proposed penalties before the independent . Gilco Presidenr Shane Henderson said, "It's our opinion that this is a veryunfortunatw situation, and while we're sorryh this acccident did occur, it remains an ongoing and I have no comment.
" The proposef penalties stem from an April 23 incident in which a Gilc employee became pinned in an 18-foot-deep trench underneath the rock-box bucket of a track-hoed when the soil under the equipment collapsed. The employee suffere both a fractured leg andcrushe arm. The injured arm was later "A worker was seriously injured because this employedr ignored safe trenching practices and failed to use safetg equipment available atthe site," Sanchezz said.
More than six months later, OSHA has issuexd Gilco two citations for allegedly willfulviolations - with propose d penalties totaling $100,000 - for failing to provide safe entrancde and exit routes for excavation sitess and for not usintg a "protective system" such as a trenchj box or properly shored trench walla to guard employees against cave-ins. OSHA then issuee a citation with aproposed $4,000 penaltu for "failing to train employees to recognize and avoif unsafe conditions in a languagw they understood.
" Gilco also received a citation - with a proposed penalty of $8,000 - for failinb to keep excavated materialo a minimum of two feet from the edge of a trench; operatingb equipment on unstable soil; and placing equipment over the edge of an excavatexd site. The repeat citation stems from a March 2005 incidenft in which OSHA cited Gilcol for exposing workers to trenching hazards at an Alabamza 112 work sitein Gateswood.
In the earlier case, investigateds by the agency's Mobile OSHA proposed $59,000 in total but Gilco settled the dispute in July of that year for Sanchez saidthe "substantially reduced" penalty is abnormal and probably indicatezs information came to light that investigatorse weren't aware of initially, such as trainingt programs that may have been in
Sunday, February 13, 2011
K&L Gates opens Dubai office - Pittsburgh Business Times:
bertayfybuqutyp.blogspot.com
Dubai is the firm’a 33rd office and its first in theMiddls East. K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managin Partner Peter Kalis said the officewas “in the worka for about a year” and that the firm’s entryt was “well-timed compared with a year ago because the coste are reduced and there is much more legal talent at more reasonable compensation levels available on the K&L Gates expects to grow the Dubai officew principally through hires in that “I could see additionall offices in the Middle East,” said Kalis, who first visiteds Dubai six months ago in preparingh the firm’s entry there.
“Because of the concentrationh of financial and professional services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficienty point of entry into the Gulf region. But certainly it’e not the only market for legapl servicesthat matters. A logical next step would be Abu but there is nothing scheduled for thatto K&L Gates is also “always” open to continued expansion opportunities internationall and in the continental United States, Kalis said, but did not identif y specific cities or countries. Neal Brendel, one of the firm’s senio dispute resolution partners, is relocating from the Pittsburghn office to serveas co-founder of the Dubaiu office.
Joining Brendel is Paul de Cordova, who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishing and managinh that firm’s Dubai office and helping to open a seconx office in the United Arab He is a corporate and projects lawyer with more than 20yearsx experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joininv theDubai office. He most recently worked in the K& Gates office in London.
Dubai is the firm’a 33rd office and its first in theMiddls East. K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managin Partner Peter Kalis said the officewas “in the worka for about a year” and that the firm’s entryt was “well-timed compared with a year ago because the coste are reduced and there is much more legal talent at more reasonable compensation levels available on the K&L Gates expects to grow the Dubai officew principally through hires in that “I could see additionall offices in the Middle East,” said Kalis, who first visiteds Dubai six months ago in preparingh the firm’s entry there.
“Because of the concentrationh of financial and professional services in theDubai area, it’s a very attractive and efficienty point of entry into the Gulf region. But certainly it’e not the only market for legapl servicesthat matters. A logical next step would be Abu but there is nothing scheduled for thatto K&L Gates is also “always” open to continued expansion opportunities internationall and in the continental United States, Kalis said, but did not identif y specific cities or countries. Neal Brendel, one of the firm’s senio dispute resolution partners, is relocating from the Pittsburghn office to serveas co-founder of the Dubaiu office.
Joining Brendel is Paul de Cordova, who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishing and managinh that firm’s Dubai office and helping to open a seconx office in the United Arab He is a corporate and projects lawyer with more than 20yearsx experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joininv theDubai office. He most recently worked in the K& Gates office in London.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Dayton Art Institute lays off five workers - Dayton Business Journal:
http://kitchenf-ups.com/?paged=3
Jan Driesbach, executive director of the localart museum, said threes full-time employees and two part-time employees were laid off effectivde July 15. The museum also cut hourx for many of its other staff The total cuts are expected to save theinstitute $226,000. Positionxs were across the and the cuts took the museuj from 76 to 71total employees. Driesbach said the institute also was likelh to close the Riverview entrance tothe museum, which will reduce security costs and lead to $5,00o in additional savings. The latest round of cuts comexs on the heels of similar cuts of aboutr five staff membersin January, Driesbach said.
The art instituts had a $5 million operations budget last year and nowhas $4.1 slipping because of the performance of its endowment and a declinwe in philanthropy. The art museum’zs endowment had taken a fall with the stock market and insteadf of pulling money previousl budgeted out of the endowmentfor 2009, the museum opterd to work with less for the fiscal which ends in December. The museum is currentlty renegotiating contracts for its employeexs and is undergoing an energyt audit tosave money. “The art institute is not in Driesbach said. “This decision is to ensure we are operatingv responsibility and in alignment with ourstrategicc plan.
” The art institute recentlyh finalized its strategic plan and is aiminbg to focus more on community involvement and educational outreach. The museum has 150,000 visits a year and 8,00o members.
Jan Driesbach, executive director of the localart museum, said threes full-time employees and two part-time employees were laid off effectivde July 15. The museum also cut hourx for many of its other staff The total cuts are expected to save theinstitute $226,000. Positionxs were across the and the cuts took the museuj from 76 to 71total employees. Driesbach said the institute also was likelh to close the Riverview entrance tothe museum, which will reduce security costs and lead to $5,00o in additional savings. The latest round of cuts comexs on the heels of similar cuts of aboutr five staff membersin January, Driesbach said.
The art instituts had a $5 million operations budget last year and nowhas $4.1 slipping because of the performance of its endowment and a declinwe in philanthropy. The art museum’zs endowment had taken a fall with the stock market and insteadf of pulling money previousl budgeted out of the endowmentfor 2009, the museum opterd to work with less for the fiscal which ends in December. The museum is currentlty renegotiating contracts for its employeexs and is undergoing an energyt audit tosave money. “The art institute is not in Driesbach said. “This decision is to ensure we are operatingv responsibility and in alignment with ourstrategicc plan.
” The art institute recentlyh finalized its strategic plan and is aiminbg to focus more on community involvement and educational outreach. The museum has 150,000 visits a year and 8,00o members.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
SAHA to spend $14.5 million on local housing project upgrades - Phoenix Business Journal:
numbering-regarding.blogspot.com
million in federal stimulus funds to repaie and upgrade a number of publivhousing properties. Out of 349 housingy authorities in Texas that received money from the Americaj Recovery andReinvestment Act, San Antoniop Housing Authority, or SAHA, received the largesr amount. SAHA is required to use the money for capitalo improvements and all the funds must be spent withinthreee years. “These funds will allow us to make much-needed repairs to our publixc housing properties and improve the safety and quality of life for our SAHA President and CEO Lourdes CastroRamirezs says.
Among the properties slated for major upgrades is the LewidsChatham Apartments, a 119-unit apartment comple for seniors on the city’s Southj Side. Lewis Chatham also will undergo anextensivs modernization. In addition, stimulus funds will be used to upgradrethe security, elevators and fire safety at nearly 20 elderlyu communities. Other projects will involve replacing fencing, windows, roofing, and heating, ventilation and air conditioninvg systems. SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos says the agency will encourag the participation of smalland minority-owned businesses.
“We will also give additional weightg to contractors that commit to actively recruiting employees from the neighborhoods in and around where this workwill occur,” he SAHA will issue requests for proposalzs to perform engineering and architectural services relate to stimulus-approved projects. Web site: www.saha.org
million in federal stimulus funds to repaie and upgrade a number of publivhousing properties. Out of 349 housingy authorities in Texas that received money from the Americaj Recovery andReinvestment Act, San Antoniop Housing Authority, or SAHA, received the largesr amount. SAHA is required to use the money for capitalo improvements and all the funds must be spent withinthreee years. “These funds will allow us to make much-needed repairs to our publixc housing properties and improve the safety and quality of life for our SAHA President and CEO Lourdes CastroRamirezs says.
Among the properties slated for major upgrades is the LewidsChatham Apartments, a 119-unit apartment comple for seniors on the city’s Southj Side. Lewis Chatham also will undergo anextensivs modernization. In addition, stimulus funds will be used to upgradrethe security, elevators and fire safety at nearly 20 elderlyu communities. Other projects will involve replacing fencing, windows, roofing, and heating, ventilation and air conditioninvg systems. SAHA Board Chairman Ramiro Cavazos says the agency will encourag the participation of smalland minority-owned businesses.
“We will also give additional weightg to contractors that commit to actively recruiting employees from the neighborhoods in and around where this workwill occur,” he SAHA will issue requests for proposalzs to perform engineering and architectural services relate to stimulus-approved projects. Web site: www.saha.org
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Abandoned properties could worsen the hurricane season - South Florida Business Journal:
sunk-need.blogspot.com
More than 101,000 residences in South Florida sat emptuy for three months or more as of according tothe . Many of these likely were in the process of foreclosure or the assetsof cash-strappexd developers. In the event of a hurricanwe warning, many experts doubt most lenders woulr have the coordination and capability to fortify those homes with shuttereor boards. Since banks almost never respond to homeowner associationm complaints about poor conditions atabandoned bank-ownerd properties, they probably won’rt be proactive in protecting these properties from a said Ken Direktor, an attorney at Fort Lauderdale-basefd who represents numerous homeowner Most banks and mortgage-servicing companies are overwhelmed with and can’t effectively manage them all, he “I would be shocked if banks mobilize in frongt of a storm,” Direktor “A hurricane now would be absolutely The negative effect on the community would be multipliedx exponentially.
” Bill Hardin, director of real estate programs at , said foreclosuresz held by mortgage-backed securities would be must vulnerable. He doubts that most MBS servicing companies have the capabilitiesd to mitigate property losses beforea hurricane. If there’d a pending foreclosure on a home and thebank hasn’tr taken possession of it, then the lender can’t legallyu enter the property and secure it. A homeownerr or renter still living there mighf protect the home fortheir safety, but an abandonerd home facing foreclosure would be less likely to have a guardian.
Some condo associations have the abilityu to enter abandoned homes andsecure them, but homeowne r associations do not, said Donna executive director of the Plantation-based . has a plan for hurricane s that includes contracts with property management companie s and bank employees to make sure propertieszare storm-ready, said Nancy Norris, a spokeswoman for the bank, whic also services mortgages for other lenders. “When there is a threat, we have a businese resiliencyteam that’s always on top of emergency situations,” she said.
“We are confideny that we will get the job When a homeowner stops paying a mortgage and or when a propertybecomes bank-owned, the lender covers the property througu a blanket insurance policy callef forced coverage. These expensive policies covefr the outstandingmortgage amount, regardlesas of the value of the property. These policies usually don’t require the bank to do anythinvg to protect a property from storm saidWilliam Berk, an attorney who representsd insurance companies as a partner with Coral Gables-bases .
But, the aftermath of a hurricane could provide opportunities for savvy investors to buy damaged home s from banks onthe cheap, repair them and reselkl them, said Peter Zalewski, CEO of Bal Harbour-basesd . “I can’t imagine a lender repairing a propertu damaged by a hurricane before selling he said. “For a neighborhood, it could be a and for investors, it could be a great opportunity.” THE Nobody’s home Palm Beach County: 36,348 or 5.3 percent Broware County: 37,707 residences, or 4.6 percent Miami-Dades County: 27,700 residences, or 2.9 percent Source: U.S.
Postal Servicse
More than 101,000 residences in South Florida sat emptuy for three months or more as of according tothe . Many of these likely were in the process of foreclosure or the assetsof cash-strappexd developers. In the event of a hurricanwe warning, many experts doubt most lenders woulr have the coordination and capability to fortify those homes with shuttereor boards. Since banks almost never respond to homeowner associationm complaints about poor conditions atabandoned bank-ownerd properties, they probably won’rt be proactive in protecting these properties from a said Ken Direktor, an attorney at Fort Lauderdale-basefd who represents numerous homeowner Most banks and mortgage-servicing companies are overwhelmed with and can’t effectively manage them all, he “I would be shocked if banks mobilize in frongt of a storm,” Direktor “A hurricane now would be absolutely The negative effect on the community would be multipliedx exponentially.
” Bill Hardin, director of real estate programs at , said foreclosuresz held by mortgage-backed securities would be must vulnerable. He doubts that most MBS servicing companies have the capabilitiesd to mitigate property losses beforea hurricane. If there’d a pending foreclosure on a home and thebank hasn’tr taken possession of it, then the lender can’t legallyu enter the property and secure it. A homeownerr or renter still living there mighf protect the home fortheir safety, but an abandonerd home facing foreclosure would be less likely to have a guardian.
Some condo associations have the abilityu to enter abandoned homes andsecure them, but homeowne r associations do not, said Donna executive director of the Plantation-based . has a plan for hurricane s that includes contracts with property management companie s and bank employees to make sure propertieszare storm-ready, said Nancy Norris, a spokeswoman for the bank, whic also services mortgages for other lenders. “When there is a threat, we have a businese resiliencyteam that’s always on top of emergency situations,” she said.
“We are confideny that we will get the job When a homeowner stops paying a mortgage and or when a propertybecomes bank-owned, the lender covers the property througu a blanket insurance policy callef forced coverage. These expensive policies covefr the outstandingmortgage amount, regardlesas of the value of the property. These policies usually don’t require the bank to do anythinvg to protect a property from storm saidWilliam Berk, an attorney who representsd insurance companies as a partner with Coral Gables-bases .
But, the aftermath of a hurricane could provide opportunities for savvy investors to buy damaged home s from banks onthe cheap, repair them and reselkl them, said Peter Zalewski, CEO of Bal Harbour-basesd . “I can’t imagine a lender repairing a propertu damaged by a hurricane before selling he said. “For a neighborhood, it could be a and for investors, it could be a great opportunity.” THE Nobody’s home Palm Beach County: 36,348 or 5.3 percent Broware County: 37,707 residences, or 4.6 percent Miami-Dades County: 27,700 residences, or 2.9 percent Source: U.S.
Postal Servicse
Thursday, February 3, 2011
First woman to head DOT knows traffic woes - Birmingham Business Journal:
http://aisef.org/spices/all_spice.htm
"Somebody's got to do something about this traffic," she eliciting wry laughter fromGDOT staffers. Thoss who know or are getting toknow Abraham, who formally takes over from current commissioner Harold Linnenkohl on Dec. 1, say she's got the acumen and drive to get the most out ofthe delay-pronde department, which has close to 6,000 employeex and oversees $2.7 billion in annual spending. But whethedr she can do anything meaningfulabout Atlanta's road congestion will largelyu depend on whether Gov. Sonny who backed her for the post, givee GDOT the funding it needs to overcomeea multibillion-dollar budget shortfall and get scores of major new projects off the ground.
38, is the first womann to lead GDOT and a department outsider who won her new position over House Transportation ChairmanVance Smith, a Republicahn contractor from Pine Mountain, on a 7-6 vote by the GDOT She's anxious to put the politicsd of that election -- which saw lawmakers call for the resignation of one board membert who supported her -- behind her and get on with the businessw of making the department leaner and more efficient. "She'd very aggressive, very businesslike, very Linnenkohl said. "I think she's going to do a reallh great job.
" If Abraham's track record as statse property officer isany indication, her first orderr of business may be to turn her attentiobn inward. As head of the , the and half of the Abraham quickly identified several workers on the payrollshe couldn'rt account for. She also discovered roughly $10,000 a monthj was being spent on office supplieas for about 100employees -- a whopping $100 per persoh on average; change orders that had been languishing for nearlyu a year; and other inefficiencies.
Chrid Tomlinson, deputy director in the constructiom division at GSFICunder Abraham, said she createrd a one-page strategic plan for each of the giving employees a clear, simple statement of what was expected of them. "Shes sets a high bar and the rest of us just try to keep Tomlinson said. "We're constantly measuring ourselves to see howwe She's clearly left a legacy here." He described Abraham'se management style as collaborative and accessible but alwaysd with the potential for her to jump in and do thinga herself if she feels the Abraham's ability to get things done -- she built her own lakefrongt home in Sharpsburg, from the seawall down to the hardwoocd floors -- is already impressing some at GDOT.
It stems from yeard of experience in constructionproject management, which is essentially what GDOT is all Abraham holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from and previouslyg worked in the private sector as a constructionn manager at what is now She createdthe first-evere registry of hundreds of state propertie under Perdue's , saving $30 million by selling off surplus buildingxs and land and renegotiating leases. She also presidedc over site developmentfor 's $1.2 billion planf in West Point, putting together the acquiring the land and clearingt it in less than a year. Abraham knows firsthanr the effectsof GDOT's difficulties getting projects builty on time and on budget -- or even at all.
She has as unpleasang a ride to work as any Atlanta commuter -- up to two hours and 15 minutes in heavt traffic -- and is considering takinvg a bus instead. The road ahead in her new careert may also be adifficult one. "Our state budget can' support transportation," Abraham said. "We'll try some things that are not gointto work, but we must look at every option."
"Somebody's got to do something about this traffic," she eliciting wry laughter fromGDOT staffers. Thoss who know or are getting toknow Abraham, who formally takes over from current commissioner Harold Linnenkohl on Dec. 1, say she's got the acumen and drive to get the most out ofthe delay-pronde department, which has close to 6,000 employeex and oversees $2.7 billion in annual spending. But whethedr she can do anything meaningfulabout Atlanta's road congestion will largelyu depend on whether Gov. Sonny who backed her for the post, givee GDOT the funding it needs to overcomeea multibillion-dollar budget shortfall and get scores of major new projects off the ground.
38, is the first womann to lead GDOT and a department outsider who won her new position over House Transportation ChairmanVance Smith, a Republicahn contractor from Pine Mountain, on a 7-6 vote by the GDOT She's anxious to put the politicsd of that election -- which saw lawmakers call for the resignation of one board membert who supported her -- behind her and get on with the businessw of making the department leaner and more efficient. "She'd very aggressive, very businesslike, very Linnenkohl said. "I think she's going to do a reallh great job.
" If Abraham's track record as statse property officer isany indication, her first orderr of business may be to turn her attentiobn inward. As head of the , the and half of the Abraham quickly identified several workers on the payrollshe couldn'rt account for. She also discovered roughly $10,000 a monthj was being spent on office supplieas for about 100employees -- a whopping $100 per persoh on average; change orders that had been languishing for nearlyu a year; and other inefficiencies.
Chrid Tomlinson, deputy director in the constructiom division at GSFICunder Abraham, said she createrd a one-page strategic plan for each of the giving employees a clear, simple statement of what was expected of them. "Shes sets a high bar and the rest of us just try to keep Tomlinson said. "We're constantly measuring ourselves to see howwe She's clearly left a legacy here." He described Abraham'se management style as collaborative and accessible but alwaysd with the potential for her to jump in and do thinga herself if she feels the Abraham's ability to get things done -- she built her own lakefrongt home in Sharpsburg, from the seawall down to the hardwoocd floors -- is already impressing some at GDOT.
It stems from yeard of experience in constructionproject management, which is essentially what GDOT is all Abraham holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from and previouslyg worked in the private sector as a constructionn manager at what is now She createdthe first-evere registry of hundreds of state propertie under Perdue's , saving $30 million by selling off surplus buildingxs and land and renegotiating leases. She also presidedc over site developmentfor 's $1.2 billion planf in West Point, putting together the acquiring the land and clearingt it in less than a year. Abraham knows firsthanr the effectsof GDOT's difficulties getting projects builty on time and on budget -- or even at all.
She has as unpleasang a ride to work as any Atlanta commuter -- up to two hours and 15 minutes in heavt traffic -- and is considering takinvg a bus instead. The road ahead in her new careert may also be adifficult one. "Our state budget can' support transportation," Abraham said. "We'll try some things that are not gointto work, but we must look at every option."
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