CALHOUN, Ga., Apr. 15 /CSRwire/ - The Edison Awards winners were announced today, and Mohawks Air.o hypoallergenic soft flooring took the bronze for the consumer goods home solutions category.

Being recognized with an Edison Award is an honor and one of the highest accolades a company can receive in the name of innovation and business, said Jamie Welborn, vice president of product management. From the time we rolled out our first carpets to today, weve worked hard to develop revolutionary product innovations. Air.o is not only innovative, its also a solution that no one else can offer consumers. Hypoallergenic soft flooring changes how shoppers think about carpet, and we will continue to build on our successful product line.

Air.os unique, unified construction does not absorb any moisture, inhibiting the growth of allergens such as mold, mildew and dust mites. This construction simplifies the installation process and provides 50 percent more airflow when vacuumed, making it easy to clean by releasing more dust, dirt and pet dander. Air.o is also VOC free and latex-free with no new carpet smell.

When we say Air.o provides pure peace of mind for homeowners, we want this to apply to every aspect, including the design front, explained Angela Duke, director of brand marketing. With our 2020 ColorMax intros, consumers will be blown away that they can have soft flooring thats better for their family with incredible color and blended style to uplift their homes aesthetically.

Air.o recently achieved rigorous Declare Red List-free status certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI), as well as a Health Product Declaration (HPD) from the Health Product Declaration Collaborative.

Among the nomination entries comprising the best products, services and businesses in innovation for the year 2020, Air.o was chosen as a winner by a panel of over 3,000 leading business executives from around the world.

After a thorough review, the Edison Awards Judges recognize Air.o as a game-changing innovation standing out among the best new products launched in their category, said Frank Bonafilia, executive director of the Edison Awards.

For more information on Air.o, visitMohawkFlooring.comor speak to your local Mohawk sales representative.

About Mohawk

Mohawk Industries is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawks vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include Mohawk, American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, IVC, Karastan, Marazzi, Pergo, Unilin and Quick-Step. During the past decade, Mohawk has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the worlds largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States.

About the Edison Awards

The Edison Awards is the worlds most revered Innovation Award dedicated to recognizing and honoring the best in innovation and innovators since 1987. For more information about the Edison Awards and a list of past winners, visitwww.edisonawards.com.

# # #

CONTACT

Read more from the original source:
Air.o Wins Edison Award: The Only Hypoallergenic Soft Flooring Available in Market Recognized As Innovation Leader - CSRwire.com

Verizon Fios truck. File photo/Bklyner

Over the past month, internet access has helped New Yorkers maintain a vague semblance of the life we had before we were forced to huddle indefinitely in our own homes, together in our aloneness. Virtual dinner parties and Seders and Skype chats with friends and family have made things feel just the slightest bit less weird, and platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts allow employees to check in with their teams while they work from home. Internet can also be a lifeline for some, allowing people to search for food pantries and coronavirus testing facilities.

Charter is currently offering 60 days of free Spectrum Wi-Fi and broadband access to households with children in K-12 and/or college without an existing broadband subscription. While the company originally denied this service to families with unpaid bills, The City reported, theyve since agreed to waive the bills for New York City families. Optimum, which has also begun offering free service for families with students, has also agreed to waive the bills.

Providers like Verizon have made life difficult for their customers in other ways. Pawel Dlugosz, a former Brooklyn resident whose parents, Jan and Dorota, still live in Greenpoint, said that his parents are living without internet indefinitely due to a mistake on the part of their provider, Verizon Fios.

The company had scheduled a technician to install internet in his parents new apartment, two floors down from the unit where they were previously living. In anticipation of internet being installed in the new apartment, Dlugosz said, the company shut off internet in the old unit a day before the installation was slated to take place, without any notice. Then, they cancelled the appointment with little other than a cursory text message, leaving Jan and Dorota without the ability to email, Skype, or FaceTime their family members, including Dlugosz, who lives in Oakland. The couple were also sharing the account with their neighbors, both of whom work in government, and who rely on internet access for their jobs.

When Dlugosz pursued an explanation for the cancellation, he was told by Verizon that all in-person appointments had been cancelled due to COVID-19. When he asked them to simply turn the internet back on, they informed him that this was impossible because his parents equipment was outdated.

The situation was further compounded by Verizons failure to properly communicate with Dlugosz and his parents, Dlugosz said. Not only did they turn off the internet in the third floor apartment without warning, but they failed to acknowledge the mistake, keeping Dlugosz waiting on the phone for nearly six hours as he attempted to connect with a customer service representative.

Verizon has yet to provide Dlugosz and his parents with any kind of concrete solution, which he finds baffling. How can a major tech corporation not have a contingency plan? he said. All he wants is for Verizon to take ownership of their mistake, and to offer a solution. Theyre just like washing their hands of responsibility, Dlugosz said. The best Verizon has done, he said, is to offer to waive the $99 installation fee when they finally do send technicians out. Dlugosz would prefer that his parents just have their internet turned back on, he said. Self-installation is not an option for his parents, he said, who are not especially tech-savvy and speak limited English.

I just think that depriving internet access to people in their mid-60s for three weeks is just an insane thing, Dlugosz said, referring to the amount of time Verizon told him it may take to begin sending out technicians.

Aviva Sokolow-Shahar, a Park Slope resident who will be moving to Ditmas Park with her husband next week, doesnt expect to have internet anytime soon, either. When she asked Verizon when they could send a technician to install internet in her new apartment, she was told the company wouldnt be sending any technicians out for the foreseeable future. The alternative, self-installation, isnt a possibility in the new apartment, even though the couple are already Verizon customers.

Its a big issue as my husband is a teacher who has to do live classes every day, and we live in a time when its basically impossible to do anything without internet, said Sokolow-Shahar.

Verizon sent the couple a stand-in date for November 2020, and told Sokolow-Shahar that they would be on a priority list when they eventually start sending technicians out. For now, though, Sokolow feels like shes out of options. We dont have a viable solution at the moment, she said.

For Clinton Hill/Bed-Stuy resident Stefanie Lewin, interacting with Verizon was a nightmare. She and her partner moved to the neighborhood from Greenpoint on March 21st, and were scheduled to have their internet installed on March 23rd. Verizon proceeded to cancel and reschedule the appointment multiple times via automated text message, Lewin said, without providing any information or recourse. The couple spent hours trying to reach a representative who could tell them how long they would need to wait for a technician to come, she said. Eventually, after more than two weeks of waiting, they gave up.

The lack of internet made working from home extremely challenging for Lewin and her partner, both of whom work for nonprofits, and they were only able to get their internet back when they switched over to Optimum.

Were not halting all service and repair work, said David Weissman, Communications Manager for Verizon, in an email to Bklyner. To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and keep our employees and customers safe, we are making every attempt to perform work without going into homes or small businesses and are limiting installs.

Weissman did not respond to our follow-up question of why, if Verizon was not halting all service and repair work, customers were having their appointments cancelled without warning, and were not given the ability to reschedule.

Charter also claims to be continuing service visits. Our technicians continue to make select service calls to keep our customers and critical service providers connected during the pandemic, Director of Communications for Charter, John Bonomo, informed us through email. Bonomo noted, however, that technicians first attempt to resolve the issue online or over the phone.

Jenn Flores R, a North Brooklyn Resident, had a fairly smooth experience doing self-installation with Spectrum in the midst of the pandemic. They sent a self install kit and were pretty helpful over the phone when I had issues later after installing, Flores R told us over Facebook. Self install kit was pretty self explanatory and convenient.

See the original post here:
During COVID-19, Internet is a Blessing - Unless You Need Verizon - BKLYNER

The house sits at the edge of the Northmoor Country Club, with views to the golf course (the owners first spotted it while golfing), about 25 miles north of downtown Chicago. It is about a mile and a half southeast of Highland Parks business district. Ravinia, the site of an annual music festival and the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is less than a mile away and has its own commuter rail station.

Size: 4,989 square feet

Price per square foot: $300

Indoors: The architects signature use of brick extends to the floors of the foyer and throughout most of the main level. It covers the large great room, with its two walls of glass and gray (formerly dark brown) ceiling. The sellers installed skylights that were part of the original design, added 16 feet of open steel shelving along one wall and sheathed the brick fireplace in stainless steel plate to lighten the room.

The kitchen was professionally remodeled with white cabinets, smoothly integrated storage (a coffee bar sits behind one wall panel) and stainless steel surfaces and appliances, including a Wolf range. Pocket doors close off the space from the dining room, as needed.

The owners added a wall of shelving to the master bedroom, as well as motorized drapes covering the floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening to a patio and a screened porch. The en suite bathroom was converted from a bedroom and includes two walk-in closets, two vanities, a walk-in shower, a soaking tub overlooking a Zen garden and shower, and a separate toilet room.

One of two main-level guest rooms was turned into an office. Off it is a guest bathroom with a trough sink and a paneled wall that opens to reveal a shower. A closet has been turned into a 400-bottle wine-storage room. The second guest room on this floor is used as a gym; it has hardwood floors, a mirrored wall and a wall of glass opening to the front yard.

The raised basement level has two guest bedrooms and two full bathrooms. Both bedrooms overlook the side yard and one has a private bathroom. The second has pocket doors opening to a tandem room. There is also a laundry room and a walk-in cedar closet, as well as storage and mechanicals rooms.

Outdoor space: The screened porch runs for 31 feet alongside the great room. The exterior rear patio is 56 by 15 feet. Parking is in the original carport next to the main house. The sellers installed snow-melting pavement between the two.

Read more from the original source:
$1.5 Million Homes in Florida, Illinois and California - The New York Times

SPONSORED byFBC Mortgage: This two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow is located at 1623 Canton Street [GMap] in Colonialtown North and is a quick bike ride away from Mills 50 and Audubon Park bars and restaurants.

The 1,182 SF home sits on a corner lot and features original hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, and original classic molding.

The kitchen has a gas stove island, stainless steel appliances, a laundry closet with exterior access to the back porch and garden, and more.

The master is privately located in the rear of the home with double French doors that lead to the back porch and the recently renovated bathroom features tile flooring, new subway tile, and a newly installed vanity.

The asking price is $309,00.

Click HERE for more information and photos or to arrange a tour, or contact Lisa Morgan, Mainframe Real Estate, at 407-738-9784 or [emailprotected]

All photos by Gil Levy, Framed Listings.Instagram @framedlistings

Visit link:
House of the Day: Colonialtown 1930s bungalow asking $309000 - Bungalower

New Jersey needs more space to house and treat patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

As part of his push to ensure those spaces exist, Gov. Phil Murphy directed operators of longterm care facilities to make arrangements to accommodate residents with the coronavirus by creating separate, isolated units were these patients can recover without endangering non-COVID residents.

In less than two weeks, the staff at one South Jersey continuing care community managed to convert a former patient wing that hadnt housed patients in years into a dedicated COVID-19 unit.

Friends Village at Woodstown welcomed its first coronavirus patients to the isolated unit on Wednesday, just 13 days after the renovation project began.

A lot came together in a very short time, acknowledged Gary Morris, director of marketing at Friends Village.

Friends is a retirement community in Salem County that provides all levels of care for seniors, from independent living to assisted living and long-term services on a 30-acre campus.

Workers renovate an old unit at Friends Village at Woodstown to prepare for COVID-19 patients.

This expansion is not intended to take hospital overflow cases, as is being done in a few other nursing homes statewide.

Patients treated here, including current Friends Village residents, will be those discharged from hospitals who are still COVID positive but over their window of worry, so to speak, Morris said. We would get them back up and running.

The new unit can include eight to 12 beds, but that figure is a moving target, Morris said.

Over the years, Friends Village has expanded into different areas of independent living, Morris explained, and new cottages and apartments have been built across the campus. The renovated wing was a residential area decades ago, but hasnt seen patients in about 17 years. Until last month, it was used for storage.

Friends Village knew it had to prepare for the coronavirus and quickly formed a plan to reactivate the area, which needed plenty of renovations.

We looked at that hallway and said we can make it happen, Morris said.

They discussed the idea in late March and had approval from the state Department of Health by April 2. They had bids for roof work that night.

Renovations to the wing included installing an entirely new roof to replace the leaky old one, installing new plumbing and bathroom fixtures, replacing carpeting with vinyl flooring, installing phone lines and WiFi, and giving the whole place a fresh coat of paint. Each single-patient room comes complete with a TV.

The unit is completely blocked off from the rest of the facility, with a separate exterior entrance and a separate drop-off area for ambulances.

We completely rerouted ambulance traffic on campus, Morris said. We tried to manage the flow so we know exactly where every positive patient would be on campus, even from arrival by ambulance.

The units staff of about 20, including three shifts of nurses, aides, physical therapists and maintenance, work in this unit only.

In addition to contractors, the facilitys maintenance staff worked 18-hour days to pull this project together, while other members of the staff pitched in.

It was all hands on deck, Morris said. Personally, I was laying on the floor hooking up hospital beds. The only way to make it happen was to put your titles and roles away. We were just doing everything.

LeeAnne McCauley, director of nursing at Friends Village, posted a message to Facebook praising the teamwork that made this project possible.

Today is my 13th straight at work with most of those days averaging 14+ hours, she wrote. And there are other people who have put even more time in than that. The teamwork that pulled this off is nothing short of spectacular.

Ambulances will be directed to a special drop-off point for COVID-19 patients arriving at the new coronavirus unit opened at Friends Village at Woodstown.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Here is the original post:
It sat empty for 17 years. In 13 days they built new wing for coronavirus patients. - NJ.com

Researchers from the West Pomeranian University of Technology (ZUT) in Poland have produced a study on the automation of 3D printing construction, while also investigating methods of improving the process in regards to the rheological properties of the concrete mix.

Specifically, the study details the application of additive manufacturing technology in the fabrication of a building wall model, in which the door opening was finished with an automated lintel installation.A lintel is a beam placed across openings in buildings like doors, windows etc. to support the load from the structure above.

The objective of the study was to improve the low capacity of 3D printed concrete mixes to transfer loads, which can be particularly troublesome in cases of external components that need to be placed on top such as precast lintels or floor beams during 3D printing construction processes.

Such an investigation, according to the researchers, can prove beneficial in designing larger civil structures using concrete 3D printing technology.

The advantages of construction 3D printing

The study sets out by explaining that developments in construction technology have been focused on speeding up the construction of buildings and structures through automation. A technology at the forefront of this development is additive manufacturing using concrete mixes, which allows the building up of a structure by extruding a concrete mix layer by layer.

Considering that the formwork can constitute to 3554% of total costs of raising concrete structure. The application of additive manufacturing brings measurable profits. Not only does it allow production of structures without the formwork, but it also reduces total production time, costs and labor. The technology also increases the safety of workers on the construction site, produces less waste and uses raw materials with low embodied energy, explain the authors of the study.

Indeed, recently the field of construction 3D printing has seen a number of initiatives and projects unfold which enabled the building of large structures in a short amount of time compared to traditional construction processes. For example SQ4D, an offshoot of the New York-based S-Squared 3D Printers (SQ3D), recently completed construction of a new building, in what it claims is the largest permitted 3D printed home in the world. Spanning 1900 square feet, construction of the 3D printed home reportedly took place over an eight-day period, with a total of 48 hours in print time.

New Story, a non-profit organization fighting homelessness and ICON, a Texas-based construction technologies company, have also begun an initiative seeking to create the worlds first 3D printed community of concrete homes. First announced in 2018, the 3D printed homes are intended to provide low-cost housing for low-income communities in Latin America that adapt to their day-to-day lives. Thus far two houses have now been 3D printed by ICON and New Story in Tabasco; each was completed in around 24 hours of print time and measures 500 sq ft. 3D printing was identified by New Story as a way to provide homes for these families at a faster pace.

Rheological properties of concrete in construction 3D printing

Discussing the additive manufacturing of structures, the ZUT researchers explain in their research the importance of ensuring a correlation between the increase of the load caused by additional printed layers, and the growth of the strength of layers already placed during the process of curing. Explaining further, the authors write: From this point of view, it is important to determine the appropriate extrusion speed, which makes it possible to obtain sufficient strength for each layer by the time the printing head returns to its home position, the layer needs to withstand the load imposed by layer deposited on top. As such, a central challenge in 3D printing is to obtain a mix with desired rheological properties, in order to ensure a proper printing process.

The purpose of the study is to therefore present the additive manufacturing of a scaled down wall model with a door opening, including the automated installation of a lintel. Specifically, the research adjusts the wall design and printing process to account for the rheological and mechanical properties of the fresh concrete, as well as the process of the automated lintel installation.

3D printing set-up. Photo via Materials 2020.The researchers aim to demonstrate that the automated process can be designed with high accuracy, as confirmed by simulation. They constructed the wall at a specially designed site, consisting of a 3D robot connected to a pumping module. The 3D printer and printing head motions were controlled by a G-code, whereas the mix was prepared in a laboratory mixer and transferred to the pump unit, from where it was delivered to the printing head hopper through a hose.

As part of the experiment, a special gripper was built in order to automatically transfer the lintel and install it on the wall in the determined position. The lintel placement via the gripper took place as the 3D printing robot was running, with the printing process recommencing as soon as they were completed. The concrete mix used in the experiments was designed on the basis of ensuring its optimal rheological properties for the 3D printing process. It had a 0.23 water-cement ratio and a density of 2168 kg/m.

After successfully 3D printing the scale model wall, the researchers were able to confirm the possibility of automating the wall construction process in additive manufacturing with the installation of a lintel with a special gripper. It was also proven that the printer can be used for placing precast elements during the whole process of printing. Significantly, the researchers also confirmed that the rheological properties of fresh concrete are of higher significance in 3D printing construction, than in the case of conventional concrete construction, due to the specific process characteristics involved.

Concluding the paper, the researchers state There are currently several experimental projects being carried out at different research centers, investigating the desired mechanical and rheological properties of concrete mixes and their behavior during the printing process. Further research concerning mix properties and 3D printing strategies will result in the development of design and construction procedures, which will ensure the required level of printed construction structural safety.

The paper, Automation in the Construction of a 3D-Printed Concrete Wall with the Use of a Lintel Gripper, is written by Marcin Hoffmann, Szymon Skibicki, Pawe Pankratow, Adam Zieliski, Mirosaw Pajor and Mateusz Techman. It is published in the journal Materials.

The nominations for the 2020 3D Printing Industry Awards are now open. Who do you think should make the shortlists for this years show? Have your say now.

Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also stay connected by following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.

Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.

Featured image shows the steps for printing a wall with a lintel. Photo via Materials 2020.

Read more:
Polish researchers explore automation for 3D printed building - 3D Printing Industry

First came the I-74 bridge construction. Then came the coronavirus pandemic.

MOLINE, Ill. Fans of Bass Street Chop House only have a few days left to get their favorite dishes. The restaurant is closing at the end of the day Saturday, April 18.

"I don't think there's a single business in downtown Moline that's gonna tell you they're not hurting," managing partner Jeff Harrop says.

The Chop House announced Friday on Facebook that they'd be closing after 14 years on River Drive.

"The hardest part of the decision were the employees," Harrop says. "We've worked here together a long time and the employees here made the restaurant."

But the years have taken their toll on the restaurant. Harrop says construction in downtown Moline, then work on the new I-74 bridge kept traffic and people away.

Bass Street was hit again in the past few months having to close the dining room because of the coronavirus. They're still completing carry-out orders until Saturday.

"The coronavirus is not helping anyone," Harrop says. "We're all in the same boat and we certainly had the opportunity to do the PPP loans, but again at the end of that, we still don't have the market we had a few years back."

Looking forward, Harrop says he and his partners will focus on their new restaurant in East Moline: the Combine by the Bend Hotel. That restaurant has been shut down because of the virus but will soon reopen for carry-out in the coming weeks.

Harrop hopes all 31 employees of Bass Stree can move to work at the Combine.

"It's been rewarding for making such a hard decision and having such a positive response from the people in Quad Cities," he says. "It was very nice. They've been very, very positive of the experiences they've had with us and disappointed we'll be leaving."

Harrop says someday he'd reopen a restaurant like the Chop House if the opportunity and market presented itself.

See the original post here:
Bass Street Chop House closing while owner looks to the future - WQAD.com

Tim McLoone, who owns eleven NJ restaurants talks about the impact of Coronavirus ordered closings Asbury Park Press

The circumstances surrounding coronavirus including recent restrictions placed on construction projects are affecting the anticipated spring openings of several restaurants in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Here are updates on five.

The Toms River coffee shop, one of several planned as an extension of an online coffee business with a previous location on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, is under construction in the new Shoppes at Hooper on Hooper Avenue.

Co-owner Drew Adelman originally planned for a mid-April opening but saidwork on the building, as well as at his forthcoming Newark location,is delayed"hopefully not for long." 1922 Hooper Ave.;badabeancawfee.com.

Supporting local: Gannett launches new website to help areasmall businesses hit hard by coronavirus crisis

More: Open a restaurant during a pandemic? These owners did it

Locals were thrilled to hear that this burger spot was relocating to a bigger space, but Burger 25 fans will need to wait a little longer.

Steve Vetter, who owns the restaurant with his wife, Denise, initially planned a May opening for their new location, but Vetter said June is now more likely.

The Frisky Whiskey from Burger 25 is an Angus patty topped with Jack Daniels sauce, caramelized onions, provolone, crispy onions and bacon.(Photo: COURTESY OF BURGER 25)

The current restaurant, which is open for takeout and delivery,is at1611 Route 37.The new location is 199 Route 37; burger25.com.

Restaurant delivery, takeout in Monmouth County:Your guide to what's open, closed and more

Early last week,construction on this restaurant, which is being completely renovated, was "going well and moving in the right direction," said Phil Villapiano, who owns Deal Lake Bar + Co. with Andrea Pappas and Greg Bartz.

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

But the governor's construction order, which was announced April 8, put a stop to the work. "Unfortunately, we will not be able to continue past (April 10)," Villapiano said, adding that work will resume as soon asallowed.601 Main St.; deallakebarco.com.

Last July, Joe Brignoni announced he was opening a sister location to his Roselle Park restaurant in Monmouth County. Since then, he has completely renovated a former nail salon on Asbury Park's Main Street, turning the 3,500-square-foot space into a two-story restaurant.

As of press time, construction was complete and Brignoni was waiting on the installation of equipment. He hopes to open in early May.504 Main St.;joes-rotisseria.com.

Looking for the trusted place to find the best home service providers? Find local pros.

Shortly after the start of the new year, Omer Basatemur announced he would be opening a second location of his Belmar restaurant, a longtime favorite for vegan food, in Asbury Park. Work began in mid-January, and he was planning to open in late February or early March.

More: Ocean County: A guide to restaurants offering pickup and delivery

In early April, he announced via social media that the opening had been delayed:"We couldnt get our doors open before all of the madness began. The city had been closed, and we couldnt obtain our mercantile license.

A dish of fresh vegetables, mashed potatoes and lentil loaf topped with brown gravy at Kaya's Kitchen in Belmar.(Photo: FILE PHOTO)

We hope everyone is well, and we cant wait to start serving up our vegan menus at both locations once this has passed."

The Belmar restaurant,1000 Main St., is open for takeout and delivery. The Asbury Park cafe will open in the Lakehouse Music Academy Building, 619 Lake Ave.; kayaskitchenbelmar.com.

A lifelong Jersey girl, Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey more than 15 years ago. Send restaurant tips tosgriesemer@gannettnj.com and follow @jersey.shore.eats.

Read or Share this story: https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/04/13/coronavirus-nj-restaurants-opening-spring-2020-delayed/2982021001/

Read the rest here:
Coronavirus NJ: Anticipated Monmouth, Ocean spring restaurant openings that will be delayed - Asbury Park Press

BY ASSEMBLYMAN RYAN PETERS

If theres a real-time lesson we can learn from the COVID-19 pandemic and response, its thatone-size-fits-all approaches dont work.

It would be either arrogant or political opportunism to attack leaders who are making decisionson the fly aimed at protecting people against a once-in-a-lifetime viral outbreak. I believe ourpresident and countrys governors are doing the best they can to save lives while trying to avoida recession that will affect millions for years to come.

This cant be an easy tightrope to walk. Thats why I commend Governor Murphys balancing actin seeing New Jersey through our current situation. Credit has to be given where it is due. Thegovernor has faced the media every day, has consistently implemented new strategies and hasmade many hard-but-fair decisions through executive orders.

Although I agree with many of the social distancing guidelines hes put in place, lockdownsarent a zero-sum game. Not every lockdown leads to a loss in economics balanced out by anequal win for the health of citizens.

That brings me to one of the governors more recent lockdowns putting an end to most privateconstruction. I would never criticize Governor Murphy on doing what he thinks will save lives,but as legislators, we must speak out when we feel one of these lockdowns could have a veryminimal or flat positive impact compared to its great negative impact.

A construction site isnt a restaurant where new people are coming in and out of every day. Itsnot a warehouse where hundreds of people work in close quarters. It is not even a regular smalloffice, which would most likely lack the type of PPE needed to be at work in the vicinity of otherpeople. Construction generally involves the same bubble of people working mostly outdoors,making social distancing possible in most circumstances.

Weve spent years regulating the construction industry in New Jersey to protect workers fromvarious airborne substances that could cause damage to them. OSHA and other workplaceregulations in place have led to the existence of PPE at construction sites before PPE was anationally known term.

As a country and a state, we have fought this pandemic from home. It has been a necessaryretreat based on science and the adherence to medical professionals, but at some point wemust advance forward and fight the pandemic head on. Now is not the time to return to normal,but I believe controlled fields like construction are the appropriate places where an offensivestrategy can be implemented.

With that being said, here are some suggestions on how to keep construction open in a safeand responsible way.

Temperature checks: All workers must adhere to temperature checks before startingtheir days. Anything above 99 degrees and that worker is sent home. This is somethingmany countries that are reopening are doing.

Mandatory PPE: all workers must wear masks and gloves throughout their shift something most all construction sites already implement.

Mandatory social distancing: a construction site must change its worker schedules tofollow social distancing rules. If a job cant get done under social distancing guidelines,then it should be shut down.

No congregating during lunch breaks. Workers must eat alone.

Construction is a giant locomotive. Once it slows too much, it is notoriously difficult to get it backand moving in the right direction. I believe these steps are a clear way to keep the train movingin a safe manner that is currently unique to only certain industries.

The game plan is that every non-essential activity should be shut down. But paying the bills isessential. Large engines of the economy are essential. We must only place lockdowns onindustries where the lockdown will have an effect on saving lives. If we can develop offensivestrategies to save lives and keep things chugging along, we shouldnt shy away from it becauseit goes against the current headwinds of the news media.

Construction is uniquely suited for an offensive strategy.

Assemblyman Ryan Peters represents LD8.

(Visited 124 times, 124 visits today)

Read more:
Assemblyman Peters: Construction Should Remain Open. Here's How. - InsiderNJ

The executive chef of Otto Enoteca stands in front of the closed restaurant caused by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)

Editors Note: Introducing TRD Insights, our answer to the industrys unspoken data deficit. With clear and concise analysis, our insights will provide a closer look at the real estate market on a macro and micro level. Stay tuned for whats to come, and in the meantime, please enjoy our first post below!

The job losses across the hospitality and food service world are spilling over into the real estate and construction industries.

A 50 percent drop in accommodation and food services jobs nationwide in the second quarter of 2020 could translate to 3.1 million job losses in those industries and an additional 1.2 million job losses in the broader economy, according to a new report from the St. Louis Federal Reserve. That could lead to the loss of 33,972 and 22,314 jobs in the real estate and construction industries, respectively.

The study, released April 2, used data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to estimate the spillover the impact that events in one sector or industry have on a seemingly unrelated sector or industry. The report did not break down the types of jobs in the real estate and construction sectors that could be impacted.

However, the real estate industry isnt immune to direct job losses stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. This month, some of New York Citys biggest brokerages began laying off and furloughing large chunks of their workforce. Redfin, an outlier in the industry for employing salaried brokers, laid off 41 percent of its agents.

Last weeks jobs report from the BLS showed that the real estate rental and leasing workforce shrank by 3.8 percent in March 2020. Overall, the number of coronavirus-related business shutdowns has sent jobless claims skyrocketing, totaling almost 17 million over the past three weeks, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Read more:
How hospitality job losses will spill over into real estate, construction - The Real Deal