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As he slept, Riverside Mayor Rusty Baileys feet could have touched the aluminum door and his arm could have touched the opposite wall.

Not that he would have let either out of his sleeping bag, when the nighttime temperature had dropped to 42 degrees outside and it was almost as cold inside the uninsulated structure.

But his shelter 8 feet long and 8 feet wide, made mostly of aluminum was much more comfortable than his neighbors tents.

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey reads as he beds down for the night in an 8-by-8 shelter near a homeless shelter in Riverside on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Bailey, who spends three to four nights a week in the 64-square-foot shelter, believes the small units could help solve the citys homeless problem. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey wakes up in an 8-by-8 shelter in the parking lot next to Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey reads before sleeping in an 8-by-8 shelter near a homeless shelter in Riverside on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty spends several nights a week in a small shelter near a Riverside homeless shelter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey prepares to bed down for the night in an 8-by-8 shelter near a Riverside homeless shelter Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey prepares to sleep in a small shelter by a homeless shelter in Riverside on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey reads as he prepares to sleep in a small shelter by a Riverside shelter Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey reads as he beds down for the night in an 8-by-8 shelter by a Riverside homeless shelter Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey reads Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019, before spending the night in an 8-by-8 shelter. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey prepares to spend the night in a small shelter in Riverside on Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey has been spending several nights a week in an 8-by-8 shelter near a homeless shelter in Riverside. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey waves to a passerby as he prepares to spend the night in an 8-by-8 shelter Tuesday night, Dec. 10, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey looks over materials after waking up in a small shelter near the Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, left, talks to people staying at the Path of Life Ministries shelter after waking up in a small shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey prepares to start his day after waking up Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, in a small shelter in the parking lot of Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey starts his day after spending the night in a small shelter in the parking lot of Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey gets ready for his day after waking up in an 8-by-8 shelter near Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey makes a phone call after spending the night in a small shelter next to Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey, right, talks to people staying at the Path of Life Ministries shelter after he spent the night in a small shelter in the parking lot Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey talks to those staying at the Path of Life Ministries shelter after waking up in a small shelter Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey looks over materials after waking up in an 8-by-8 shelter in the parking lot next to Path of Life Ministries homeless shelter in Riverside on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Several nights a week since October 10 to 15 times as of Thursday, Dec. 12 Bailey has spent the night in the shed-like shelter outside the homeless shelter on Hulen Place in Riverside, he said.

His goal is to draw attention to the urgency of the citys homeless crisis and to promote what he sees as one part of the solution shelters like the one hes used as a temporary second home. If 10 of them were put in the parking lot next to the shelter, that could house up to 40 people a step toward the 439 people living without shelter in the city as of a January count.

A longtime crusader on the homeless issue, Bailey wants the City Council to approve similar structures at its Tuesday, Dec. 17, meeting. City officials say that would mean they could be in place by March 2020 about the time the mayor could leave office to lead Path of Life Ministries, which runs the citys shelter although Bailey wants faster action.

The City Council will consider several options to add to the citys 180 shelter beds. Twenty shelters by the company that built Baileys structure, Pallet, would cost $495,680 to start up and $1.3 million for operations, which could come from the Measure Z sales tax that Riverside voters approved or from Californias Homeless Emergency Aid Program. Other possible ways to add beds could cost from $324,000 to $5.4 million, according to a report by Hafsa Kaka, the new head of the citys Office of Homeless Solutions.

Baileys Pallet shelter includes two beds there can be as many as four and a shelf. Its designed to include a heater and air conditioner, though Baileys isnt connected to a power source. It has no bathroom or running water.

Its a dignified, stable structure, he said. Once someone has that, we can address their other needs.

Those who woke up on the street next to Bailey on Wednesday, Dec. 11, said they would have loved to spend the night inside the shed-like building.

This lock is great, because otherwise, people will take your stuff, said Charles Miller, 21, who said hes been living on the street or in the homeless shelter for about a year, since his ex-boyfriend kicked him out of the apartment they had shared. You have a little space to yourself. I miss that.

About every other night, Bailey finishes his official duties, heads home to his family, then about 9 p.m. arrives at his temporary home. Sometimes hes alone, but sometimes he meets until about midnight with a community member.

One of those was the Rev. Steven B. Borst of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Riverside, who offered his churchs financial support.

As I was praying for your well-being and safety tonight, it struck me that if I am concerned about my mayor sleeping on skid row, I should also be concerned with every person sleeping there tonight as well, he wrote in an email to Bailey.

Bailey said that if the council approves, the shelters could be installed on the property of willing property owners within a week or so.

But there are roadblocks that lead city officials to think March is more realistic.

For example, California requires the room that someone lives in to be at least 70 square feet. The Pallet shelter thats available now is 64 square feet.

Bailey understands the idea of the requirement making sure people have quality housing but he says its putting lives at risk.

He gestured at the worn tents outside the shelter where people have been sleeping.

Is this safe? Would we rather someone sleep there than a 64-square-foot shelter thats safe and dignified? he asked. The bureaucracy of it frustrates me Weve got to be mindful of the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

Pallet, the company that produces the shelters, could make 70-square-foot versions for California, spokesman Brandon Bills said.

Were happy to build a 70-square-foot version to comply with California (law), Bills said. Really, the difference were talking about is the timeline for implementation. We have a lot of 64-square-foot units right now and we could be down there next week getting people off the street. If we need to do 70 square feet the lead time goes from 48 hours to maybe a few months.

Bailey wouldnt be happy with that.

Thats months of our neighbors without homes living in the cold and maybe dying in the cold, he said.

The emergency shelters could help, said Casey Jackson, who is serving as interim CEO of Path of Life.

The more housing we have, temporary or permanent, the more we can do, Jackson said.

Kaka said she would carry out whatever plan the City Council favors.

Pallet also makes a 100-square-foot version, which Sacramento is preparing to build if the City Council approves the proposal by that citys mayor, Bills said.

Near the Everett, Washington, headquarters of Pallet, Tacoma bought 40 Pallet shelters in 2017, which cost $260,000. The City Council bought another 18 in July, city spokeswoman Megan Snow said. Tacoma estimates its homeless population to be 436, similar to Riversides.

Also in California, Oakland has installed similar structures called Tuff Shed. Thats another option the council will consider.

They have insulation, Sheetrock, double-pane windows, locking door, roof. Its not aluminum-sided, Oakland spokesman Justin Berton said.

Pallets shelters now have more insulation than the prototype Bailey is using, Bills said. California law requires the homeless be provided heat, so the heating and air conditioning within the shelters would keep the temperature between 70 and 90 degrees, he said.

Eventually, churches and perhaps businesses or even residents could put the shelters on their property, where people could live in them for a short time. The time limit, as well as limits on where they could be installed, would need to be approved by the City Council.

Some residents who oppose the citys general approach to homelessness say the move seems more likely to hurt residents.

Lets say the business next to you decides to put one of these in, said Kim Lindsey, co-founder of a group called Riverside Strong that wants a more law enforcement-focused approach to problems caused by vagrant people. The vagrants can still cause problems for you, especially if theyre not going to have a shower or bathroom.

The nonprofits board chose Bailey to become its CEO when he leaves office, which could be after the March primary or after the November general election if none of the candidates for mayor receives a majority of the vote.

Pallet originally designed the structures with a bathroom and kitchen, then hired formerly homeless employees who advised against that, Bills said.

They said, If I had all of that when I was homeless, I wouldnt have felt a need to leave, he said. Our goal is to get people out of homelessness, so we redesigned them.

Pallets website states the 8-by-8 shelters start at $4,500, though a bulk discount is available for cities or nonprofits that buy more. The higher cost for Riverside includes the need to straighten out the parking lot next to the homeless shelter.

Videos show Pallet structures being assembled in 20 minutes, though Bailey who was working at night said he took two hours.

Its like IKEA furniture, Bills said. The first one, you might not know what to do, but after a few you could do it in no time. With Riverside, weve offered to help set them up.

Meanwhile, other efforts from enforcing the law when people are caught breaking it to building more affordable housing continue, Bailey said.

The morning he met Miller, the 21-year-old homeless man, he called Rainbow Marler, the director of a Riverside shelter for homeless people aged 18 to 24.

By that night, Bailey said, Miller was staying in the shelter.

Originally posted here:
Why Riversides mayor is sleeping in an 8-by-8 metal shed to help the homeless - Press-Enterprise

LUBBOCK, Texas On Tuesday, the Lubbock City Council will vote to possibly remove a personal hardship exception to the zoning codes.

Currently there is an exception to Permit the use of mobile homes or travel trailers for dwelling purposes in any zoning district in cases of extreme personal hardship.

Public records said, city staff learned in recent months the requirement for extreme personal hardship has been overlooked.

Approvals have become more frequent, without evidence of an extreme personal hardship, public records said. Therefore, staff received direction from the City Council to propose an amendment to remove this provision from the Zoning Code.

If approved on Tuesday for the second and final reading, the use of mobile homes and travel trailers for personal hardship will be stopped. At that point, they can only be used when they meet zoning codes.

Read more from the original source:

Council considers killing personal hardship exception for mobile homes and travel trailers - KLBK | KAMC | EverythingLubbock.com

ALEXANDRIA, La. A swarm of tornadoes and other storms that left a trail of destruction across the Southeast killed four people, injured at least a dozen more and left victims to bundle up against the cold as they picked through pieces of their homes on Tuesday.

The death toll rose to four after heavy overnight rains caused flooding in Greenup County, Kentucky. Water rescue crews were called in about 8 a.m. Tuesday to aid two people, and at least one of them died, Kentucky State Police Trooper Bobby King said. He said crews were still trying to rescue another person.

National Weather Service teams confirmed at least 18 tornado paths: nine in Mississippi, six in Alabama and three in Louisiana. The number could rise since teams were still surveying damage.

Col. Bryan Olier, chief of staff at the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, told a news conference that at least 25 counties were affected, 150 homes reported damaged or destroyed and about a dozen people injured.

"We had a storm front that went ... from the southwest corner of the state to almost central some 60 to 80 miles (100 to 130 kilometers)," Gov. Phil Bryant said.

The Storm Prediction Center logged more than three dozen reports of storm damage from east Texas to Georgia.

"The cat flew," said Tonia Tyler of Pineville, Louisiana. "It picked the cat up, and the cat flew my cat it flew across the yard. And I knew right there, I said 'Oh God, we're not going to make it.'"

In north Alabama, Lawrence County Coroner Scott Norwood said the bodies of Justin Chase Godsey, 35, and Keisha LeAnn Cross Godsey, 34, were found more than 200 yards (183 meters) from their home, the Decatur Daily reported. The couple's elementary-school-age son was hospitalized.

Betty Patin, 59, died when an apparent tornado struck her home in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, said Chief Deputy Calvin Turner.

The toll could have been worse.

Workers at Hope Baptist Christian Academy in Alexandria got children under pews in the church sanctuary before a twister ripped the roof off the building, said Gov. John Bel Edwards. A worker clung to a beam in a maintenance barn to avoid being hurled into the storm.

"I'm just thankful that we're looking at buildings and cars and travel trailers and mobile homes that have been destroyed here and not lives," Edwards said during a news conference in Alexandria. He said about 100 homes were damaged, about half of them either very severely damaged or "practically destroyed."

Survey teams were working Tuesday to determine whether the 63-mile (101-kilometer) northeast track to Alexandria was continuous or intermittent, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Some cities opened warming shelters as a cold front collided with warmer air over northern Gulf Coast states and sent temperatures plunging.

Overnight lows Tuesday were predicted to dip below freezing, putting pressure on utility crews to restore power to more than 15,000 homes and businesses left in the dark in the region.

Three people were injured, at least one of them seriously, by an apparent tornado that hit Amite County, Mississippi, Monday afternoon, county emergency director Grant McCurley said.

Some houses were destroyed and others severely damaged, he said, with damage spread across the county on the southeast Louisiana state line.

Four counties eastward, seven women received minor injuries when their group home in Sumrall, Mississippi was heavily damaged, officials said.

In Guntown, Mississippi, near Tupelo and about 260 miles (420 kilometers) north-northeast of Amite County, a tornado destroyed a church and damaged dozens of homes.

Brad Poyner and his son rode out that twister in a bedroom closet. "You heard like a cannon going off in your ears and then we walked out and it was calm," Poynor told the Daily Journal.

However, the tornado assessed by the National Weather Service as an EF2 twister with 115-mph (185-kph) winds had ripped off the roof over Poyner's living room. Soggy pink insulation and drywall covered the floor Tuesday.

It was among at least 60 to 75 homes damaged in Lee County, with assessments still going on, officials said.

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4 dead, several injured across South in outbreak of twisters - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Worthington rental housing code requires rental housing owners to schedule an inspection with the housing inspector every two years. Compliance with this ordinance is a criterion for obtaining a rental housing operating license.

Court documents stated that Gutierrez-Morales was due for inspection of units 29 and 62 at Sungold Heights in 2016, but has not responded to the numerous attempts by the city to schedule said inspections.

At the Monday hearing, Fifth Judicial District Judge Gordon Moore explained to Gutierrez-Morales, through an interpreter, the reasons for the legal action against him.

Gutierrez-Morales alleged that although his name is listed as the mobile homes' owner, "the trailers are not really mine." He said that he had allowed the true owners to use his name because they were unable to use their own.

Assistant City Attorney Jeffrey Flynn noted that this technicality is "wholly beside the point," as property tax statements show that Gutierrez-Morales is the owner.

"He has the responsibility as the registered landlord with the city of Worthington to permit inspection," Flynn said.

Gutierrez-Morales also claimed he was under the impression that the city had been inspecting the property annually without any action on his part. Moore explained that the city cannot enter a housing unit without permission from the owner, which is why it's the owner's responsibility to schedule a biannual inspection.

Flynn argued that the process of inspection "isn't a totally foreign concept to (Gutierrez-Morales)," as he completed the required inspection in 2014 and was awarded Certificates of Compliance for both units at that time.

Gutierrez-Morales received "no less than eight requests" to schedule an inspection, Flynn said all of which were printed in both English and Spanish.

"There has been absolutely no response," Flynn noted, which the city sees as a refusal to comply with the requirement to allow inspection.

Gutierrez-Morales admitted that he had received the letters at his home in Rushmore.

"The truth is, I do not read them," he said, telling the court he had believed the letters to be fraudulent. Moore advised Gutierrez-Morales to pay attention to mail that has the city of Worthington's letterhead printed on it.

"The city has both the legal and moral responsibility to inspect these premises," Flynn said, explaining that if a tragedy were to occur onsite as a result of a building code violation, the city could be considered liable if it doesn't enforce the rental housing ordinance.

The city of Worthington is asking Gutierrez-Morales to do exactly the same thing required of every other rental housing owner in the city, Flynn added.

"We want (Gutierrez-Morales) to know that the city is serious about this," he said.

Gutierrez-Morales agreed to allow the city building inspector to inspect units 29 and 62, scheduling appointments immediately following the hearing, before leaving the courthouse.

Although Gutierrez-Morales was amenable to the city's request, Flynn asked that the court order be filed anyway. In the event that Gutierrez-Morales does not keep the inspection appointments, he will be brought before the court again and held in contempt.

Read more here:

City takes landlord to court over rental housing code violation | The Globe - The Globe

Apple's HomePod (left) displayed next to the Google Home and Amazon Echo devices. Apple's entry into the smart home device market was "late to the game and mispriced," says Wedbush Securities managing director Dan Ives.

The Washington Post | Getty Images

Amazon, Google, Apple and the Zigbee Alliance on Wednesday announced a rare partnership that's focused on making smart homes easier for everyone.

Amazon, Google and Apple are all competing for people to buy products that work with their in home-systems and are still trying to build a solution that's simple for everyone to use. But the competition itself has created a really confusing landscape for consumers and manufacturers of smart home products.

According to September figures from IDC, the "worldwide market for smart home devices is expected to grow 23.5% year over year in 2019 to nearly 815 million device shipments." That figure is expected to grow to 1.39 billion devices in 2023. For that to happen, and for consumers to keep their sanity, consumers are going to need some sort of standard that gets everything talking to one another.

That's why companies that typically compete against one another are teaming up.

Today, you might walk into a store and buy a smart lock for your home. But you'd have to figure out if you need to buy a lock that works with Amazon Echo (which uses various standards including Zigbee), Google Home or Apple HomeKit.

This same headache extends to the companies that build smart devices. They need to decide from the outset if they want to support various connectivity methods used by Amazon, Apple or Google and, if they do, they need to continue updating the device throughout its life so it's secure across all platforms.

The new standard aims to fix those problems.

It's called "Project Connected Home over IP" and it will work to create a new standard for the smart home so that people can buy products knowing that they'll work with the systems they have at home, and that they're secure. A logo on gadget boxes will let customers know if it's built and supported by Project Connected Home over IP or not.

"The project is built around a shared belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use," the companies said in a press release. "By building upon Internet Protocol (IP), the project aims to enable communication across smart home devices, mobile apps and cloud services and to define a specific set of IP-based networking technologies for device certification."

Zigbee Alliance companies that are already creating products will also contribute. They include, among others, Samsung SmartThings, Schneider Electric, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), IKEA, NXP Semiconductors and Resideo.

The group will focus first on physical safety smart home devices, such as smoke alarms and CO sensors, smart doors and locks, security systems, electrical plugs, window shades and HVAC controls before expanding into other types of devices and commercial solutions.

The group is working to release a draft specification and preliminary open source materials late next year. It's unclear when the first products will be on the market.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect Project Connected Home over IP will support CO sensors.

Read more:

Apple, Google and Amazon are cooperating to make your home gadgets talk to each other - CNBC

An empty lot stands where a mobile home resident moved away once residents were notified that their lot rent would increase at the Golfview Mobile Home Park in North Liberty Tuesday, June 11, 2019. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

Proposed protections for residents of Iowa manufactured housing parks are back on the table in Des Moines.

And those protections couldnt be passed into law soon enough, several park residents shared Saturday. They shared struggles about making ends meet after out-of-state companies bought their communities and hiked lot rents up to 69 percent.

At least 85 residents, affordable housing advocates and local elected officials packed a public hearing Saturday afternoon at the state Capitol. Aides dragged folding chairs into the chamber to accommodate the crowd.

Spearheaded by state Sen. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, the hearing allowed attendees to weigh in on the need for reform. More than 18 people spoke.

Jean Parker, a 33-year resident of Golfview Mobile Home Park in North Liberty, said her lot rent increased 58 percent this spring, after Orem, Utah-based Havenpark Capital bought the community.

Under new management and their lease, theres a tone suggesting any infractions can lead to eviction, said Parker, who is retired. She now must seek permission to grow tomatoes on her property, she said.

These people do not consider eviction as a nuisance, they consider it as an opportunity, because if I cant move my trailer and if I cant live in my trailer, it is abandoned and they can take possession of it, Parker said. Havenpark has said that what they do is legal. I hope you (lawmakers) take that as a challenge, because otherwise, youre going to be allowing them to take us to the cleaners.

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Numerous other attendees hailed from Dubuque, where Cedaredge, Colo.-based Impact Communities, also known as RV Horizons, bought the Table Mound Mobile Home Park about two years ago and raised rent and utility fees.

Brett Shaw, a Dubuque City Council member, said Iowas inadequate and exploitable laws governing manufactured housing create a situation ripe for predators.

Of the so-called mobile homes, Shaw said, Not only is it often impossible to move them, but these homeowners have a vested financial interest in doing everything possible, including paying unreasonable rents and fees, in order to keep their possessions.

The hearing Saturday also highlighted blind spots in Iowas landlord-tenant laws governing the manufactured housing communities.

Unlike with Iowa apartment renters, the states manufactured housing owners are not automatically refunded security deposits or prepaid rent after leases are terminated, said Ben Bellus, assistant state attorney general.

Owners of manufactured houses also cant seek damages from landlords who knowingly include illegal provisions in leases, Bellus said.

Some attendees representing the manufactured housing industry asked state lawmakers to exercise caution.

Rather than pushing legislation that paints the entire industry with a gigantic brush, said Troy Hames, of Cedar Rapids-based Hames Homes, lawmakers should look at the whole picture.

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Ninety-nine percent of us in the state are good owner-operators, Hames said. If I could, Id buy Table Mound mobile home community and the rest of your communities. I feel your pain. Youre being mistreated.

Lawmakers also ought to take into consideration the fiscal realities of owning a manufactured housing community, said Jodie McDougal, an attorney representing the Iowa Manufactured Housing Association, of which she said both Havenpark and Impact Communities are active members.

I think its really important that we have all the information on all of the realities so that we can do what I think everyone wants, which is to maintain a good source of affordable housing thats needed in Iowa, McDougal said. In particular, we dont want these homes, these communities to go to developers who are going to take it away and close it down and turn it into apartment complexes or commercial.

Not all residents were persuaded. The crowd applauded one woman who questioned the rent-raising companies, How do you sleep at night?

The Iowa Senate this spring unanimously advanced a bill to require owners of manufactured housing parks to give residents a 180-day notice of rent increases, rather than the current 60 days. The measure failed to make it through the state House, however, before the session closed.

Across 80 of Iowas 99 counties, there are at least 550 manufactured housing communities, encompassing 35,443 units, according to the Iowa State Association of Counties.

Of those communities, 414 were owned by in-state entities. The remaining 136 were owned out of state, including what Wahls said were 38 acquired since 2018.

It is my deep hope that the mom-and-pop operators in this state who have for a long time done the right thing ... will continue to make affordable housing an option for Iowa residents and that they will join us in fighting back against rent gouging from greedy out-of-state companies that dont see Iowans, they see dollar signs, said Wahls.

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The state senator later added, We deserve better than what is happening right now. Period.

Comments: (319) 398-8366; thomas.friestad@thegazette.com

Read more from the original source:

Iowa Legislature called to reform 'inadequate and exploitable' manufactured housing laws - The Gazette

As an electrician, conduit is going to be a constant companion in your career. But what exactly is electrical conduit and what are the main types of electrical conduit? Well help you answer those questions in this edition of Training the Apprentice.

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In general, conduit is a channel or pathway that can apply to many different areas. Roadways can be traffic conduits, ditches can be conduits for water, websites are a conduit for information.

When were talking about electrical conduit, were talking about the physical pathways you create in order to run wiring in a building. They serve to guide and protect wiring.

There are several different types of conduit you may use over the course of your career, and youll find specific details of how and when to use it in the National Electrical Code and other state and local building codes.

The basic idea is that youll create a logical pathway from the box to every point in the building that requires electricity in a way that is almost completely hidden once the walls and ceilings are in place. There may be some conduit that remains visible on the exterior of buildings, in open ceiling structures, electrical rooms, and others.

Once you install the electrical conduit paths, you pull wire through them to your termination points.

Price: $41.98

Was: $42.98

Youll hear several acronyms tossed around when youre talking about types of electrical conduit along with terms like rigid and flexible. Heres a breakdown of the most common types of electrical conduit.

RMC stands for rigid metal conduit. Its one of the most heavy-duty types of electrical conduit and uses galvanized steel for its construction. As an outdoor-friendly conduit, it provides outstanding protection from environmental and physical damage. Its also capable of providing structural support for boxes, cables, and other electrical equipment.

Intermediate metal conduit (IMC) is a toned-down version of RMC thats thinner and lighter. Even though its not as thick, its typically approved for all of the same applications as RMC. Given the choice between the two, our electricians prefer IMC simply because its lighter weight makes it much easier to deal with.

Around our Pro team, EMT is the most common term thrown around when were talking about types of electrical conduit. Some of the new guys and gals use it as a catch-all term for all metal conduit, but thats not actually correct.

EMT stands for electrical metallic tubing and is a type of rigid metal conduit. You normally see it made from galvanized steel and it also shows up as aluminum in some cases.

As a thinner metal tube, its easy to bend and kink. When youre installing EMT, you use a conduit bender to make your bends without kinking and a compact or 12V reciprocating saw with a high TPI blade is all you need to cut it.

Way back before most of us were born (the early 1900s), Harry Greenfield invented a flexible metal conduit (FMC). Using steel or aluminum for construction, it has a distinct spiral look to it that allows it to flex over short distances much easier than EMT. It has a big advantage when you need to add conduit in tight spaces or around existing equipment.

LFMC, or liquid-tight flexible metal conduit, is similar to FMC but covered in a waterproofing coating. Its useful for outdoor applications and wet interior areas and requires fittings that are also watertight.

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Electrical non-metal tubing (ENT conduit) is different from the other types of electrical conduit weve discussing so far in several ways. Its a flexible PVC tubing that looks a lot like a pool hose.

You can encase it in concrete, run it behind walls and under floors, and use it as a replacement for EMT. The major manufacturer for ENT uses 2-hour fire resistant rated materials. ENT is not UV-resistant, though, so using it where it will be exposed to UV rays is out.

Rigid PVC is a very familiar material to many folks thanks to its similarities to the PVC we use in plumbing and irrigation. Unlike EMT, you cant use a conduit bender to manipulate it. PVC needs to be heated before in order to bend it. Typically that happens using a heater box but you can use a heat gun as an alternative in the field.

As a conduit, rigid PVC shares the same characteristics as water pipe: you glue it together and its water-tight when you install it correctly. That makes it useful for direct burial underground and its allowable in corrosive environments. You can also encase it in concrete, conceal it in walls, or leave it exposed.

Read the original post:
What is Electrical Conduit? | Training the Apprentice - Pro Tool Reviews

The aluminum along the edge of this roof extends up 5 inches under the shingles. A self-regulating heating cable snaps into the edge of the aluminum, delivering heat that extends upwards by conduction. Robert Maxwell photo

Q: What product have you recommended in the past to stop ice from developing on roofs? Several years ago you wrote about an option that doesnt use rooftop cables but I cant find the article now.

A: The product youre remembering is called Edge Cutter and its designed and made by a Canadian company called Heat-Line. The system is based on a 5-inch wide aluminum heating strip that slips underneath the shingles along the edge of the roof. An electric heating cable snaps into this aluminum strip and is completely hidden and protected. Plug in the system when rooftop ice begins to form and it will soon melt as heat from the aluminum warms the shingles above it. Ive installed this system personally and watched it work since 2017. Visit baileylineroad.com/ice-dam-solution/ for a video tour of an ice dam system I installed.

Drying Out a Damp House

Q: How can we reduce the moisture levels inside our rural vacation home? We use the place mostly during winter for skiing trips, but we also rent the house out a lot of the time, too. Is there some sort of small ventilation system that would make our place less moist during winter?

A: Yes, there are several solutions for you. While you could simply open windows a little and use exhaust fans more often, you cant count on diligent management of these things when people are renting your place. This is why a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) is a good idea. It will definitely solve your wintertime moisture problems. By exchanging outdoor air for indoor air, youll lower indoor humidity levels a lot. Aim for a 30 per cent to 4 per cent relative humidity during the coldest months, or whatever humidity level is necessary to reduce window condensation to almost nothing. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals are the typical trade workers that install HRVs. Cost is usually about $2,000 to $2,500. If you leave the unit running all the time on a low fan speed it will make the air fresher and drier without complicated operating procedures.

Roof eaves successfully cleared of ice by aluminum heating plates underneath the shingles. Steve Maxwell photojpg, SU

Tankless or Tank-Style Water Heater?

Q: Should I replace my tank-style water heater with a tankless model? Our current heater was new in 2006 and our insurance company demands we change it or theyll suspend coverage.

A: Changing your heater for a new one isnt a bad idea given its age, but youre wise to weigh the pros and cons of the two main options. I recommend tankless water heaters for some situations, but not all. On the plus side, tankless units do use somewhat less energy overall. Thats because they eliminate what is called standby losses as hot water is held in the internal tank, slowly losing heat while it sits there hot. Perhaps the best thing about tankless heaters is that theyre small and mount on a wall. On the downside, tankless heaters are not cheap. They cost $2,500 to $3,000 installed, and theyre more technically complicated than tank-style heaters.

Replacing your old tank-style heater with a new tank-style model would cost only about $1,000. Theres a lot less to go wrong with a tank-style heater than tankless. Also, tankless heaters usually require semi-annual or annual internal flushing of the heat exchanger with vinegar to remove mineral build-up.

Either way, if you dont have access to natural gas, you might be tempted to use propane to run your water heater. Few people realize that propane is sometimes more expensive than electricity considering how much heat you get per dollar. If youre paying 16 cents per kilowatt-hour for electricity, then any propane price over about 89 cents per litre makes it more expensive than electric power.

Steve Maxwell is always looking for ways to make life more efficient. Visit Steve online at BaileyLineRoad.com for articles, videos and 30,000 people who get his famous Saturday morning email newsletter.

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Maxwell: Heres a good way to stop ice developing on roofs - The Sudbury Star

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The winter season is upon us, and the snowy and rainy conditions can make for challenging travel as family, friends, food and festive occasions pull Californians all over the state.

As winter settles in, Californians will start to see a whole new set of extreme conditions, said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. Please take care out there on the roads, dont crowd the plows, have patience, give yourself more travel time, and know that were hard at work to clear whatever may be standing in your way.

Below are some recommended actions you can take to reduce the risks to you and your loved ones on the highways. Drivers must use their best judgment in all types of weather.

Know Before You Go:

Before traveling, Caltrans recommends checking weather and road conditions. Caltrans QuickMap is an online resource with real-time traffic flow information, chain control alerts, and closure information. It is available at http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or you can download it as an app for your phone from Google and Apple. Motorists can also call 511 or the Caltrans Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) for travel information.

Winter Driving Tips:

Chain Control Information:

All vehicles, including those with four-wheel drive or snow tires, should carry chains when traveling in snowy weather. Highway signs and QuickMap will indicate when chains are required, and drivers must stop and install chains. Motorists should pull off the roadway completely to install them. If you need help, chain installers may be available to assist for a fee. Please note, chain installers are not Caltrans employees. They are independent business people who are licensed to install chains. Once chains are installed, obey the speed limit of 25 or 30 miles per hour, posted at various locations.

Chain Control Levels:

R-1: Chains, traction devices or snow tires with proper tread depth of 6/32 are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.R-2: Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. NOTE: Four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles must carry traction devices in chain control areas.R-3: Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions. NOTE: R-1 and R-2 are the most common chain controls. The highway will usually be closed before an R-3 control is imposed)

For more information on winter driving, chain controls, and additional resources, visit Caltrans Winter Driving Tips page. Please be safe out there California.

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Don't Crowd the Plow and More Winter Travel Tips from Caltrans - A News Cafe

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SACRAMENTO The winter season is upon us, and the snowy and rainy conditions can make for challenging travel as family, friends, food and festive occasions pull Californians all over the state.

As winter settles in, Californians will start to see a whole new set of extreme conditions, said Caltrans Director Toks Omishakin. Please take care out there on the roads, dont crowd the plows, have patience, give yourself more travel time, and know that were hard at work to clear whatever may be standing in your way.

Below are some recommended actions you can take to reduce the risks to you and your loved ones on the highways. Drivers must use their best judgment in all types of weather.

Know Before You Go:

Before traveling, Caltrans recommends checking weather and road conditions. Caltrans QuickMap is an online resource with real-time traffic flow information, chain control alerts, and closure information. It is available athttp://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/or you can download it as an app for your phone from Google and Apple. Motorists can also call 511 or the Caltrans Highway Information Network at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623) for travel information.

Winter Driving Tips:

Chain Control Information:

All vehicles, including those with four-wheel drive or snow tires, should carry chains when traveling in snowy weather. Highway signs andQuickMapwill indicate when chains are required, and drivers must stop and install chains. Motorists should pull off the roadway completely to install them. If you need help, chain installers may be available to assist for a fee. Please note, chain installers are not Caltrans employees. They are independent business people who are licensed to install chains. Once chains are installed, obey the speed limit of 25 or 30 miles per hour, posted at various locations.

Chain Control Levels:

R-1: Chains, traction devices or snow tires with proper tread depth of 6/32 are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicles.

For more information on winter driving, chain controls, and additional resources, visitCaltrans Winter Driving Tips page. Please be safe out there California.

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Don't Crowd The Plow and More Weather Travel Trips From Caltrans - Sierra Wave