Former Cincinnati Home Builders Association President Convicted of Fraud |
Friday, 28 January 2005 |
Cincinnati Enquirer Builder awaits fraud sentence Calkins case reminds many of Erpenbeck A Fairfield home builder is awaiting sentencing for bank fraud in a case reminiscent of the Erpenbeck scandal that rocked the region. Federal prosecutors say Chester Calkins and his wife, Antonette, did not pay off construction loans on 47 condominiums purchased with cash⦠It is unclear what sent Chester Calkins, who was president of the Greater Cincinnati Home Builders Association in 2000, into financial collapse. The company is in bankruptcy, and Calkins has been convicted of writing bad checks in Ohio. |
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Take Back Your Right in the News |
Friday, 28 January 2005 |
Frisco Enterprise Attorneys for city and TBYR volley legalities "The Beckas hereby make a formal legal demand that at the next city council meeting, on or before Feb. 8, 2005, that you officially place the two Take Back Your Rights charter amendments on the May 2005 election ballot," wrote Fred Lewis, an Austin-based attorney representing the group headed by Frisco orthodontist Dr. David Becka. "The law is clear that you are required to put the amendments on the May 2005 ballot and failure to do so is a violation of your non-discretionary duties," Lewis wrote. Lewis is the leader of government watchdog groups called "Campaign for the People and "Clean Up Texas Politics." He said he is offering his services to TBYR pro bono, free of charge. |
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New Jersey Supreme Court Rule to Hold Builder Accountable |
Wednesday, 26 January 2005 |
Star-Ledger Staff Justices hold builders liable years after sale Ruling is a victory for new home buyers Giving homeowners a powerful new set of allies, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled yesterday that municipal construction officials can fine builders for faulty craftsmanship years after the house is completed and sold. |
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Texas New Substandard Standards |
Wednesday, 26 January 2005 |
Houston Chronicle Getting it in writing Texas has put in place standards for home construction, but builders and consumer activists disagree on their fairness First it cracked. Then it buckled. Finally the kitchen tile in Debbie and Rick Gannaway's Katy home popped off the floor. But their builder, Houston-based Trendmaker Homes, won't fix it because their one-year warranty on workmanship and materials has expired. |
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Donor cash tilts state laws |
Wednesday, 26 January 2005 |
Star-Telegram Austin Bureau Watchdogs: Donor cash tilts state laws It's supposed to be the American dream, but owning a home can be a nightmare in Texas because builders have used millions in campaign cash to tilt state laws in their favor, a coalition of watchdog groups said Monday. At issue is a 2003 law that established the Texas Residential Construction Commission, strongly supported by home-building interests, which contributed some $9 million to state candidates and political entities between 2001 and 2004â¦
HOBB Commentary: Donât you just love the Texas Assoc. of Builders comments on TRCC? Isn't this like putting expensive lipstick on a pig. See the comments by Kristi Sutterfield , director of the Texas Association of Builders, attempting to defend the builderâs slaughter of home buyer protection and rights. Sutterfield said, â the law actually enhances homeowner protections by setting a uniform, state-imposed warranty... She also said the residential construction commission is resolving complaints quicklyâ¦â The homebuilding industry can continue to fool the people with shoddy building practices most of the time but not all of the people, no matter the shade of the lipstick on TRCC. Bad will be bad, no matter the cosmetic fix. |
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Big Money and Shoddy Construction |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Big Money and Shoddy Construction: Texas Home Buyers Left Out in the Cold Monday, January 24, 2005, Homeowners for Better Building and Campaigns for People held a press conference to release a report on homebuildersâ mammoth campaign contributions and the 2003 Texas Legislatureâs passage of laws that stripped homebuyers of most of their rights against homebuilders for shoddy construction.
See Report: http://www.cleanuptexaspolitics.com/images/Homeowners.doc |
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Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Dallas Morning News: Special Report Home buyers wary of agency Some consumer groups, others say TRCC doesn't aid consumers enough Since its creation in September 2003, unhappy homeowners and consumer groups have criticized the agency for doing little to help buyers, because it can't force builders to make repairs. And they say the agency's passage this month of new building standards allows for shoddy construction, not a guarantee of quality work... Consumer groups say the agency is biased toward the building industry because commissioners and most agency leaders have backgrounds in construction or real estate. They say builders have won their influence in the Legislature from both parties by blanketing them with political donations. |
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Highlights Monday from the Texas Legislature |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Associated Press: Highlights Monday from the Texas Legislature Homebuilders contributed at least $8.9 million the past four years to state leaders and legislators and along the way won passage in 2003 of a bill that diminishes homeowners' rights, two watchdog groups said Monday. |
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Just Who Is Watching Out For Texas Homeowners? |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
San Antonio Express-News Carlos Guerra: In Austin, Just Who Is Watching Out For Texas Homeowners? A study released Monday by a campaign finance reform group and three homeowner groups underscores why Texas' pay-to-play politics must be stopped. The damning report by Homeowners for Better Building, Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings, Take Back Your Rights and Campaigns for People is appropriately titled: "Big Money and Shoddy Construction: Texas Homeowners Left Out In the Cold." |
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Homebuilders' campaign donations rapped |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
San Antonio Express-News: Homebuilders' campaign donations rapped AUSTIN â Advocates of campaign finance reform and homeowners' rights joined Monday to spotlight almost $9 million in campaign contributions from homebuilder interests over a nearly four-year period that included passage of a law the groups say hurt homebuyers.
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Activists target homebuilders |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Austin Statesman: Activists target homebuilders A report unveiled Monday by two watchdog groups at the Capitol shows that homebuilders contributed at least $9 million to state leaders and candidates during the past four years. |
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Groups Deplore Builders' Influence |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
Houston Chronicle: Groups Deplore Builders' Influence
After receiving millions in donations from Texas homebuilders, the Legislature created a new state agency that restricted homeowners' rights to sue builders in court, two public advocacy groups said Monday. |
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Criticisms Of Texas Residential Construction Commission |
Tuesday, 25 January 2005 |
KXAN TV Austin: Criticisms Of Texas Residential Construction Commission Last session, Texas lawmakers created a new state agency to tackle trouble with home construction. Now there are accusations it is hurting homeowners. |
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Builder accused of bilking customers |
Saturday, 22 January 2005 |
Illinois sues remodeling firm Builder accused of bilking customers out of $470,000; cops seek president The company was supposed to build an $80,000 second-floor addition on her Arlington Heights home, but so far, no workers have shown up to do the job. |
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Builder Regulation gets fired up in Frisco |
Saturday, 22 January 2005 |
Frisco Enterprise Charter meeting gets passionate Passions grew as frustrations rose among the participants in the meeting - the Take Back Your Rights group, the City Council and residents in attendance. The meeting was an attempt to iron out issues regarding TBYR's efforts to create legislation designed to protect homebuyers from faulty construction of new homes in Frisco. |
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