HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0989.023 2018-2020 P VW HTC,
Comm.9 14
TO: Committee nnPublic Works and Mass Transit
COUNTY CLERK
FROM: C(U�:TY �F HAWAI,I
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RECEIVED
SUBJECT: Bill 170 TimeBy—tm—
Date JUL 0 6 2020
DATE: July 7, 2O2U
Aloha Chair Lee Loy, Vice Chair Kaneali'i-Kleinfelder and Members of the Committee:
My nonoa is Max Newberg, | am the Kona Field Representative for the Hawaii Regional Council
of Carpenters. I support the enactment of Bill 179, except for the Factory-Built Housing (FBH)
sections ufthe bill.
| will list three reasons why i oppose Appendix L relating to Factory-Built Housing (FHB)
#1 Competition; Arobust construction industry relies on all builders being treated fairly and
equally. All builders of housing should follow the same format of construction oversight,
|ioensing, and inspections to assure a quality product for consumers. Having special interest
legislation written into the building codes favoring factory-built housing eliminates competition.
#2 Area Standard Wages; Support the families of hard-working tradespeople in the construction
industry. Trades people spend years learning to become efficient and effective at their trade.
Area standard wages produce much-needed tax revenue to benefit the community. Factory-built
housing does not promote area standard wages.
#3Construction Jobs and the Economy; the construction industry plays avital role in stimulating
the local economy and improving the existing quality of life for the County's residents.
construction jobs pay good middle-class wages that are spent in the local economy. These are
some of the jobs that factory-built housing will likely eliminate, since the manufacturing of
factory-built homes does not require a highly skilled workforce. Factory-built housing is built
within n factory using automated tools and a smaller labor force with |eaa skill.
The County of Hawaii needs to protect our local economy by protecting fairness in the
construction industry.
For the above reasons, | respectfully request that this Committee remove Appendix L relating to
FBH and all references to FBH in Bill 179. Thank you for this opportunity to submit written
testimony.
Comm. N
Ref. Date