President Donald Trump named a top Republican contributor as the new Postmaster General, returning the post to a political appointee for the first time in 48 years.

Post offices were once the ultimate patronage pits for political organizations, some of whom enjoyed the large amounts of cash transactions involved.

Until 1971, local postmasters were political appointees who often got their jobs as patronage for Members of Congress. Postmasters of large post offices were named by the President, with U.S. Senate confirmation; the Postmaster General appointed postmasters of smaller post officers after receiving recommendations from local congressmen or influential members of the presidents political parties, like county chairs.

Sometimes the job went to politically adept career postal workers who built relationships with local politicians. Over time, the job transitioned from pure political appointments to people who had post office experience.

There is no indication that Trump plans to return to the old system, but his appointment of North Carolina businessman Louis LaJoy, who has contributed more than $2 billion to GOP campaigns over the last four year, flips control of the post from career postal employees back to the political arena.

The Postmaster General post was a political appointment from the presidencies of George Washington to Richard Nixon. From 1829 to 1972, the Postmaster General was a member of the presidents cabinet.

Trump has been a harsh critic of the U.S. Postal Service, calling the agency a joke and refusing requests for a $75 billion bailout with out an increase in postal rates.

Local Postmasters

When the Ramsey postmaster job opened up in 1957, Rep. William Widnall (R-Saddle River) asked President Dwight Eisenhower to appoint John Roosa, a community leader active in local politics.

After Roosa retired ten years later, Widnall wanted to give the job to another Republican, Fred Warren. But with Democrat Lyndon Johnson in the White House, Democratic U.S. Senator Harrison Williams decided to make the appointment.

That same year, Rep. Henry Helstoski (D-East Rutherford) picked Robert Nieradka as the East Paterson (now Elmwood Park) postmaster after a vote of the local Democratic county committee.

Nieradka and another Democrat, John Mezian, both screened for postmaster. The county committee voted and Nieradka won. Democratic Municipal Chairman Sal Spinato then needed to get sign off from Bergen County Democratic Chairman Anthony Andorra before Helstoski made his recommendation to the White House.

Postmasters were frequently allowed to squat in most cases, rather than switch them out as consequences of national elections.

Republicans had pushed for the creation of a single Edison Post Office in the 1950s to replace what had been 11 separate post offices throughout the municipality. That allowed Edisons congressman, Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen (R-Harding), to name the new postmaster a move that upset Mayor Anthony Yelencsics, whose local Democratic organization still controlled the smaller post offices from the 20 years that Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman occupied the White House.

In New Jersey, local postmaster was a relatively easy and lucrative position.

Democrat William Fiedler, a former assemblyman and Newark mayor, was appointed Newark postmaster by President Grover Cleveland after losing re-election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Republican John Blair was one of the wealthiest men in the nation, but he also spent more than 25 years as the politically-appointed postmaster in Blairstown. He was also the unsuccessful Republican nominee for governor in 1868.

With the loss of postmasters and congressional pages, House members are now limited to a small staff and military academy appointments.

Postmaster Generals were party leaders

The Postmaster General post was a political appointment from the presidencies of George Washington to Richard Nixon. From 1829 to 1972, the postmaster general was a member of the presidents cabinet.

The legendary James Farley served simultaneously as postmaster general and Democratic National Chairman during Roosevelts first two terms. Trumans postmaster general was Robert Hannegan, one of the top party bosses in St. Louis. He was also DNC chairman while serving in the cabinet. Under Dwight Eisenhower, the postmaster general was Arthur Summerfield, the Republican National Chairman.

John F. Kennedy named Edward Day, a former Illinois state insurance commissioner and ally of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, as postmaster general. His replacement in 1963 was John Gronouski, a former Wisconsin commissioner of taxation who had unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1952.

In 1965, Johnson nominated Gronouski as the U.S. Ambassador to Poland and replaced him with Lawrence OBrien, one of the national Democratic Partys top political operatives. Marvin Watson, who was Johnsons White House Appointments Secretary and de facto Chief of Staff, was named Postmaster General in 1968.

Nixons postmaster general was Winton Blount, a GOP insider who left the post in 1972 to become the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama.

View post:
Trump names GOP donor as postmaster general. Could that mean the return of local postmasters as congressional picks? - New Jersey Globe | New Jersey...

Ahmad Sajoh, a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Adamawa State outlines the qualities the most valued staff of Mr. President must embody

The death of Mallam Abba Kyari is a very big blow to His Excellency Mr. President, the government and indeed the country at large. He left a very big vacuum which will be hard to fill. While it is indeed wrong to speak ill of the dead, I find some of the testimonies bandied around by people who claim to have been too close to the late Chief of Staff as equally wrong. Where were all these people when the man was alive and so many unsavory things were said about him? Some of the testimonies do not even add up at all when juxtaposed with what transpired under the presidency when he was alive. Like I said earlier, we have all accepted this cultural norm that it is bad to talk ill of the dead. But It is equally wrong to say things not true about a man who passed away. In all honesty, we should have been more concerned with designing a template for the President to use in selecting a replacement rather than spending so much time and energy in portraying the late Chief of Staff as an irreplaceable super human.

For me, the most important thing we all should be doing is to help the President identify a suitable replacement that will serve the best interest of the President as the leader of the country and the citizens who have a service contract with the President. According to the President, one of the qualities that stood Mallam Abba Kyari apart was his close relationship with Mr. President for over four decades. This means that whoever will replace the late Chief of Staff must have been close to the President for a long time, long enough to understand the Presidents person and temperament as well as to appreciate him both as a leader with all the burdens of the office and as a human with personal needs. Such a replacement must understand national politics very well while still remaining completely apolitical without pandering to the political whims of the different political tendencies in the polity. This way, the different roles of the office of the President cannot be compromised on the altar of political expediency or to satisfy a particular individual or group political interests.

In addition, the replacement must appreciate working 24/7 all year round without let or rest within the Presidents demands. This must have been cultivated over the years dating to periods long before Muhammadu Buhari became the President. This is why such an appointee should be the choice of the President this time around not one supposedly imposed on the President as was speculated with the late Chief of Staff. And it is easy for the President to find such a person within his inner circular. Most importantly such a persons appointment should erase all the speculations about the office serving as the extension of a supposed cabal manipulating the governance process. This is necessary for confidence building.

My understanding of the functions of the Chief of Staff to the President Federal Republic is one that performs a gate keeping function for the President. This is not in the sense of one who blocks people and issues from getting to the President but one that sieves through the many schedules of the President and the many issues requiring his attention. For the President, this is a very crucial role. Only someone strategic and close enough who understands Mr. President, understands his temperament and thinking can be an effective gate keeper, determining what goes in and out of the Presidents presence and office. Every individual or document going into the Presidents office should be appropriately evaluated for content and in keeping with the mood of the President. This must be done in an honest and timely manner without conflict of interest especially one induced by external forces.

It must also be noted that the Chief of Staff is the coordinator of all the personal staff of Mr. President as well as all the Staff of the Presidential Villa. As the name implies, he is the Chief of all the staff directly serving Mr. President. Everyone serving the President or working within the Presidential Villa looks up to him for general direction and coordination.

Supporting the political process including configuring effective relationship between the President and the political class and political office holders is also another major function of the Chief of Staff. The President as the leader of the country must relate everyday with his political party, other strata of the political class including those in opposition parties, and political office holders. The Chief of Staff liaises with all of these levels of political activity in a manner that is neither partisan nor myopic. He must understand the needs of the political class, help to evaluate certain concepts and contents in order to guide the President on the correct political decisions to make that are appropriate to existing situations.

One of key functions of the Chief of Staff is effective liaison with other levels of the Presidents functions. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the Officer Commanding all other security outfits in the country. It is the duty of the Chief of Staff to liaise with all of them and keep Mr. President abreast of happenings in the security sector and also avail him information on public perceptions and demands. This, the Chief of Staff must do without undermining the functions of all offices responsible for coordinating security strategies and activities. It is a function that must be used with caution and only someone who is apolitical and level headed can perform this function effectively.

The President is the head of his cabinet and must be able to guide, promote and protect the effective functioning of the cabinet as a constitutional requirement of the governance process. The Chief of Staff must provide support to the cabinet secretariat, ensuring that the President understand all memos and issues to be discussed to enable him guide the process effectively. In doing so the Chief of Staff must have sufficient institutional memories of the functioning of the cabinet from inception of the Buhari presidency. Such a person should have been with the President from the beginning of his Presidency.

The new Chief of Staff should possess a lot of Institutional memory with respect to Diplomatic relationships established overtime and what needs to be done at what level. Therefore the office requires a persons who had been close enough to have been with the President throughout his tenure. He or she must be a close ally and confidant of the President. The new Chief of Staff must be able to appreciate the President as a person, his temperament and family responsibilities. He must be absolutely loyal to the President and such loyalty must have been proven over time,must have the capacity to take as many verbal and written bullets as possible without buckling or even over reacting. A person who has the technical ability to analyze documents and provide advisories for Mr. President, must assemble a crack team and work as a team player with the temperament to moderate the various tendencies that will compete for the Presidents attention

In trying to be all of the above and much more, the Chief of Staff must avoid engulfing the office or the person occupying the office in unnecessary controversies. The whole Nation awaits what a replacement will do in mitigating some of these controversies. It is imperative that the President appoints a relatively less visible person to enable him draw more attention to the functions of the office rather than the personality of the occupant of the office. A person without much political visibility or adverse political baggage will surely bring in credibility and respect to the Office.

It is therefore safe to summarize that the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President is an important coordinating centre for the effective governance of the country under the leadership of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the federation. One of the requirements of the office is to simplify complex operations for Mr. President to enable him understand issues and operational modalities in a manner that aids effective decision making.

Here is the original post:
Searchlight on Mr. Presidents New Chief of Staff - THISDAY Newspapers

Don't miss this delightful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home in desirable Walnut Point! This home exudes curb appeal with its mature landscaping, detailed stone-work and maintenance-free vinyl siding. Situated on one of the largest lots in the community, this neutral, newly painted, open floor plan home is perfect for staying home with family or hosting large gatherings of friends. The grand, two-story foyer welcomes you into this classically elegant home with custom millwork. Whether you are a gourmet cook, or a GrubHub queen, you'll adore your generous, eat-in kitchen which boasts on-trend hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, lighter colored custom cabinets, built-in microwave, new dishwasher, counter-depth refrigerator and a large, walk-in pantry! Your oversized breakfast bar makes meal prep and serving a breeze! Just off the kitchen, sits your comfy, casual family room with great views of your outdoor entertaining space. On cold winter nights, warm up by the fire and get cozy in front of your gas fireplace. Your spacious family room also showcases custom built-ins. Perhaps you~d prefer lounging in your 4-seasons room, with ample windows that bathe you in natural light. If you love to entertain, take the party outdoors onto your expansive, Trex deck with retractable awning or head down to your custom paver patio and cook s'mores at your built-in fire pit. The level, nearly half acre lot offers you plenty of space to throw a football or even add a pool! Head upstairs to your massive master retreat featuring a deep tray ceiling, double closets and even an additional shoe closet. Need to relax and unwind at the end of the day? Your spa-like bath features dual sinks, a jetted tub and a separate shower. Three additional generous bedrooms all boast walk-in closets. Washer and dryer in your upstairs laundry room included in the sale. Massive unfinished basement with plenty of storage awaits your designer touches! 3+car garage has a durable, low maintenance epoxy floor. Just minutes from the Carlisle Pike and in Cumberland Valley School District, this home offers something for everyone! Schedule your private tour today!

View Listing

Original post:
Homes Recently Listed in the Carlisle Area | Home & Garden - Carlisle Sentinel

THE Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (CNGOs) in Zambia has appealed to the government to accept the draft NGO Bill without alterations as citizens stand to benefit greatly from a robust NGO regime.

Chairperson McDonald Chipenzi said, in a statement, that CNGOs whose mandate include to develop, adopt and administer the Code of Conduct for NGOs and facilitate and coordinate the work of NGOs operating in Zambia, expressed its gratitude at the favourable gesture by the Cabinet of approving in principle the Repeal and Replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009.

Chipenzi said as a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009, the Council of NGOs in Zambia appreciated the levels of engagement and cooperation between itself with individual NGOs on one hand and the government through the department of NGOs Registration at the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services on the other hand in the process of repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No.16 of 2009.

Since the launch of the National Policy on the NGOs in Zambia and the election of the new CNGOs in October 2018 with the subsequent appointment of the 20 member diversely selected and Civil Society led Technical Working Group (TWG), a lot of ground (though not at a pace the Council would have loved) towards reaching the goal of having a repealed and replaced NGO Law, he said. The CNGOs understands too well the healthy but also critical collaboration amongst the members of the TWG and commends the strides made this far that include Drafting of the Laymans NGO Bill through one of its members the Zambia Law Development Commission (ZLDC) and the national wide consultations for comments and input from stakeholders.

Chipenzi noted that the CNGOs also conducted in 2019, a comprehensive NGO Policy sensitisation through its NGO provincial forums across the country, an activity that was inevitable to precede the consultations on the Draft Bill.

Whereas the CNGOs in Zambia applauds the approval to go ahead with the repeal and replacement of the NGO Act No. 16 of 2009 by government, it would further like to make a passionate appeal to government through Cabinet should accept the Draft NGO Bill as would be from the NGOs and stakeholders themselves without alterations as the document would not only be a reflection of the aspirations of the sector but that the Government generally and the citizens particularly stand to benefit greatly from a robust NGO regime, he said. The CNGOs is grateful to the cooperating partners that include the Germany Technical Corporation (GIZ), the European Union (EU), SIDA and Action Aid Zambia among many for coming on board in these endeavours. Furthermore, the CNGOs would like to make an earnest appeal and a clarion call on all NGOs (local and international) to take this process as golden and factor some activities, in their programming, to make submissions/input to the Draft NGO Bill, 2019. The CNGOs would endeavour to ensure and see that NGO(s) singularly or collectively is left behind and/or out.

Chipenzi said it was the CNGOs considered view that the final product would be owned by all stakeholders and will be a beacon of admiration and best practice in the region, the continent and the world as a whole.

Originally posted here:
NGOs urges govt to accept draft bill The Mast Online - themastonline.com

Asthe country braces for a one-in-100-year recession, Cabinet has agreed to a law change that will block thepublicfrom the resource consent processin order to fast track projects that create jobsand stimulatethe economy.

Environment Minister David Parker saidnew legislation was expected to be passed in June to allow for fasterResource Management Act(RMA) consenting ofdevelopment and infrastructureprojects, in response to the damage the coronaviruspandemic was having on the economy.

Created in 1991, the RMAallows communities to make decisions on how their own environment is managed through regional and district resource management plans.

Parker said theRMA providedfor local decision-making generally by local councils with the publichaving a right of participation and appeal.

READ MORE:* Getting Waikato going: Connecting Hamilton Gardens to CBD* Nelson-Tasman region asks for $155.4m from Government for 14 priority projects* Coronavirus: Business groups launch new job search platform during Covid-19

However, under the new powers resource consent decisionsfor large projects would not go tocouncil and public input would not happen. Instead,a panel of experts chaired by an Environment Court judge would determine whether a project could be given the green light, he said.

"Most people realise that the world is entering into the worst recession in 100 years as a result of Covid-19," Parker told Stuff.

Tom Lee/Stuff

Attorney-General David Parker says National Leader Simon Bridges, as chair of the Epidemic Response Select Committee, has made an "unprincipled" move in trying to summons high-ranking Government officials to hand over Crown Law advice.

"We think it's justified to put aside those normal rights of participation and have a narrower group of people make these decisions centrally."

As Minister for the Environment Parker would be the "gatekeeper" determiningwhich projects would be fast-trackedand go before the expert panel.

Traditional consentingprocessesused in normal circumstances did notprovide the speed needed in response to the economic fallout from Covid-19, he said.

"The new processes will get projects started sooner and people into jobs faster."

Both private and public projects would be eligiblefor the fast-tracked process such asroading, walking and cycling, rail, housing, sediment removal from silted rivers and estuaries, new wetland construction, flood management works, and projects to prevent landfill erosion.

Ross Giblin/Stuff

Roading projects will benefit from a proposed fast-tracked consenting process.

Projects that helped alleviate housing challenges, encouraged active transport and enhanced the environment would be prioritised, Parker said.

The projects had to be "significant" in size and create a large number of jobs, he said.

"We're not going to be taking over every little resource consent that people have to apply for because that would just choke up this panel and defeat its purpose."

Chris Skelton/Stuff

In 2019 a flood ripped open the Fox Glacier landfill causing large amounts of rubbish to spill into the ocean. Projects to prevent landfill erosion could be fast-tracked under the new law.

Once a project was referred to the panel there was a high level of certainty the resource consent would be granted, he said.

He expected the new legislation to free up resources at a local council level, which should speed up the processing ofotherconsent applications.

Parker said the fast-track process was designed as a short-term intervention to help with economic recovery from Covid-19 and the legislation would be repealed in two years.

Part 2 of the RMA, which contained the core principles of environment protection, would still be applied, he said.

Alden Williams/Stuff

National MP Judith Collins says the changes approved by Cabinet shows the RMA makes it difficult to get anything to get done quickly.

The Opposition's RMA spokeswoman Judith Collins said the changes sounded similar to changesproposed by the National Party.

"They should therefore support the repeal and replacement of the RMA, which is what we are proposing," Collins said.

"Even this government has worked out that the RMA is almostimpossible for anything to get done quickly under it."

Parker said while projects were being fast-tracked environmental safeguards remained.

New Zealand's health response to Covid-19 had given the country a head-start on the world to get the economy moving again, he said.

"This fast-tracking process will allow our economic recovery to accelerate."

Ideas from district and regional councils as well as non-government organisations and the private sector would be considered.

Excerpt from:
Coronavirus: Cabinet approves new legislation to fast-track resource consents and boost economy as it emerges from lockdown - Stuff.co.nz

The Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has broken ground on a 3,500-square-foot commercial fish processing facility for Red Cliff Fish Co. that will process commercial fish and provide packaged products to distributors and local markets.

This groundbreaking today for the Red Cliff Fish Co. is an historic milestone in furthering our community and food sovereignty goals, Tribal Chairman Rick Peterson said in a news release. The need to be able to feed our own community with our own resources has really been highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our people have been fishing the waters of Lake Superior for many generations and this new facility will also allow our tribal fishermen to have a more direct role in selling their catch.

Chad Abel, the director of Red Cliff Treaty Natural Resources, said with this new business the tribe can achieve local food control, maximize fisheries economic potential and preserve commercial fishing traditions.

The tribe has been planning the processing facility for nearly a decade and hopes to complete it in September for a Labor Day weekend opening.

Once operations begin, Red Cliff Fish Co. will buy catch from independent tribal commercial license holders, and the facility will process, package and sell different fish products to distributors, markets and restaurants. The facility also will have a 400-square-foot retail space to sell products such as fresh and frozen filets, smoked fish, fish spreads and caviar.

Fish waste will be composted for use at the Mino Bimaadiziiwin Tribal Farm.

The tribe has 33 commercial fish license holders who bring in more than 600,000 pounds per year, the news release said.

Despite contributing 10.61% of all Great Lakes lake trout harvest, 17.26% of all Great Lakes herring harvest and 5.51% of all Great Lakes whitefish harvest, there is not a means to process the tribal catch on-reservation or through a tribal-owned business, Abel said. As a result, nearly all tribal catch is sold at wholesale prices to off-reservation processors.

But once the fish processing facility starts up, it will provide more competitive prices, help create or maintain 105 jobs and allow the Red Cliff community to reap the economic benefits.

The construction and operation of the processing facility was made possible by a series of grants, including a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Native Americans.

Funding sources also included a $543,140 HUD Indian and Community Development Block Grant for dock expansion and improvements to Dock Road, and $595,000 for building construction and equipment.

The Red Cliff Band has invested more than $271,000 in the development and success of the Red Cliff Fish Co. as well.

Excerpt from:
Red Cliff breaks ground on fish-processing facility - Ashland Daily Press

Utahs construction industry has felt the initial sting of the coronavirus pandemic, which has fundamentally altered job sites. But the bigger challenge looms, as experts predict a lengthy downturn in demand for new buildings as the states economy sags.

Nearly a quarter of all Utah jobs are tied somehow to construction, real estate or retail three sectors closely intertwined in any recovery from effects of the health emergency.

Home prices along the Wasatch Front have stayed relatively level so far, according to Dejan Eskic, research associate at the University of Utahs Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. But home sales dipped nearly 24%, Eskic said, and this is a big deal, especially as April is usually the start of the home-buying season.

Construction activity is down 45% compared to last year, Eskic said, and tens of thousands of job losses among Utahs renters could well slow future demand for nearly 5,500 new apartments that were under construction when the crisis hit.

The Beehive State had the benefit of going into the outbreak with both its residential and commercial real estate markets thriving, according to David Layton, president and CEO of Sandy-based Layton Construction though its unclear how long that cushion will last, even as the economy starts to reopen.

We entered this with strength and that momentum has really tempered the impact so far, Layton said Tuesday, as part of an online business conference sponsored by the University of Utahs Eccles School of Business.

But I foresee the next seven and a half months being very telling of where our industry ends up going into 2021 and 2022, he said.

Construction, Layton and others noted, has been deemed an essential business in state and county health orders. Thats meant work has continued but it has required changes at building sites including daily employee questionnaires, segregated chemical toilets and new hand-washing stations, the CEO said.

Layton Construction and other firms have also seen their access to supplies of key building materials interrupted in the crisis, he said, forcing some slowdowns.

In hopes of keeping its workers healthy, Layton said, the company has treated each of its 175 job sites across the U.S. as its own village. And as a member of the village, he said, employees have responsibilities to follow the protocols, both at the job site and certainly away, because irresponsible behavior outside of work could put co-workers in jeopardy.

Adequate social distancing isnt always possible at a work site, Layton said, but his employees use protective gear and are interviewed when reporting to work on their risk for exposure the night or weekend before, Layton said.

Thats been proven very beneficial in keeping the virus from entering our job sites, he said. They have embraced this because they know we're kind of all in this together.

But as businesses from a variety of industries are now getting squeezed by effects of an abrupt decline of commercial activity, many are postponing work or modifying construction plans with the absolute requirement to save money, Layton said.

Retail outlets have seen some of the greatest damage from the health-related closures, in a trend that is likely to dampen demand for new construction of stores, shopping centers and strip malls. And a further shift to online shopping as more Utah residents work from home is likely to make some of those changes permanent.

Some retailers were really in a difficult position before COVID-19, said Linda Wardell, general manager at City Creek Center in downtown Salt Lake City. And now they're in an even tougher position now.

City Creek Center, which reopens Wednesday after closing March 20 due to the pandemic, will see a gradual return to full business over several weeks, Wardell said. Many of the upscale malls tenants are behind on rent, she said, and others continue to see supply chain disruptions and cant get unique goods that define their brands.

So were all going to need to be patient, she said, while customers may need to embrace new realities on hygiene, face masks and other precautions while visiting the mall.

Its really too soon to say if our customer is going to come back into our environment to shop, Wardell said. So in some ways, this is an exciting but also a very nerve-wracking time for us.

Social distancing is transforming the prospect of building new office spaces, too. With more office employees working from home and those going to work needing more space, its unclear just how those trends will change construction plans.

We're going to see office users taking a very close look at densities and their workspace environments as we move forward with this new world, said Brandon Fugal, chairman of Colliers International, a commercial real estate brokerage with offices in Salt Lake City.

Along with other real estate firms, Colliers International has produced detailed guidelines for returning to work for office tenants, investors and landlords with a goal of instilling confidence to boost economic activity, Fugal said.

Its important that we get the machinery back in full swing here and in full operation, the real estate executive said. But with that comes great responsibility.

Read the original here:
How will Utah's construction industry rebuild in the coronavirus era? Slowly. - Salt Lake Tribune

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) The general contractor overseeing of one of Nashville's largest construction sites closed it over the weekend for extensive cleaning.

Skanska suspended operations at 5th and Broadway for three days following concern from employees after at least two workers tested positive for COVID-19.

Workers at the site contacted NewsChannel 5 Investigates concerned about a lack of transparency involving COVID-19 issues.

Parts of the 6 acre site across from the Ryman Auditorium are scheduled for completion later this year.

5th and Broadway includes two sky rises with offices, apartments, retail space and the National Museum of African American Music.

Hundreds of construction workers go there everyday.

One worker hid his identity and came forward to speak with NewsChannel 5 Investigates.

"Why are you hiding your identity?" NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked.

"For fear of any type of retaliation against me," the worker responded.

"The reason I'm reaching out is so we can hopefully get more transparency and actual facts," the worker said.

In early April, workers secretly recorded a contentious meeting in which managers told them about two positive COVID-19 cases on site.

"Some of us are hearing about this for the first time three weeks after the incident. Why?" workers asked managers in the video.

The manager told workers, "Guys, I am just as concerned about this as you."

A representative from Skanska, the general contractor at 5th and Broadway, said they had made a mistake by not telling workers immediately after learning a worker had tested positive.

A worker in the meeting said, "We've got to have information to come in here and put our lives on the line."

The manager in the meeting responded, "Absolutely, Absolutely."

The manager also said, "The decision made going forward is to be completely transparent."

Skanska sent a statement to NewsChannel 5 Investigates saying the positive test came from an "overnight delivery" person who worked in a separate building from the workers in the video.

The company said "Safety is priority one" and "We have since updated out protocols to have regular communication with all groups across the site."

Ethan Link, with the Central Labor Council of Middle Tennessee, said he has heard from workers at many downtown sites, but he singled out 5th and Broadway.

"No one really knows how safe they are right now," Link said.

"If you went and asked ten different workers on that project what they know about COVID exposures, I think you will get ten different answers. And that's a problem," Link said.

The worker told NewsChannel 5 Investigates it is not uncommon for people to be sent home because they are showing symptoms, but then there is no communication about whether the person was actually sick or it was a false alarm.

"We touch things for a living. We go around the building and we tough everything in the building," the worker said.

He is worried about bringing the virus back to his family.

NewsChannel 5 Investigagtes asked, "Why don't you just walk off the job?"

The worker responded, "Because you can't get unemployment if you just quit. So I have to provide for my family."

Skanska said it closed the entire 6 acre site through Monday "for extensive cleaning."

The company said it has "mandatory temperature checks", "mandatory face coverings" and has "zero tolerance for working sick."

Link pointed to the large number of complaints the state has received from workers across the Tennessee.

"Companies right now are self policing these guidelines," Link said.

He said the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration should provide much more oversight.

"OSHA needs to be very much more involved in those downtown construction sites," Link said.

Workers on site say the uncertainty is taking a toll.

"I hear about people arguing with their families, their loved ones, their wives, people who take care of their parents. They're worried about bringing it back home," the worker said.

The full statement from Skanska as well as responses to some of our questions is below:

Safety is priority one for Skanska. We want nothing more than for our employees and subcontractors to be informed, healthy and aware. This is a 6.2-acre construction site with three separate components (apartment tower, office tower, and retail and entertainment complex). When we received word on April 2nd of an overnight delivery to the apartment tower by someone who tested positive for COVID-19, we immediately identified and quarantined the individual who had direct contact, fully traced the areas of impact, closed the floors of the apartment tower on which he was present, and informed those who were working on the apartment tower. We have since updated our protocols to have regular communication with all groups across our site.

The following answers to your questions will fill in more details about the timeline and overview our safety protocols.

Apparently the worker who tested positive was onsite on March 25. He tested positive on April 2. Workers were told after that. What is the communication timeline for that case?On April 2: Skanska received notification from a subcontractor that one of their workers had tested positive for COVID-19.

The subcontractor informed Skanska that the individual had made an overnight delivery to the Fifth + Broadway apartment tower jobsite site and it was determined they had come into contact with one other person. That person was immediately notified and told to self-quarantine for 14 days.

Skanska verbally informed the other subcontractors working on the apartment tower of this positive test result.

Following CDC recommendations, the floors the subcontractor employee visited were closed and isolated on April 2nd for four days.On April 6: Floors reopened after isolation.

Skanska sent a follow up email notification to subcontractors working on the apartment tower outlining incident and protocols.

What exactly is being constructed at that site and how many workers are present? When is the scheduled completion date?

Three different components over 6.2-acres: an apartment tower, an office tower, and a retail and entertainment center. The apartment complex will be completed first in the coming months.

What precautions are being taken on that site?

Mandatory temperature check at the gates

Mandatory face coverings

Mandatory glove policy

Cancellation of all large gathering on site meetings

Four medics on site every day

Zero Tolerance Policy for working sick

Hand sanitization centers on every floor where work is being done

Encouraging social distance for all workers on site and in elevators

Elevators and commonly touched services cleaned multiple times daily with high-grade disinfectants

Full personal protective equipment (PPE)

What do you say to workers who say there is not enough transparency?

COVID-19 is a new phenomenon that we are continually learning about daily. We continue to develop best practices in accordance with all legal requirements and evolving CDC guidance. The safety and well-being of everyone on site comes first. We are very proud of our track record of safety on this large scale, multi-year project. Our intent is to be transparent and proactive. Since the April 2nd positive test, our Local Coordination Response Team has added additional communications check-points to ensure immediate notification, no matter what component of the project site may have a suspected case. In addition to a mandatory all-hands call with all subcontractors, Skanska sends out emails to workers onsite almost daily with relevant COVID-19 updates, including every time a worker from the site gets tested for COVID-19, test results (positive or negative), and area closures for high-grade sanitization.

Has the project been shut down because of COVID-19?

The project has not been shut down by any governmental agencies. We have worked cooperatively and transparently with local government and public health agencies throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the weekend, we have decided to take the opportunity to suspend operations for the entire 6.2-acre project site for 72 hours for extensive cleaning. No workers are allowed on site during this period. During this time, an advanced cleaning of primary footpaths, gathering spots and all other areas of density will be conducted. The site will be fully operational again on Tuesday, May 5th. Once it reopens, all elevated safety measures will continue, including mandatory temperature checks for all workers at the entrance gates, where medical clearance bands will be issued.

View post:
Workers at 5th and Broadway voice concerns about safety and lack of transparency over COVID-19 - NewsChannel5.com

COVID-19 hasnt slowed progress in one area as Lenoir City and Loudon continue with new projects.

Beth Collins, Lenoir City planner, said the virus hasnt had much of an impact on the construction industry.

This is typically the beginning of our busy season in the spring, she said. Weve not had any kind of slowdown that Ive seen. Weve had kind of an upswing on residential calls, inquiries on remodels. Seems like a lot of people are taking advantage of maybe this extra time to do a project at home fencing, decks, that sort of thing.

Travis Gray, Loudon inspector and codes officer, agreed there is consistency in construction work.

Even through this COVID-19 emergency weve had, weve had consistent people building houses on a consistent basis, he said. Nobodys really quit. We tried our best to get those permits out and keep them moving forward and letting these contractors and homeowners build them a home if thats what they want. There hasnt been any slowing down.

Loudons current projects are all residential, Gray said.

Sweetwater Creek is going into its second phase, he said. We have a new subdivision at the interstate called Cedar Grove and theyre moving right along. I think theyve got maybe 10 or 12 houses started in that subdivision. Thats pretty much the biggest part of our construction right now is in the residential market. We dont have anything commercial or industrial going at the moment.

Lenoir City has both residential and commercial projects in the works, Collins said.

Commercial-wise, weve got Firestone Tire being built over at the market at Town Creek, she said. Of course, the Lenoir City fire hall over on Depot Street is being remodeled with additions. Theres a building called Lenoir City Retail Four located beside Gondolier so its a four-tenant space. Little Caesars is in there Campbells Pool and Spa is going in one of the spaces. Theyre working on it now. Theres a Jimmy Johns going into one of the spaces, and then we dont know who the fourth tenant will be at this time. Theyve not submitted for our fourth tenant.

There are also projects coming down the pipeline, Collins said. Avid Hotel will be going up on U.S. Highway 321 near Bimbos, and GatorStep Marine Decking will be relocating to Lenoir City from Knoxville.

Lenoir City will also have new residential projects.

The Creekwood Villas that were going on, going to be built down on Creekwood Boulevard, that is still proposed, Collins said. They have actually moved the site down one parcel, so were kind of starting over with the process now. Its going to be on our May planning commission agenda for rezoning and site plans. Theres a proposed 274 units. Its one- and two-story apartments. The amenities that are being proposed, theres going to be a clubhouse, a pool, a playground and a dog park. So it looks like a very nice thing.

We also have a project off Williams Ferry thats going to be called Harper Village, and that is the old Tennessee Baptist property, and that is a proposed 200 unit townhome development. Off Ash Avenue where the old Ash Trailer Park used to be, they are proposing a 100 single-family home subdivision.

Read more here:
New construction projects on the horizon | Covid19 - news-herald.net

Text size

Vornado Realty Trust, one of the largest commercial landlords in Manhattan, is feeling the effects of New Yorks economic woes as it collected only 53% of the rent due from its retail tenants in April, according to its first-quarter earnings report late Monday.

Vornado (ticker: VNO) owns a large collection of office buildings in Manhattan, including a cluster around Penn Station. With more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space in Manhattan, it is also the largest owner and manager of street retail in Manhattanwith tenants like Coach, Nike, Sephora, and Victorias Secretand sold about half of what it owned last year into a joint venture.

Vornado said that many tenants are seeking rent relief and that substantially all its retail tenants have closed their stores with the exception of grocery businesses.

While its office buildings remain substantially open, all tenants are working remotely, with occupancy around 5%. New York businesses largely shut down or curtailed their operations in late March.

The companys longtime CEO, Steve Roth, 79, said on a conference call on Tuesday that Vornado had collected 90% of April office rents and 53% of retail rents, for a total of 83% collected. He noted that the monthly unpaid rent was $24 million, with two-thirds coming from what he called creditworthy tenants.

If rent collection rates remain the same for a year and if other disruptions continue, it would cost Vornado about $1 a share, Roth said.

He also reiterated comments from his annual shareholder letter that the company was not interested in buying back its own stock while calling the share-price decline this year of about $25, or $5 billion of market value, a gross exaggeration. The company is now valued at less than $8 billion.

Net asset value accretion from stock buybacks are insignificant compared with development opportunities, he said, adding, Right now, buybacks are not No. 1 on our hit parade.

Roth said the company would re-evaluate its dividend now 66 cents a quarter. The stock yields about 6.6%.

Before the conference call, Stifel Sandler analyst Alexander Goldfarb wrote in a client note that eyes turn to the dividend, which he called materially uncovered this year and in 2021

Covid impact so farHotel Penn closed, almost all retail closed with many seeking rent relief, trade shows at theMART [Chicagos former Merchandise Mart] postponed for FY20, and certain development projects on hold, he wrote. Goldfarb has a Neutral rating on the stock.

In Tuesdays call, Roth highlighted the companys financial strength, saying that it has the ample liquidity to complete the renovations of Penn 1 and Penn 2 buildings as well as develop a large, low-rise building within the Farley Post Office Building across the street from Penn Station.

These projects will be completed with no debt attached to them, giving Vornado holders all the upside, Roth said. New York, he said, is the business capital of the world and has always come back bigger and better.

Roth said that he believes that New York workers want to return to their officeswe dont believe that working from home will become a trend. He also said the social distancing stemming from Covid-19 pandemic means the densification trend of cramming workers into smaller spaces is over.

Vornado Vice Chairman David Greenbaum said in response to a question about when workers will return to their offices that it will be a gradual process with 10% to 20% returning initially. There will be fewer people taking mass transit and more driving, walking or bicycling to work, he said.

Roth was asked about whether Vornado might consider demolishing the Hotel Pennsylvania, a dingy building that has a large footprint on a full block that would enable construction of a large office building. Roth said Vornado isnt inclined to do that.

Write to Andrew Bary at andrew.bary@barrons.com

Read more:
Vornado Says It Collected Only 53% of Rent From Retail Tenants - Barron's