Is it better to Tear down or Renovate?

The housing market is rebounding in many areas of the country. Southern California and the Upper East Coast are experiencing similar housing effects that occurred a decade ago. Lots of interested buyers, too few houses to buy (at least to the level or quality and finish they want). Today's housing market in the "hot areas" of the country have created some problems due to the previous 4-5 year housing slump. Developers didn't just slow down on renovating and building new construction, many put a halt altogether until they had more confidence that buyers would be consuming their products. This "freeze" has put a strain on the market for those buyers looking to purchase a new home that is updated. With the housing prices still high; and in some areas soaring again, buyers want move-in ready homes and not fixer-uppers. After all, if you're spending $700,000 or more on a home, would YOU want to live through the mess that is construction in order to save a few dollars a month on your mortgage or move into a home that you can begin enjoying from day one? Another issue being created is the overstock of homes that are small, outdated, or both in these areas. What does a developer do? Purchase and renovate with a possible addition in the hopes that his clientele will be satisfied with a 1950's home that has been updated with an addition or tear it down and just build an entire new home in it's place and be able to list it as a New Construction home? When it comes to advertising, it certainly is more enticing to many buyers to see the words "New Construction" because they associate it the same as someone buying a New Car versus a Pre-Owned Certified car. NEW conjures up the idea of, maintenance free for a period of time. Tear downs are becoming more and more commonplace and in many cases not for the betterment of community.

When a neighborhood was created, much like a new construction development today, many of the homes shared similar size, design, and scale to one another. They created an environment that worked together rather than each home standing on it's own. When a developer tears down a 1,800 square foot Cape Cod style home in a neighborhood of Cape Cod style homes and puts up a 3,000 square foot Colonial, that developer is not improving the neighborhood. He's creating a stand alone home that was not designed to the site it is sitting, rather creating what he feels will sell the easiest and make him the most profit. Making money is a great thing and I for one will never tell someone they should do something where they're going to make less money in order to satisfy my desires; it is however reasonable to request and expect anyone performing a tear down to create a home that represents the neighborhood and goes with the setting in which it will be sited. Where do you stand on the subject? Would you rather enter into and live in a neighborhood where the homes compliment one another or one in which the homes disregard the others and create a mish-mash that doesn't feel welcoming or warm?

To read more about some of what is going on you can follow this link to a well written article on the subject:
http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-housing-tear-downs-20140104,0,5252206.story

- Design is what you make it.

To Rent or Own...LEGOs that is...

Ok, so this is my second LEGO related post in as many; however there is a new start-up that is attempting to take the LEGO world by storm....or at least make it more affordable to build the newest sets without the clutter. It's called Pleygo and their concept is to get subscribers in a similar fashion to many of the online TV and movie streaming businesses. You create your Wishlist and voilà, they send you the newest LEGO set for you to create. Once you've finished your masterpiece, take a picture to preserve that momentous occasion and toss it back in the box and mail it back so your next one can arrive.

They theorize this will keep your home free of the clutter and the LEGO builder's interest piqued as new and exciting sets are changed out regularly to allow for hours of new creating. I would agree that getting new things is at minimally a temporary high, however this feels like it's a plan destined to fail. Remembering way, way back to when I was a child, I rarely recall trying to build the precise building or vehicle that the set was designed to create and instead enjoyed the creating process of new and exciting things that I thought up on the fly. In many ways, LEGOs are just a tool that allow people to express their creativity in a physical form. The creation process is much more valuable than the "can you follow the step-by-step instructions" of creating the Taj Mahal in LEGOs. We as adults have all the time in the world to get our fill of step-by-step instructions and mindless hours assembling furniture from IKEA! This is the part that I think Pleygo has missed the boat on regarding their LEGO rental concept. I for one want to see what an individual can create given a blank slate, a bucket o' LEGOs, and the time to perfect their masterpiece. The imagination is where we begin the process of problem solving at an early age. Should we lose focus of this most important skill, then we will deprive ourself of the one trait that truly sets humans apart from the animal kingdom.

To read more about this endeavor: http://www.dailycandy.com/everywhere/article/148281/Pleygos-Lego-Rental-Service?vwink=dc:synd:outbrain_Article:148281


- Design is what you make it.

The Colorful World of LEGO

At least that's how one typically thinks of those snap together blocks that every kid has played with, built with, and created amazing things....if only for a short period of time before they took it apart to create again. I admit, since I was a little kid I loved my LEGO sets. I never followed the designs on the package, rather opting to create new and exciting (at least to me) structures, vehicles, and places that only my imagination understood. All the colors of the rainbow. Mixed together and rarely sorted. Well that is about to change for this generation of designers. LEGO has created a new series, they call it Architecture Studio. It's a monochromatic (White and Clear) set for the modernist inside each child. This set looks drastically different from it's older brother of opaque and colorful versus lack of color and transparent. Will it provide the same kind of love and interest as the original? The initial thought is a resounding yes, only time will tell; but this architect does believe it will be around for generations to come just like the original.

http://archrecord.construction.com/yb/ar/article.aspx?story_id=189192450

- Design is what you make it.

Breath of Fresh Air

What is safe and unsafe? With new products constantly hitting the market, only time will tell. According to Consumer Affairs, a class action lawsuit has been brought upon SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam) as being carcinogenic.
So I pose the question, what is one to do when new products enter the market and there hasn't been a true design study to verify the impact (positively or negatively) by that product? Just keep reading about the products is all one can do for now.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/homeowners-claim-spray-in-insulation-remains-toxic-071513.html

- Design is what you make it.

JOIN THE PARTY

Recently I reviewed an article that discussed the "new trend" according to Whirlpool. Apparently they're not the only player in the market that is gambling the dominance of Stainless Steel appliances is near the end of an era. It seems each manufacturer is pushing a new "trend-setter". According to the WSJ article out today, Wolf Appliance is pushing "Black Glass", while GE introduced a muted gray finish called "Slate". Miele has mentioned they will be producing new high-gloss finishes in the near future. The appliance world has gone through many "trends" since over the years including some which we in the design industry hope never occur again; see 1950's pink and blue and 1970's avocado phases.

Why the sudden decision to introduce all these new lines? The industry is struggling right now, trying to create buzz for their products. With the housing market stagnant, they're seeing a lull in the purchase of new appliances and thus their profits have been hindered.

Designers are always looking for new innovative ways to freshen a room, create an accent, or simply improve on the functional ability of the status quo. What the manufacturers are hoping to create, unfortunately feels more like a fad rather than a trend. The primary difference between these two situations is, a fad is a temporary high, while a trend typically stays hot for a longer period of time. Currently the stainless steel trend for kitchen appliances is hovering around 25 years since hitting the market. Based upon consumer interest and high end manufacturers less receptive to making a big splash with a "New and Improved" look, it seems appears in the end, stainless steel will prevail and endure yet another fad with which to compete.

To read more about this, check out the full article at:
http://shopping.yahoo.com/news/is-this-the-end-of-a-25-year-run-for-stainless-steel--.html

- Design is what you make it.

KITCHEN UPDATES: THE NEW LOOK TO COME

It looks like Whirlpool is attempting to be a trend setter in the appliance package world by taking a note from the Apple, Inc handbook. They're creating and marketing a new design line to replace the standard Stainless Steel packages offered by every viable manufacturer. What are they doing in an attempt to stand out you ask? They're creating the new white, "White Ice". it's a white package with a high gloss finish and stainless steel accents. In many ways it looks and will feel like many people's favorite handheld phone and tablet / lap top. I guess their hoping the image they're creating will invoke the love and emotions many feel about these items and push them toward the purchase of an entire new appliance package in order to make their home and hand held devices "one with each other". A very fend shui approach and actually speaks well for the company. An industry thinker that may have just created the new buzz, new trend, new "White Ice".

- Design is what you make it.

ALL IN PERSPECTIVE

The old adage from real estate; Location, Location, Location is well known and factual. It's all about the location of the property that makes it valuable. How well does this concept translate to other parts of life? Perspective, perspective, perspective....it translates quite nicely. After all, everyone has their own perspective of each situation. This is one reason eye witness testimony is so difficult to use as hard evidence. What one person saw and believes to be true, could be different from another observer of the same situation. Where you're located physically or mentally when asked about something or observing something plays a significant role on your stance of the reality.

Take Union Square, Somerville for instance. The mayor instituted a new concept for parking streetside in this community. In the past all street parking was parallel or 45 degree parking spots that one PULLS into. The mayor modified this to change the 45 degree parking spots so one must BACK into them, similar to some places they have found in other cities around the country.

Mayor Joe says the new parking is working! Well, there are many who beg to differ on the definition of "working". The mayor applauds the fact that "initial data suggests that the pilot program to calm traffic, promote pedestrian and bicycle safety,... in Union Square is working as intended.". From Mayor Joe's "perspective", creating a slower area that affords more walking and biking and less driving is all positive. From many residents of the area, they're "perspective" is quite different. "This has got to be the most idiotic thing Somerville has ever done!", said by a local resident. This backing in concept has slowed traffic which translates into MORE traffic. Introducing even more pedestrian and bicycle traffic also slows traffic creating MORE traffic.

So the question that isn't being asked that should be, is: "At what point is the balance of maintaining safe pedestrian traffic sustainable while providing safe vehicular traffic without causing congestion?" This specific situation may have some initial positives from Mayor Joe's perspective, but he is elected by the individuals that use this area of the city and vote him in. Perhaps he should listen to the local residents and try to find some harmony that allows for safest possible situation with the least amount of impact on traffic and thus satisfying his constituents on all accords.

To read more on this situation visit:
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/union-square-back-in-parking-is-working-says-city?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001

- Design is what you make it.

SAVING MONEY....NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE

Summer is just around the corner and the weather is starting to heat up. When things get warmer, spending time outside hiking, biking, and simply lounging around become the norm. What also becomes typical is flipping on the air conditioning to help keep your home cool and comfortable. There are many factors that go into passively keeping your home cooler to reduce your electric bills. Saving cash is what it's all about these days.

Everyone knows replacing your old single pane and aluminum windows with Low E, Argon and Kryton gas filled panes helps to reduce infiltration of the ultraviolet light from the sun which in turn reduces the heat absorbed by your home. One element most people don't think about is the amount of heat absorbed by their roof. We all know dark objects get extremely hot when placed in the sun. This occurs because dark objects absorb heat (up to 80% of solar enery) rather than reflect the heat light a light colored roof (which reflect 75% of the solar energy). Prior to some advances in recent technology, the only way to reduce absorption of heat by your roof was to install a light colored roof which many people find less attractive. Well that is all changing.

New materials and techniques are being fabricated to allow for a dark roof to reflect solar energy by reflecting a high percentage of the solar radition as well as releasing more thermal emittance, which is a measurement of solar energy that bounces back into the atmosphere after being initially absorbed. The products available make it extremely likely you can find one to match your needs.

What does this mean to you? Cash in your pocket with lower cooling costs as less energy will be required to help keep your home cool in the dog days of summer. To learn more about this, visit: http://www.coolroofs.org/HomeandBuildingOwnersInfo.html

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- Design is what you make it.

Is the economy recovery here?

Many economists have specified that the U.S. economy is a real estate driven machine. When housing it hot, so is our growth and when it's not; we fall into recession. Well it's safe to say at this point in time that the housing market for the past 3-4 years has been cooling off considerably. Most of this can be attributed to the financial lending landscape. It wasn't that long ago, in order to borrow money from a bank or financial institution, you needed to prove that you were able to pay that money back. Then the roaring '00s changed all that. The banks weren't looking at the long term implications of HOW one might repay a loan, and instead were focused on the HOW MUCH CAN I MAKE NOW.

In today's real estate market, it has become much more difficult to obtain a loan or even re-finance an existing loan. Many loans taken out in 2005-2008 were ARMs and they're coming to a head where the interest rates are going to jump creating a problem for many home owners that maxed out their limits to purchase said home. To make matters worse, some of those home owners lost their jobs when the economy slowed down taking a maxed out (2) income home and making it a stressed out (1) income home. Luckily for everyone involved, home owners, home buyers, and developers; June 1st is the date they should all have on their calendar as legislation has been passed to make the Short Sale process much faster allowing many home owners to get out from under upside down mortgages and new home buyers and developers to get some great deals.

To learn more about this click on the link and see how this process can be a turning point for the real estate market and possibly our economical outlook.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/19/real_estate/short-sales/index.htm

- Design is what you make it.

Affordable Housing, is it a good idea?

The Story:
Union Square in Somerville, MA is struggling with a common issue in today's societal and political world. How do we appease the voters on both sides of the story while allowing private companies to create jobs and help boost the economy? The Somerville Community Corporation purchased an unused Boy & Girls Club building and want to renovate the space into 40 affordable apartments, some of which will be Section 8 housing. Section 8 housing is designated for those individuals / families that can not otherwise afford housing due to low income and thus receive government assistance. Affordable units is an industry term in real estate to describe reduced rent apartments to allow families with an opportunity to support themselves by paying a reduced rent compared to the open market.

The battle going on in this story is a struggle between those who would like to allow the project to move forward, provide housing to low income families that need a place to live, as well as provide additional jobs to perform the construction renovation. This project would also help workers across the country because a single construction project of this size can directly or indirectly affect thousands of workers. From factory workers producing the thousands of materials needed in order to complete the project, to the truckers who are essential to delivering the construction materials to the stores and job site, to the food vendors that make their living selling break and lunch time food to the workers. It's a big deal even for a small project like this one.

On the flip side, there are homeowners that are concerned about the societal impact from 40 new apartments entering the market, designated to families of lesser means. They're concerned the already dense living situation in Somerville (the most densely occupied city in Massachusetts), will become even more dense without any relief to assist in transporting all these new tenants. The city was promised (nearly 30 years ago) the state would extend the T line and improve bus routes, to date, there is talk about cancelling the T plans due to costs and transportation deficits as well as cutting back on bus routes and leaving the city without many options.

The concerned residents in this community are the voice for many towns and cities throughout the country. They are villified, made out to be heartless cruel individuals that think of themselves first before helping those that may be in need. The politicians are caught between helping the project move forward and risk upsetting the existing base, or help the project and upset those in favor of the project. Keep in mind, while all this is going on, there is a private corporation that just wants to use it's right to make money and build the project.

Where do you stand? Is this an easy answer? Do we need to reinvestigate how housing is provided for those who can not afford it? Should we close the door to them and say, "if you can't afford living here, move elsewhere; that's what I have to do if I want to better my situation"? Let me here your thoughts. This isn't a problem that's going to go away soon...and may be coming to your town next!

For more on this, follow the link to the original article.
http://somerville.patch.com/articles/affordable-housing-proposal-in-union-square-causes-conflict
- Design is what you make it.

GOT JOBS....A Must Read

What is the best way to create jobs? I'm not an economist and even I know that an economy based around manufacturing provides jobs. In simple, if you can create products that people want to consume, then you will need people to produce those products and thus create jobs. Why am I, an architect, discussing this topic? The United States economy is struggling and has shifted away from producing consumer products as many items purchased today are shipped in from overseas. There is a movement to change this line of thinking in the construction industry.

A report on ABC News recently highlighted a home built entirely out of construction materials made in the USA. The cost of this home was only 1% higher than if every product had been purchased from another country. The old argument that buying foreign will dramatically save you money no long holds water.

Increasing jobs will provide more confidence in our economy and as history serves us, that confidence translates into an increase in home ownership. Increased home ownership will provide many additional jobs as more homes will need to be constructed and renovated to accommodate the desires of owning. If more homes are being built and renovated, there will be a demand for construction materials. If the amount of construction materials being used are manufactured in America, there will be an increase in jobs to keep up with demand stimulating the economy even further. If you don't believe me, the non-economist, simply watch the ABC News report on the following link which DOES speak with economists based on this theory. The other old adage, "Buy American and Americans work" is a beautiful thing when put into motion and it's more than just a saying,

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/how-to-build-a-made-in-america-home/

- Design is what you make it.

Crunch Time

You're sitting in front of your computer reading this, probably haven't moved out of that seat for the past 2-3 hours. This type of sedentary lifestyle pushed onto us through mandatory workloads has helped to make the United States of America an out-of-shape, overweight mess. If you have a long commute you spend even less time being active and reduce any time to work out. What's the solution to keep you from becoming the size of a small SUV? New office furniture! Wait, was a change in office furniture really suggested rather than dieting or hitting the gym? Yes, it was...check out this link for some fun ideas to stay the slender svelte self you want to be.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/gallery/6_healthy_workstations/

- Design is what you make it.

Hitting Close to Home....or Previous Home

Well it's back after a long sabbatical; the weekly blog posts shall return.

This week in the news: Somerville, MA secured $2.3million from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development and will receive federal tax credits to the tune of $619,000 in order to build 31 new affordable housing units at a cost of $97,000 per unit, allowing the city to complete Phase III of Saint Polycarp Village. Somerville also will receive an additional $1million in Federal subsidies to create 8 affordable housing units on Cross Street at a cost of $125,000 per unit.

Now you know...what will YOU do with that knowledge?

- Design is what you make it.

Government vs. Economy

The administrations great Going Green Initiative. Like so many policies created by our legislature designed to improve our environment and enrich our lives, money was spent but not much had changed. Millions has been given to people to replace their old appliances which weren't as energy efficient (without regrading the fact that they'd be going into our landfills, not a very green concept...buy new to throw away something that was functioning). Other recent mandates included eliminating Incandescent light bulbs for more efficient Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFLs), again the lack of foresight missed out on our increasing the amount of mercury in our every day environment by producing all these CFLs and having them plugged in only inches from us on a regular basis. I once heard the phrase, "Let government govern, and the economy solve problems." Through all the millions spent by our government recently, very little has changed for the better or changed for the greener. The economy however has been much more successful of late with creating a green society. Due to rising cost of oil, many manufacturers have done away with or reduced the amount of plastic created to house their products while some retails pushed for smaller packaging, less plastic, and to be more "eco-friendly". Mandate and force a belief system down our throats all you want Government, until the private citizens request the desire for something or big business feels it would be more profitable to move in that direction, all that will occur is more of our tax dollars spent without much to show. Thank you economy for staying true and being the main decision maker within our free society.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/112852/retailers-greener-packaging-nyt

- Design is what you make it.

WHAT SHOULD WE ANTICIPATE NEXT?

What is architectural design to you? Depending on what region of the country you grew up in or live in currently is going to greatly impact your vision of what is the norm. In the the early part of this country's beginning sprawling plantations were the icon of the South. Head out West and you're bound to find home after home designed in an adobe style with clay tile roof. Journey to the Northeast and you may get visions of the Cape or Colonial. The simple truth is, "styles" were created for each region because of the materials that were available and the type of weather patterns that affected it. Today, because of technology we can have people live anywhere they want in any style of home they want because we don't need to rely on the local materials, nor passive heating and cooling.

Just as the exterior "style" has changed, so has the interior use for so many homeowners. In the '20s every home had a formal Parlor room. The importance of this space grew smaller and smaller as the decades went on throughout the 20th Century. Homes became smaller and more importance was placed on practical use. The luxury of having a room that only saw use when guests were invited became obsolete. With the 21st Century here, the dining room is quickly becoming the "dinosaur" room. More and more the dining room is being designed out of homes with many architects and homeowners opting for an enlarged eat-in kitchen which provides the opportunity to expand the dining area for large family gatherings. Efficiency is the name of the game allowing homes to be smaller in square footage. With the cost of fossil fuels continuing to increase, a more efficient home costs less to run as well as being more ecologically friendly.

Each generation places importance on one room over all others. What will define the 21st Century? The kitchen, the home's main gathering space? The master bathroom, the definition of indulgence? What gets your vote?

- Design is what you make it.

ARE YOU PREPARED?

FIRE! FIRE! According to NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), in 2009 fires were responsible for over 3,000 deaths and over $12.5 billion dollars in direct property loss. What would you do if a fire struck; your office, your home? Do you have a plan in place on how to get to safety? Are your most precious documents in a safe location? What would be your plan on recovery should you be the victim of a fire?

Here are some steps we can take in preparation should we ever be in the unfortunate position of dealing with the recovery process after a fire.

1. Have your homeowners and/or casualty insurance agent's contact information in a secured location that you can access.
2. Prepare back-up files for all your important documents in a fire proof safe or safety deposit box.
3. Take lots of pictures of your real estate property and personal property as proof for insurance to expedite the claim process.
4. Have some names of trusted contractors so you can begin the process of getting back to normalcy as soon as possible.
5. Locate a qualified architect to assist you in the renovation process, with the help of the architect, you may be able to make improvements upon the existing layout as well as save money on the renovation by eliminating any non-essential fixes and focus on the most important items. Having someone in your corner that is familiar with the construction process is an ideal way to create a "checks and balances" system.

Here is a sad story about a businessman that lost 30+ years worth of client files due to a fire that created more than $3 million in damages all due to the ill-timed disposal of a lit cigarette.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/05/three_alarm_fir_2.html

- Design is what you make it.

NEW FACEBOOK CAMPUS

It's quite a quandary, the city of Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood has a new resident; a "FACE" that's very familiar to us. It happens to be in the location where the old Sun Microsystem's campus was located. The end goal, create a minimum carbon footprint place to live for Facebook employees and family. At 1 million square feet with 11 buildings on the site, they have a nice place to build this city inside of a city concept. The problem? The location is isolated from the surrounding neighborhoods as it is surrounded on three sides by expressway and the fourth side by an untouchable wetlands. What's the solution? Invite the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to lead a charrette working with the City, neighbors, Facebook, and architectural professionals to create a living environment that connects perfectly to the nearby neighborhoods of course. It's nice having the star power of a Facebook to be obtain the assistance of those who want to help you since Facebook has helped so many reconnect with old friends and family. Circle of life? If nothing else perhaps it can be considered good karma.

http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2011/03/110324facebooks_new_campus.asp
- Design is what you make it.

Japan Before and After

By now we've all become aware of the amazing destructive damage that can be caused by tsunami waves and earthquakes. In 2004 we witnessed the power of tsunami that ripped life apart off the Indian Ocean. Today we see how one of the most technologically advanced countries can be devastated as well. Here is a link to some incredible before and after shots of Japan.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/gallery/031511_japan_before_after/

If Japan didn't have in place one of the most regimented construction practices the devastation seen there would have easily landed the death rate into the hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions. Building appropriately for the anticipated environment is important when it comes to the safety of all those who live and work in that society.

- Design is what you make it.



http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/gallery/031511_japan_before_after/

Neighborhood Entertainment Gone

Davis Square is home to a number of entertainment venues, an aspect that has grown Davis Square's reputation as a great destination for dining, shopping, and the arts. The restaurant Sagra for some was a great place to eat delicious Italian food while for others it was an excellent destination for music and late night drinks. The neighbors often complained about the noise produced from the live music. The design of Sagra allowed the street front windows to open and allow the outside in and the inside out. This design works beautifully for casual and finer dining, especially on beautiful Spring and Summer days and evenings. In order to avoid constant complaints from neighbors, a business should carefully consider the store front design. Sagra learned this lesson the hard way and now has closed it's doors. The new establishment will be Five Horses Tavern. The new owner has said he's eliminating the live music and closing at 1 a.m. rather than the 2 a.m. Sagra operated until. These changes should help build a better repoir with his neighbors and is a much more neighbor-friendly approach than what Sagra used. After four years Sagra is gone, and very few that lived nearby will miss it.

For more on this story see: http://www.wickedlocal.com/somerville/news/x2022438681/Sagra-closes-in-Somerville-makes-way-for-Five-Horses-Tavern#axzz1FSAGaeuQ

- Design is what you make it.

Wisc. Bill Passes - On to the Senate

We're going to change things up a bit today. Typically I don't write about any political issues because, frankly they are too emotional of a topic for most people to set aside any personal feelings in order to evaluate the issues on a logical basis. Now that being said, the landmark Wisconsin bill that could be made into law can essentially affect the nation as a whole because if it becomes law, other states will follow in their footsteps.

This bill has many obstacles currently and will impact the current way state government and potentially federal government handle employees. For 70-80 years state "public employees", individuals that work for the city, state, or federal government have had unprecedented job security, fringe benefits, and retirement packages. The new bill is looking to change most of that and align public employees to be more attune to private employees. This means they will have to contribute to their own retirement, pay premiums for their health insurance, be evaluated on their ability to be productive, and be paid a salary that is comparable to the private sector for a similar task.

The reason this bill has come into existence is because cities, states, and the federal government are spending more then they collect. The biggest areas of spending revolve around the health care and retirement packages for the employees. If all forms of government can reduce the money going out the door to employees much as the private sector has done, it will allow them to become fiscally responsible and eliminate deficits and create surpluses. Once surpluses are established, more public sector construction will occur to update many buildings that have fallen into poor running condition due to budget deficits. The country runs on the construction industry. If we can increase public sector construction we will be able to provide more jobs, stimulate the economy, and get the United States back on it's feet and return the country to being a financial powerhouse that it once was.

So whether you are a Democrat, Republican, or Independent; this bill will affect you and it should do so in a positive way. Financial growth, fiscal responsibility, and high employment is something we can all agree are good things and a direction in which we should move.

- Design is what you make it.