Latest news with #GovernmentAccountabilityOffice
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
More Than 9 in 10 Americans Say Corporate Landlords Make Home Ownership Harder — and Two Things Homebuyers Can Do
The U.S. has seen a sharp rise in the number of institutional investors buying single-family homes over the past decade, giving corporate landlords much more power over the housing market. This, in turn, has made it harder for many Americans to own a home, mainly because they have to compete against entities with a lot more buying power. Read More: Find Out: A report published last year by the Government Accountability Office revealed that as recently as 2011, no investor owned 1,000 or more single-family rental homes in the U.S. By 2015, institutional investors collectively owned an estimated 170,000 to 300,000 homes. Seven years later, that figure had ballooned to 450,000 single-family homes, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. This rapid increase in corporate landlords has created a challenging environment for both tenants and house hunters, according to a recent survey of 1,000 Americans from JW Surety Bonds. The report, released in late March, found that more than 9 out of 10 (93%) Americans believe corporate ownership of homes makes homeownership less accessible. One in 20 lost a bid to a corporate landlord, while roughly 20% know someone who has. So, how can house hunters improve their chances of owning a home in the current environment? Here are two things you can do. As JW Surety Bonds noted, there's a general lack of awareness on the part of many Americans about the scale of corporate home ownership. About 10% of those surveyed didn't know that businesses managing multiple rental properties were acquiring single-family homes. One of the best moves you can make is to research the housing market and learn where corporate ownership tends to be highest. This will at least let you know where you're likely to run up against institutional investors, which means you could face stiff competition and inflated home prices. Avoiding markets with a high concentration of corporate landlords makes it easier to find affordable homes. Discover Next: Bidding wars against corporate buyers are 'pushing many people out of the market,' according to JW Surety, because they can't compete on price. Keep in mind that corporate landlords have a lot of financial might, so getting into a bidding war puts you in a tough position. No matter who you compete against for a home, make it a point to stick to your budget. Going above your comfort zone on price could lead to years of financial stress if you spend more on a home than you can afford. It's better to avoid bidding wars with corporate landlords altogether so you're not tempted to pay more than you should. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? 4 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on More Than 9 in 10 Americans Say Corporate Landlords Make Home Ownership Harder — and Two Things Homebuyers Can Do Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Davenport invests in technology to address firefighter shortage
Since late 2024, the City of Davenport and the Davenport Fire Department have teamed up to use a new device that speeds up water removal, eliminating the need for manual intervention. Firefighters save lives every day, from homes engulfed in flames to acres of land burning to the ground. Budget concerns, however, can pose an added challenge for some local fire departments. 'We run a limited staffing we'd like to have more people, but due to, you know, budgets and just the amount of people were able to hire, we can't quite do that,' said Thomas Murphy, Jr., Administrative Captain, Davenport Fire Department. The city of Davenport is now working to fix that. Since late 2024, the city has been using a new device that helps get water out quicker, eliminating the need for a person to do it. 'It gives us a safety factor with the limited staff,' Captain Murphy said. A national report from the Government Accountability Office found that firefighter numbers declined from 2019 to 2023, with wages and work schedules as the leading causes of staffing gaps. Captain Murphy continues, 'I wouldn't say it eliminates a position, but with the ability to, particularly, what we call charge a hose line, meaning get water to the nozzle of the hose line without somebody standing at the pump panel, is what the SAM system does.' The system allows the crew to operate the pump remotely from inside the fire scene and the technology could help attract younger generations to the industry, according to experts. 'Gen Alpha, even Gen Z, they are picking jobs that are technologically advanced,' said Jason Cerrano, Director of Research and Development, IDEXX Fire and Safety. 'They will shy away from older, more manual jobs. We've got to start facing that challenge.' The City of Davenport paid about 25,000 dollars for technology, and they say this will come in handy ahead of the fire season. The city hopes other agencies will do the same, especially those facing staffing shortages. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
American Military News
3 days ago
- Business
- American Military News
Alabama vs. Colorado: Space Command HQ location debate unresolved in new GAO report
A new review by congressional auditors finds U.S. Space Command is struggling with hiring and headquarters construction almost 18 months after it declared itself operationally ready. It also calls into question the Air Force's claim that moving the headquarters to Redstone Arsenal would result in hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings – a key justification that has been seized on by Alabama politicians in recent years. The report by the Government Accountability Office is the latest in a series of reviews of a 2023 decision by former President Joe Biden to locate the new command's permanent headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., where it had been temporarily housed. That choice came despite the U.S. Air Force naming Redstone Arsenal as the 'preferred location' in 2021 following a lengthy selection process. Since then, politicians from Colorado and Alabama have sparred over the proper location. Just this year, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Sen. Katie Britt and Rep. Dale Strong of Huntsville called on President Donald Trump to 'immediately proceed' to establish its permanent headquarters at Redstone. Last month, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a joint resolution in support as well. The report released Thursday by the Government Accountability Office finds Space Command's headquarters operates out of four facilities in Colorado Springs, Colo. – only two of which are on secure military installations – and remains well short of its civilian staffing needs. 'Officials told us … the Command requires military construction of a permanent, purpose-built facility that is better suited to meet its unique power, information technology, square footage, and security needs,' auditors wrote. Due to the struggles with staffing and delays in construction, auditors wrote in the new report, Space Command's 'current command posture is not sustainable long-term.' Auditors attributed the delays in headquarters construction in part to a provision U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama's 3rd Congressional District added to the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act that halted money on Space Command's headquarters pending the outcome of two reviews: this one and one by the Pentagon's Inspector General. The halt has since lapsed, but as of March, Space Command officials told GAO auditors, there were, 'no updates on funding' for headquarters construction in Colorado Springs. Rogers said in an emailed statement that the report 'yet again affirms' that Huntsville is the best location for Space Command headquarters. He accused Biden of putting political concerns ahead of national security. 'This blatant interference and politization of a critical decision on national security would cost the taxpayer over $420 million,' Rogers said. 'President Trump chose the best location for SPACECOM headquarters. I look forward to working with the Trump Administration to rectify yet another one of Biden's national security blunders.' Republican Rep. Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs posted on X, 'The release of today's GAO Report is clear: Colorado Springs is the best home for U.S. Space Command's headquarters. Continued efforts to move the headquarters only hurts our national security.' In a statement to Strong pointed out that the GAO report highlights, 'inadequate and dispersed facilities, staffing shortages, and outdated infrastructure' in and around Peterson Space Force Base. 'Keeping the headquarters in Colorado Springs is projected to cost the taxpayer $426 million more than it would to transition to Huntsville,' he said. 'It's time to move forward with what's best for national security and bring U.S. Space Command Headquarters to Huntsville, Alabama.' The latest re-evaluation of the selection of a permanent headquarters for the U.S. military's newest combatant command reveals a handful of new details in the yearslong process. But it does not resolve the central conflict over cost vs. readiness, with the Air Force emphasizing the former in preferring Redstone Arsenal and Space Command the latter in preferring Colorado Springs. While the new report reiterates that the U.S. Air Force's recommendation the command be moved to Redstone Arsenal in Alabama is largely justified by the service's own selection criteria, it offers new details that auditors say call into question the validity of the Air Force's conclusions. A key sticking point – the disagreement between the Air Force and Space Command over how strongly to weigh costs vs. interruption of readiness – remains unresolved in part because a consultant hired by the Air Force to study the matter did not sufficiently document the process by which it arrived at $426 million in estimated cost savings by moving the command to Redstone. GAO auditors noted the Air Force itself assigned a confidence level to the cost savings of just 5%, which they called, 'a low level of confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the estimate.' As a result, the GAO report stated, some of the cost benefits the Air Force attributed to a move to Redstone 'were not rooted in complete or reliable analysis.' The GAO's review is the second of two requested by Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee. Last year, he asked the GAO and the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate the siting decision. In April, the Pentagon's IG report revealed concerns at the highest levels of Space Command that up to a thousand crucial civilian employees would refuse to relocate from Colorado to Alabama if the headquarters were to be moved to Redstone Arsenal. The GAO report, in turn, points to Space Command's continued problems in hiring civilian staffers, which are expected to make up 60% of overall command staff. As of October, Space Command had filled just 1,024 of 1,379 authorized positions, including 576 of 809 government civilian positions. The challenge arose due to 'uncertainty regarding the Command's final location and the complexities of hiring government civilians over the more straightforward process of assigning military personnel,' auditors wrote. About 380 temporary contractor personnel have been working for Space Command in Colorado Springs since it reached full operational capacity in December 2023. Space Command is the unified combat command for military space operations. The U.S. Space Force trains and equips most forces under Space Command, though the latter includes small elements from the other service branches. Space Command is charged with defending space and delivering space capabilities to joint and combined U.S. and allied forces. Locating the command in Huntsville would bring at least 1,600 new jobs, has reported. ___ © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Report: No clear strategy for maintaining Guam missile defense
Despite being a central part of the U.S. military's strategy in the Pacific, there still isn't a clear strategy for maintaining the missile defense systems on Guam. That's according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office, which found that different military services have not fully determined when they will take over sustainment for missile defense equipment. The report, 'DOD Faces Support Challenges for Defense of Guam,' also found specific requirements for sustainment and operations means other aspects including training and the exact number of personnel needed still are undetermined. 'DOD does not have a strategy that includes a timeline and a plan for determining when and how the lead organization — the military services or [Missile Defense Agency] — will assume responsibility for operating and sustaining those elements,' the GAO wrote. 'MDA officials noted that they will fund sustainment of the systems they are developing for Guam until they fully transfer operations and sustainment to the military services.' In addition, the Army reported to the GAO that it is waiting on the Defense Department to designate who will lead both missile defense operations and sustainment before it can finalize its own personnel plans for Guam. The Guam Defense System, or GDS, is the planned network of interceptor batteries, missiles, radar systems, early warning sensors and command positions aimed to be set up on Guam. The idea behind it is that the system will create a 'persistent, 360-degree defense' around the island and its many U.S. military installations. Currently there are plans for 16 sites around the island for this, a scaled-down version of previous ideas. Those are set to be put in place between 2027-2032, and according to a Congressional testimony this month, the project will cost approximately $8 billion. The U.S. military's challenges in sustaining the GDS also carry over from current drawbacks. Currently the island is home to a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD missile battery (which includes a radar system). The GAO's audit found that even after a decade of the battery being deployed to Guam, the Army is struggling to care for it, as it lacks its own infrastructure and instead must rely on the Navy. That includes having limited storage space; during a typhoon in 2023 the Army had to ask the Marine Corps for hangar space to keep the battery out of rough conditions. The island's location and military infrastructure had made it a central player in the shifting U.S. Pacific strategy. Alongside reviving World War II-era airbases, the military is moving units to Guam and building it up as its main defense bastion in the region. As such it is aiming to make it able to defend against peer-level threats. The Navy's 7th Fleet also provides naval support for the island. Other challenges include a clear deployment plan for the GDS. The GAO found that the Pentagon has 'not fully identified the required number of personnel or completed a deployment schedule for GDS units.' The Army, the report notes, cited confusion and dispute over what service will be in charge of GDS maintenance and operations. In its report, the GAO made three recommendations, calling on the Department of Defense to determine specific personnel requirements so support infrastructure can be built, to provide a long-term plan for the Army to 'integrate with bases in Guam' and for a clear timeline to be set for transferring missile defense sustainment responsibilities to relevant military branches. Army to eliminate 2 Security Force Assistance Brigades, reassign experienced soldiers Why the Army's new XM7 rifle reignited a debate over volume of fire Air Force delay on separation and retirement orders isn't 'stop loss,' defense official says F-35's close call over Yemen raises questions about how it's used An Army unit's 'extreme use of profanity' was so bad, they made a rule about it
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: 'Why is it suddenly OK to stomp on the authority of states?'
To the editor: In the days of Jim Crow, it was often said that states' rights had to be respected by the federal government. That same assertion of states' rights and devolving power to the 50 states returned in the 1970s and was called the Sagebrush Rebellion in the West. Protecting the rights of states to make their own laws and set their own regulatory standards has been a primarily Republican tenant for the past decades. The federal government has become too strong, too powerful, they said. So what happens now? The U.S. Senate votes to nullify California's planned transition to electric and hybrid cars ('Senate votes to overturn California's landmark ban on new gas-only car sales,' May 22) and the federal government jumps in to keep international students out of Harvard, a private university located in the state of Massachusetts ('Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students,' May 22). Why is it suddenly OK to stomp on the authority of states? Why is it suddenly OK to use a power play against an educational institution that is not run by the federal government? Edgar Kaskla, Long Beach .. To the editor: This is a further step in the Republicans' aggressive war on efforts to improve the environment and address the worsening climate change situation. The Senate ignored warnings from both the Government Accountability Office and the Parliamentarian about the faulty legal reasoning in their actions. The fundamental problems with their approach to the environment and climate change: dishonesty and mean-spiritedness. Dishonesty: Downplaying and suppressing information while not acknowledging the enormous harm of unmitigated climate change as shown by overwhelming scientific evidence. Mean-spiritedness: The indifference to the damage toward health and safety their actions will inflict on individuals and communities. For example, preventing improvement of air quality will significantly harm the health of many, including those with asthma, lung disease and heart disease. Jack Holtzman and Irwin Rubenstein, San Diego This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
