Contractor liability?

Where’s the

consumer protection?

I am writing about a problem that I’m sure is not unique to my husband and me. We have been taken advantage of by a local contractor. We hired this firm, who has been in business for more than 15 years, to remodel our home. He bid the job and it seemed to be a reasonable amount at $400,000. He stated that it would take him nine months to complete the job. Now 18 months later and $650,000 poorer, he has abandoned the job. He failed to get the needed inspections, and did not do the work in a workman-like manner, nor to code. We are unable to get an occupancy permit because the house is a hazard, nor can we sell it for the same reason. An independent home inspector estimates that it will cost in the neighborhood of $350,000 to $450,000 to make the corrections to bring this house up to code.

What is the law on this? The contractor is liable too for his $12,000 bond. We cannot get any of his personal property — fancy homes, luxury cars, or huge boat. The law in Washington is that any person over the age of 18 years with $2,000 for the fee and a $12,000 bond can be a contractor. They do not need to go to school, know the building codes, or have any experience in the field.

Where is the legislature on this matter? They are firmly in the court with the building industry’s lobbyists. Just a simple law like making contractors build a building to code was opposed by the industry stating that it would put the “little guy” out of business. If our drug manufacturers, transportation industry or food industry were to have this kind of “oh well, stuff happens,” attitude the legislature would be in an uproar.

This man took our life savings and we can do nothing about it. Where is the protection for the “little guy” like us who now has no retirement and no recourse?

Sid and Barbara Sponsler

Bainbridge Island

Reader feedback

There’s another

side to that story

Regarding the Sept. 17th front-page article on the closing of Brazeau Mobile Home Park in Kingston, I think staff writer Kelly Joines side-stepped the really important news associated with the closing. Absolutely nothing was said about the predicament in which the residents found themselves and the hardship, financially and otherwise, that might have resulted from this closing. The knowledge that Brazeau will be riding around in her fancy red Cadillac without our knowing the plight of the residents was extremely narrow and callous reporting of an event that was perhaps, for many, a very difficult one.

Judith Huber

Poulsbo

Bicycles for Ed thanks North End

In 2006 Bicycles for Education sent their first shipment of nearly 400 bikes to Togo. They were distributed to over 14 villages. Many students walk 11 miles one way to school each day. This is particularly hard for girls, as they also have the role in the household as mothers’ assistants. Forty eight percent of students drop out of school before the seventh grade. A bike helps a student stay in school, and with this education they are able to help break the cycle of poverty.

Follow up reports have shown that all the students who received bikes in 2006 are still in school. Bicycles for Education has been successful. Thank you to all the people in Poulsbo and the Kitsap area that have shown their support. In particular to Raleigh Ballou, who has helped collect hundreds of bikes, and also sewing machines. He has spent countless hours picking up bikes, and putting up posters. Many thanks to Brenda Prowse and Hugh Nelson, owners of Prowse and Company who loan us their moving van whenever we need it to bring bikes to Olympia. Thank you to Classic Hair Design, Karen Skidmores’ podiatrists’ office, and Kelly Breens’ chiropractor’s office. We have received bike donations from people who saw the notices in your offices. Thanks to the Breidablik Elementary School which — with the support of the principal, teachers, and Mary Fox, the schools librarian — helped educate students about Togo and also collected bikes. It takes a huge effort from hundreds of people to get the bikes from Washington to a child in West Africa. Thank you all.

On July 9, three containers full of 1,200 bikes left for Togo. They were due to arrive in September, and now have been delayed until sometime in October. Togo had unusual rains in July and August causing floods, destroying roads, displacing thousands of families. It was going to be challenging getting the bikes from the port of Lome to Sokode. A trip that normally takes six hours, now takes two days. Food and gas prices have gone up 200 percent. I was due to leave on Sept. 18 to help distribute the bikes to 50 villages, but the late arrival of the containers has thrown a wrench into those plans. Olowo-n’djo Tchala, director of Alaffia has been in Togo since early September awaiting the containers. Arrangements are changing daily. For now it looks like the bikes will be taken to Sokode and perhaps distributed at a later time. The students will get their bikes, just when is still up in the air.

Maria Mason

Bainbridge Island