Permits: Depends who you are.
While sitting in a courtroom 1/2 hour before court began in Troy Michigan (waiting for my recently diagnosed with mental illness (bi-polar schizoeffective disorder) oldest son to be led in for sentencing for dwi), a woman entered the courtroom and sat in my row near the center. 5 minutes later, a third person (her husband)entered, walked up to her and said “hold my wallet, there is 3000 dollars you will be fine”. She took the wallet and started to cry.
His case was called first. As if God was sending me a message thru what was about to play out before this Plumbers eyes. “You are charged with performing plumbing without a permit in Clawson Michigan,second offense-what say you” Judge to guy as wife openly sobbs. “Guilty with explanation”- guy said—-” My Dad died 9 months ago and since that time I have been frantically searching for a master plumber to sign and pull permits but it is very difficult to find someone I can trust-I have been taking classes and think I can pass test now.” Guy said.
“You are here again after we caught you before” Then the guy told the real truth. “We are a drain /sewer cleaning company for 35 years my dad started. I never went for my plumbing license like him, I just cleaned drains and he pulled permits when we found we had to replace a root infested sewer, we provide a fair price to good people, have never had a complaint agaist us that we did not correct to customers satisfaction, and basically just help people for a very low price of about 3k when we have to dig 10ft deep trench from house to street and put in a new plastic 4 inch sewer(risking our lives without proper shoring to save homeowner money). We have many happy customers and we are not hurting anybody, I am sorry my father died but I have a family to feed.” She sobbs. They lead in my son. He is acting weird and starring at me. The judge” 90 days in Oakland county jail, credit for 35 days served.”
Meanwhile the Big 3 plant I work at has 10,000 OSHA violations, was built without any permits and despite my letters, grievances and outrage-continues to produce cars all in the name of saving the middle class.
So prosecutor discretion ala Janet Napalitano and the “dream act”is all I can think of.
When any city or government entity, refuses to obey the Law (and believe me you have a Plumbing and Building law,as I just passed your California exam and hold a license (c-36) to Plumb in California, realize that some lobbying group benefits more than the lost permit fees the people of San Diego lose.and Many cities require a inspection prior a sale- which is being supported by building trades and contractors to drum up some work for the needy laid off soon to be homeless tradesmen no longer afforded in this “race to the bottom”.
Step 1 to create change in a policy is to build a fire under the politician. This battle needs to be taken up by the Building Trades Unions in San Diego and Southern California.
Step 2 Find a labor friendly prosecutor to allow a “sting” operation and arrest any non licensed worker who cuts a pipe or pulls a wire .
Step 3 Cause to have the “35 arrested in sting operation, homeowners being protected” new San Diego prosecutor means business in headlines
Step 4 Hire a contractor to start policing companies and visit commercial then residential buildings to pull inspections, check for permits, issue citations and become self supporting.
Then you might have something worth being called “Made in USA” but a remedy is possible- hope this helps understand why-need help on plan-Motown
