Contractors’ Scrutiny Doesn’t Go Far Enough

It was a pleasure to see that something is finally being done to protect the small legal contractors in south Orange County (“Busting Bootleg Contractors,” May 19). These contractors pay thousands of dollars a year in Worker’s Compensation and Liability insurance, as required by law, to protect not only the homeowner but the contractor’s workers.

But I suggest the Contractor’s State Licensing Board go further and inform and/or investigate the numerous “Property Management Companies” and “Homeowner Assn. Boards” that hire illegal carpenters, plumbers, electricians, etc. to do repair work (over $300) in their associations as a way to “keep costs down” in their budgets.

This is an area where many associations are putting small legal contractors out of business to save a few bucks and at the same time putting their associations/management companies at great risk because they will be liable for injuries and faulty work. Homeowners need to demand their association boards and property management companies use legal contractors.

ETHEL PARDEE

Irvine