Construction Union Environmental Objections to Proposed Projects in City of San Jose 2013-2019

Perhaps Silicon Valley desperately needs housing, but construction unions aren’t going to let developers build that housing unless unions control the work through a Project Labor Agreement. Here are links to some letters from a law firm hired by unions to object to the environmental reviews of various projects since 2013. Many of the letters are sent under the front group of “San Jose Residents for Responsible Development.”

June 25, 2013 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of Santa Clara County Building Trades Council – One South Market – City of San Jose

July 9, 2013 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of Santa Clara County Building Trades Council – One South Market – City of San Jose

July 12, 2013 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of Santa Clara County Building Trades Council – One South Market – City of San Jose

June 5, 2014 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of IBEW, Plumbers, Sheet Metal Workers – Great Oaks Mixed Use Project – City of San Jose

June 27, 2014 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Great Oaks Mixed Use Project – City of San Jose

October 30, 2014 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Great Oaks Mixed Use Project – City of San Jose

October 7, 2015 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Japantown Corporation Yard – City of San Jose

October 19, 2015 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Cannery Park/Hanover Project – City of San Jose

October 21, 2015 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Cannery Park/Hanover Project – City of San Jose

November 4, 2015 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Cannery Park/Hanover Project – City of San Jose

October 4, 2016 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Gateway Tower Mixed-Use Development – City of San Jose

February 21, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 350 Winchester Mixed-Use Project (Volar) – City of San Jose

February 22, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Greyhound Residential Project – City of San Jose

May 10, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Greyhound Residential Project – City of San Jose

May 24, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 350 Winchester Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

November 13, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 120 N 4th Street – City of San Jose

November 14, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 199 Bassett Street Residential Project (Aviato) – City of San Jose

November 22, 2017 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 199 Bassett Street Residential Project (Aviato) – City of San Jose

April 30, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – Dove Hill Medical Care Project – City of San Jose

June 6, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – 1015 South Bascom Avenue Assisted Living Facility – City of San Jose

June 18, 2018 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 1015 South Bascom Avenue Assisted Living Facility – City of San Jose

August 28, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – Dove Hill Medical Care Project – City of San Jose

September 5, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – AC Hotel by Marriott at Stevens Creek – City of San Jose

October 11, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – 4300 Stevens Creek Boulevard Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

October 15, 2018 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 4300 Stevens Creek Boulevard Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

October 22, 2018 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Downtown Strategy 2040 – City of San Jose

October 30, 2018 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – AC Hotel by Marriott at Stevens Creek – City of San Jose

November 7, 2018 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – Diridon Station Area Plan – City of San Jose

November 7, 2018 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of Residents for a Sustainable Downtown – Park View Towers Project – City of San Jose

January 4, 2019 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – AC Hotel by Marriott at Stevens Creek – City of San Jose

January 16, 2019 Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development – 4300 Stevens Creek Boulevard Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

February 2, 2019 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Local Union 270 – Avalon West Valley Expansion Project – City of San Jose

February 26, 2019 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – 27 South First Street Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

April 2, 2019 Lozeau Drury on behalf of Laborers (LIUNA) Union Local 270 – 27 South First Street Mixed-Use Project – City of San Jose

(Note: on behalf of San Jose Residents for Responsible Development, the law firm of Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo filed a lawsuit on January 11, 2018 in Santa Clara County Superior Court against the City of San Jose challenging the environmental review of 120 N 4th Street. See San Jose Residents for Responsible Development et al. v City of San Jose et al., Case No. CV321709. Also, unions held a press conference on January 18, 2018 to highlight their lawsuit: see the NBC Bay Area news story San Jose Land Slated For High Rise is Contaminated: Lawsuit.

Plus, unions opposed a proposal to streamline environmental review in the City of San Jose:

August 12, 2014 Santa Clara Building and Construction Trades Council Opposes Local CEQA Reform (Streamlining Ordinance) – City of San Jose

California Unions Masquerade as Community-Based Environmental Groups

Real Union Identities of Environmental Front Groups

Real IdentityGroup Name and Link to DocumentProject TargetedLead Agency
“Participating unions”…the members represented by the participants in SAFER California live, work, recreate and raise their families in Solano County, including the City of Benicia.Safe Fuel and Energy Resources California (“SAFER California”)Valero Benicia Crude by Rail ProjectCity of Benicia
Brentwood residents Jaime Gonzalez, Chad Andrews, Dustin Cabihi and Charles Knox, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 159, Sheet Metal Workers Local 204, and their members and families and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Brentwood and Contra Costa County.Brentwood Residents for Responsible DevelopmentBrentwood Country Club ProjectCity of Brentwood
Patrick O’Brien, Jorge Gomez, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 340, Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 447, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families who live and/or work in the City of Davis and Yolo County.Davis Residents for Responsible DevelopmentMace Ranch Innovation CenterCity of Davis
An unincorporated group of concerned citizens, Robert Klein (a member of the group), and Carpenters Local Union No. 713.Concerned Dublin CitizensAvalonBay Communities, Inc. (AvalonBay) in Dublin Transit Village CenterCity of Dublin
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 595, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 342, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families who live and/or work in the City of Emeryville and Alameda County.Emeryville Residents for Responsible DevelopmentAnton Emeryville, 6701 Shellmound Street (“Nady Site”)City of Emeryville
Craig Simmons, Mike Conti, Eric Colemen, William Bradley, William Culbertson, and John Sandoval, and groups including Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332, and Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 393, and their members and their families who live and work in the City of Gilroy and surrounding areas.Gilroy Citizens for Responsible DevelopmentUnited Natural Foods, Inc (UNFI) Warehouse and Distribution Facility ProjectCity of Gilroy
Clint Champlin, Antony David, Bryan Wilson, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 100, Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 246 and Sheetmetal Workers, Local 162.Hanford Residents and Workers for Responsible DevelopmentLive Oak Residential ProjectCity of Hanford
Sheet Metal Workers Local 105, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11, Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16, and their members and their families who live and work in the City of Los Angeles. Individual members of CREED LA and its member organizations include Thomas Brown, Shomari Davis, Luther Medina, and John Ferruccio, who live, work, recreate and raise their families in Los Angeles.The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA)50-story high-rise development between South Olive and
South Hill Streets, and West 8th and West 9th Streets, in downtown Los Angeles, proposed by Onni Real Estate
City of Los Angeles
Residents Ricardo Bauzon, Tot V. Tran and Albert Thompson of the City of Milpitas, Plumbers and Steamfitters, Local 393, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 332, Sheetmetal Workers, Local 104 and their members and their families and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Milpitas.Milpitas Coalition for Responsible DevelopmentMcCandless Mixed Use ProjectCity of Milpitas
Napa County residents including Brett Risley, David Dias, and Daniel Huss, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 343, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 180, and their members and their families and other individuals that live and/or work in Napa County.Napa Coalition for Responsible DevelopmentNapa Pipe ProjectCity of Napa
Residents of the City of Oakley, including James Fessenden, Patrick Jensen, Hershel Barton, George Seligman, Daniel Gutierrez, Robert Howard and Virgil De La Grange, UA Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 302, Sheet Metal Workers, Local 104 and their members and their families and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Oakley and Contra Costa County.Oakley Coalition for Responsible DevelopmentEmerson Propery ProjectCity of Oakley
Palmdale residents Kathy MacLaren, Ira Lockshin, Fidel Granillo, David Sazegar, Maurice Washington, Walter Andrew, Cari Bailey, and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 11 and their members and families and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Palmdale, Antelope Valley and Los Angeles County.Antelope Valley Residents for Responsible DevelopmentKCS West Manufacturing/Assembly FacilityCity of Palmdale
Mitch Clarey, Frank Cuneo, Richard Kenney, Roger Burk, the Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, its affiliated local unions, and their members and their families who live and/or work in the City of Petaluma and Sonoma County.Petaluma Residents for Responsible Development Riverfront Mixed Use ProjectCity of Petaluma
Vic Torreano, a resident of Redwood City, the Building and Construction Trades Council of San Mateo, and the Council’s members and families who reside, work, and/or recreate in Redwood City.Redwood Citizens for Responsible Development2580 El Camino Real Residential ProjectCity of Redwood City
Timothy Doyle, Donald Drown, Fynrare Fletcher, Andrew Harris, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families and other individuals who live and/or work in the City of Richmond and Contra Costa County.Richmond Residents for Responsible DevelopmentNevin Homes Residential ProjectCity of Richmond
Timothy Doyle, Donald Drown, Fynrare Fletcher, Andrew Harris, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 302, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 159, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families who live and/or work in the City of Richmond and Contra Costa County.Richmond Residents for Responsible DevelopmentBay Walk Mixed-Use ProjectCity of Richmond
Plumbers and Pipefitters Union, Local 447, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, Local 340 and Sheet Metal Workers Union, Local 162 and their members and their families and other individuals who live and work in the City and County of Sacramento. Petitioner Brian Lujan is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Development who lives in the City of Sacramento approximately 2 miles east of the Project site. Petitioner Gary Krula is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Development who lives in the City of Sacramento approximately one mile east of the Project site. Petitioner Frank Albert is a member of the Coalition for Responsible Development who lives in the City of Sacramento approximately one mile north of the Project site.Coalition for Responsible DevelopmentDelta Shores ProjectCity of Sacramento
San Diego County resident Billie Johnson, the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, and UNITE HERE Local 30, and their local union affiliates and union members and their families who live, recreate and/or work in the City of San Diego and San Diego County.San Diego Coalition for A Better Convention CenterSan Diego Convention Center Expansion Phase 3City of San Diego
City of San Jose residents Karl Baumheckel, Mark Ross and Conrad Pierce; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 393, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families; and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County.San Jose Residents for Responsible DevelopmentCannery Park/Hanover ProjectCity of San Jose
City of San Jose residents Mark Ross, Daniel Kiefer, Eddie Maxie, Conrad Pierce, Jeffrey Funston, Michael Smith and William Serpa; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 393, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families; and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County.San Jose Residents for Responsible DevelopmentGreat Oaks Mixed Use ProjectCity of San Jose
David Clark, R.C. Crawford, Phillip Francisco, Victor Galvez, Matt Hancoc, Ricci Herro, Gregory Small, Robert Stuhr, Corey Quevedo, Scott Thomas, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 393, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families and other individuals who live and work in the City of Santa Clara and Santa Clara County.Santa Clara Residents for Responsible Development45 Buckingham ProjectCity of Santa Clara
An unincorporated association of individuals and labor unions; City of Sunnyvale residents Jack X. Jones, Cheryl Pollock and Bob Rule; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 332, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 393, Sheet Metal Workers Local 104, and their members and their families; and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County.Sunnyvale Residents for Responsible DevelopmentEast Weddell Residential Projects City of Sunnyvale
Fresno County residents Jeff Taylor, Carrie Taylor, and Vaughn Laymon, and California Unions for Reliable Energy (“CURE”) and its local union affiliates and the local union members and their families that live and/or work in Fresno County.Fresno County Citizens for Responsible SolarGestamp Asetym Solar GIFFEN 1 PlantCounty of Fresno
California Unions for Reliable Energy (“CURE”), whose members represent workers who live, work, recreate and raise their families in Imperial County, as well as individual Imperial County residents, including Calexico resident Alfonso Carmona-Jimenez. CURE is a coalition of labor unions whose members build, maintain and operate conventional and renewable energy power plants in Imperial County and throughout California.Imperial Citizens for Responsible IndustryImperial Valley Solar Company 2County of Imperial
Individuals (including Rosamont residents Gary Wilcox and Daniel Wilbur, Mojave residents Gaston Moore, Lorreta Moore and Emilio Pino, and Tehachapi residents Josh Hernandez and Neal Herman), and groups, including California Unions for Reliable Energy and its members and their families.Kern County Citizens for Responsible SolarWillow Springs Solar Array ProjectCounty of Kern
James Bailey and Perry Brown, and California Unions for Reliable Energy and its members and their families.Coalition for Responsible Mammoth DevelopmentCasa Diablo IV Geothermal Development ProjectCounty of Mono
Monterey County residents, such as Manuel Ramos, Robert Greene, and California Unions for Reliable Energy (“CURE”) and its members and their families and other individuals that live and/or work in Monterey County.Monterey County Residents for Responsible DevelopmentCalifornia Flats Solar ProjectCounty of Monterey
Robert Bell, Ricky Williams, and Steven Bonner.Placer Citizens Against GridlockPlacer University Specific PlanCounty of Placer
Blythe resident George Ellis, Riverside County resident James Hennegan, and California Unions for Reliable Energy
(“CURE”) and its members and families and other individuals that live and/or work in the City of Blythe and Riverside County.
Citizens for Responsible SolarBlythe Mesa Solar ProjectCounty of Riverside
San Benito County residents, such as John Barber, Wallace Barnes, James Brown, Miguel Bustos, Bryan Daniel, L. Earl Davis, Randall Dike, Heath Guaracha, Richard Hodges, Valentin Ivanov, Andres Laureano, Steven Luiz, Jose Martinez, Robert Rovella, Gilbert Sanchez, Charles Schlesinger, Jaime Urzua, and California Unions for Reliable Energy (“CURE”) and its members and their families and other individuals that live, recreate and/or work in San Benito County (collectively, “San Benito Residents”).San Benito Residents for Responsible DevelopmentPanoche Valley Solar ProjectCounty of San Benito
Mark Rice, Duane Morris, Joshua Ast, and California Unions for Reliable Energy ("CURE") and its members and their families.San Bernardino Citizens for Responsible SolarAgincourt Solar Project and Marathon Solar ProjectCounty of San Bernardino
“Participating unions,” Ian Ostrov, who lives and works in the vicinity of the Project, Gene Sewell who lives and works in Arroyo Grande, California.Safe Fuel and Energy Resources California (“SAFER California”)Phillips 66 Company Rail Spur Extension ProjectCounty of San Luis Obispo
Sutter County residents including John Coots, Danny Fennel, Ian Trotti, Jerrick Upton, Derek West, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry (“UA”) Local 228, UA Local 447, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 340, Sheet Metal Workers International Association Local 162 and their members and their families, and other individuals that live and/or work in Sutter County.Sutter Coalition for Responsible DevelopmentSutter Pointe Specific PlanCounty of Sutter