Using the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to Turn Out the Lights

By Kevin Dayton
01/10/2017
In California, if something saves money for taxpayers and improves life while reducing energy consumption, it’s bad for the environment and must be terminated. How do we know? Public participation in environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). For example, a law firm working on behalf of construction unions has identified numerous environmental...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

California Construction Unions Saved the Planet Again in 2015

By Kevin Dayton
12/30/2015
California construction trade unions continue to protect the environment from the scourges of renewable energy and infill development. A chart below provides examples of their achievements for the planet in 2015. Meanwhile, 2015 ends with the annual chatter at the state capitol that “maybe next year” will be the year that the California legislature amends the California Environmental Quality...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE), CEQA, Greenmail, Project Labor Agreement, Project Labor Agreements, San Diego Convention Center Expansion, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California

California Unions Masquerade as Community-Based Environmental Groups

By Kevin Dayton
07/31/2015
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is a labor issue. That’s why unions are prominent opponents of any amendments to CEQA that would restrict or prohibit using the law to achieve objectives not related to environmental protection. Unions routinely use CEQA as a tool to pressure public agencies and private developers (or their agents) to sign collective bargaining agreements, project labor...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA, CEQA Reform, Greenmail

Unions Still Selectively Finding Environmental Calamity in California Solar Projects

By Kevin Dayton
01/21/2015
Out of nowhere comes a new, well-funded champion of Mother Earth. A group called “Monterey County Residents for Responsible Development” has submitted two sets of letters and exhibits to Monterey County alleging serious deficiencies in its environmental review for the county’s first large solar photovoltaic power plant, the 280 megawatt California Flats. Obviously the Monterey...

TAGS: AB 32, Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE), CEQA, Did Unions Hasten Demise of California’s Solar Thermal Power Plants?, Greenmail, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California

Petaluma City Council Ignores Phony Union Environmental Objections

By Kevin Dayton
07/22/2014
A coalition of Sonoma County construction unions has failed in its effort to exploit California environmental laws to discourage the Petaluma City Council from approving the proposed Riverfront Mixed-Use Project. At 1:00 am today (July 22, 2014), the Petaluma City Council voted 5-2 to approve a Final Environmental Impact Report for this project, as required under the...

TAGS: Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Greenmail

How a Basketball Arena Would Expand the Unionized Workforce in Sacramento: Part 2

By Kevin Dayton
03/04/2014
Part 1 of “How a Basketball Arena Would Expand the Unionized Workforce in Sacramento” described how unions obtained a monopoly on construction of the arena through a backroom deal for a Project Labor Agreement. Part 2 describes how unions are likely to win representation of the food and service workers at the new downtown Sacramento...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Community Benefits Agreements, New Sacramento Kings Arena

Union Threatens to Block Apple, Inc. “Spaceship” with Environmental Lawsuit

By Kevin Dayton
10/19/2013
Perhaps the Service Employees International Union-United Service Workers West deserves grudging praise and respect for refusing to bow to American idols. Few groups have the gumption to challenge or criticize Apple, Inc., one of America’s most admired corporations. Apple generally gets away with commercial activity that the Left would slam relentlessly if practiced by other...

TAGS: Apple, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Greenmail, Service Employees International Union- United Service Workers West

Union Files Lawsuit Exploiting ObamaCare in California for Organizing Purposes

By Kevin Dayton
09/10/2013
Add ObamaCare to the list of laws that California unions are exploiting for “corporate campaign” strategies to coerce labor agreements or exert pressure during labor disputes. On September 4, 2013, the National Union of Healthcare Workers sued the California Health Benefit Exchange to boot Kaiser Permanente from the list of 12 health plans approved for...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Obamacare

Revised List of Union Actions in 2013 Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

By Kevin Dayton
09/03/2013
California State Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg is still talking about changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as the legislature works through its last two weeks in session in 2013. His vehicle for CEQA amendments – Senate Bill 731 – is still alive. It contains language that would supposedly help developers of urban...

TAGS: Apple, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA Reform, Darrell Steinberg, New Sacramento Kings Arena, Project Labor Agreements, Service Employees International Union- United Service Workers West