Only Unity Can Challenge Environmentalism, Inc.

By Edward Ring
05/15/2024
The California Environmental Quality Act was passed by the state legislature in 1971. At that time, it was the first legislation of its kind in the nation, if not the world. Its original intent was to “inform government decisionmakers and the public about the potential environmental effects of proposed activities and to prevent significant, avoidable environmental damage.”...

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

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

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

Union Environmental Appeal of San Jose Infill High-Rise Fools No One

By Kevin Dayton
08/13/2013
Today (Tuesday, August 13, 2013) construction trade unions either showed exceptional arrogance or exceptional foolishness when they chose to exploit the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) against a high-profile “infill” project in downtown San Jose. For the past few years, some California state legislators have wanted to discourage CEQA actions meant to advance objectives unrelated...

TAGS: Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA Reform, Chuck Reed, Darrell Steinberg, San Jose mayor Chuck Reed, Santa Clara-San Benito Building and Construction Trades Council

Unions Extensively Interfere with California Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant Permitting

By Kevin Dayton
07/20/2013
Earlier this week, www.UnionWatch.org posted the article Did Unions Hasten Demise of California’s Solar Thermal Power Plants? For the first time, the public can examine a comprehensive compilation of specific evidence showing how construction trade unions have exploited the state’s environmental protection laws to impede licensing of proposed solar thermal power plants at the California Energy Commission. But what about proposed solar photovoltaic power...

TAGS: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE), CEQA Reform, Did Unions Hasten Demise of California’s Solar Thermal Power Plants?, Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local Union No. 1184, Project Labor Agreements

CEQA Debate Rule No. 1: Do NOT Mention Union “Greenmail”

By Kevin Dayton
02/21/2013
“Here’s the plan: pretend that unions aren’t exploiting the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as a tool to obtain labor agreements. Maybe no one will notice.” Supporters and opponents of CEQA reform are straining to avoid this uncomfortable subject as influential Democrats in the California State Senate prepare to introduce an alleged reform of CEQA...

TAGS: A Move to Put the Union Label on Solar Power Plants, Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, California Energy Commission, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), California Unions for Reliable Energy (CURE), CEQA Reform, Clark Construction, Corporate campaign, corporate campaigns, Greenmail, Labor Coalition’s Tactics on Renewable Energy Projects Are Criticized, Laborers Union (LIUNA) Local No. 783, Lorena Gonzalez, San Diego Convention Center Expansion, San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, UNITE HERE Local Union No. 30

Unions Threaten Environmental Litigation to Block San Diego Convention Center

By Kevin Dayton
09/20/2012
Whatever your views concerning the wisdom of the proposed $520 million expansion of the San Diego Convention Center and the related expansion of the adjacent Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, you should be outraged at the shameless stunt of top San Diego labor union officials and their lawyers at the September 19, 2012 meeting of the...

TAGS: Adams Broadwell Joseph & Cardozo, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), CEQA Reform, Greenmail, Jerry Brown, Lorena Gonzalez, National University System Institute for Policy Research in San Diego, Project Labor Agreements, San Diego Convention Center Expansion, San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council, San Diego County Central Labor Council, Tom Lemmon, UNITE HERE Local Union No. 30