The powerful San Francisco-based International Longshore and Warehouse Union held a press conference at the entrance to the old Sperry Mill in Vallejo on May 10 to announce its strong opposition to the proposed Orcem Cement Factory and Vallejo Marine Terminal at that location.
The ILWU announces its opposition to the construction of a slag-cement plant and shipping terminal on Vallejo’s waterfront at a recent press conference. Photo by Linda Stout
BY BC STAFF
Published: June, 2017
The powerful San Francisco-based International Longshore and Warehouse Union held a press conference at the entrance to the old Sperry Mill in Vallejo on May 10 to announce its strong opposition to the proposed Orcem Cement Factory and Vallejo Marine Terminal at that location.
The project was rejected by the Vallejo Planning Commission in late February. The full Vallejo City Council was expected to vote on the plan on May 30. (This issue went to press on May 26, so the outcome of the vote was unavailable at press time.)
At the event on May 10, ILWU Local 10 President Edwin Ferris was joined by others from the community, including Fresh Air Vallejo President Peter Brooks.
“ILWU Local 10 supports the citizens of Vallejo in their opposition to the proposed Vallejo Marine Terminal project. It would be quite irresponsible to support this proposed project at the expense of the health of the environment and the local community,” said Ferris.
“Shiploads of industrial waste from Asia and Mexico for the proposed Orcem cement factory and Vallejo Marine Terminal should never be unloaded on Vallejo’s waterfront so close to homes and a school. We are grateful the ILWU sees that the job numbers Orcem and VMT have tried to claim are grossly inflated for a project whose harm to Vallejo outweighs any possible benefit,” said Brooks.
The Redwood Chapter of the Sierra Club (Solano and Napa groups), Fresh Air Vallejo and other community groups all oppose the project, noting that it is an “environmental nightmare.” These groups have said that the project poses significant threats to the environment as well as health dangers to nearby homes and a school.
