AIMCO will be sued and the injustice done to many workers brought to light

It is a shame that the key leaders of Union 22, 261, and 271 have failed all Union Members in California and this Nation.

Some leaders belonging to Union 22, 261, and 271 have with intent worked with some sub-contractors to fleece hard working carpenters - many Union and some non-Union - of their salaries. All this happening in San Francisco - a Union City.

Sophie Maxwell - the inept, ignorant, and very arrogant Supervisor of District 10 went out of her way - to aid and abet AIMCO. Sophie Maxwell went out of her way to get AIMCO over $80 million to fix the apartments that AIMCO manages. All California Bond Money.

The $80 million all bond money from Californians was given to AIMCO - AIMCO turns around and brings in the prime contractors Fortney and Weyjendt from OHIO. Can you imagine using California bond money - to be wasted by outside contractors - from outside California.

"Our bosses cashed the paychecks of many of the Latino workers" states Fausto Agular one of the plaintiffs in the law suit.

"They kept a part of our wages and paid us the rest in cash. When the Latino and African-American workers came together and complained about it - many of us were fired".

Another plaintiff - Gregory Hall states: " It got so bad the management would separate the workers by race by holding secret meetings with some of us. When we circulated a petition complaining about the abuses - we were fired and replaced with non-union workers".

City Build has played a key role - working with AIMCO to hire workers and has now stepped aside and left the workers high and dry.

Sophie Maxwell has touted City Build as a model - in this case City Build has proved to be an utter failure. Sophie Maxwell has encouraged certain entities to help AIMCO against the workers.

The District Attorney could easily - conduct a swift investigation.

Bring this case that will be known to the world - and bring ill fame to San Francisco to a halt.

But, the District Attorney, Kamala Harris has dragged this case - and many key Union Leaders - are hiding with her support - after fleecing innocent, hard working carpenters for over two years.

San Francisco is a Union city and our Mayor Gavin Newsom has NOT said a word about the AIMCO case. In fact all over San Francisco - innocent union and non-union workers - are fleeced by crooks many Union and some non-union.

The City and County of San Francisco holds over sight authority over AIMCO's project and recently settled other litigation related to AIMCO's violations in other developments in the same neighborhood that AIMCO controls apartments - in the Bayview Hunters Point.

AIMCO is using inferior material according to testimony from the Carpenters that have put their statements in writing and will be part of the law suit.

Together with Fortney and Weyjendt the prime contractors, IMR, Bay Building Services, and Bay Area Construction Framers are all going to be sued.

There are many parties some acting as Consultants who were in Sacramento - Townsend, Linda Richardson, Banks, Keith Jackson - all favoring AIMCO. They are all part of this project that has failed the community and the workers.

The leader of the crooks - Supervisor Sophie Maxwell who has said not one word about this failed project. Imagine wasting $80 million to California tax payers' money.

Some weeks ago a man was shot at one of the job sites and died. Workers were sent home.

The AIMCO project has brought division among the Carpenters - AIMCO has pitied African Americans against Latinos in this case. Destroyed harmony in the neighborhood. All under the watchful eye of Mayor Gavin Newsom.

Innocent renting paying residents have been treated like dirt.

Some were given a few days notice to get out of their apartments - so that they could be rehabilitated. If the residents did not move out - they were intimidated.

Others, were promised they could return to their apartments in weeks and were made to stayed away for months - before returning.

Talking to the residents - the whole project is a mess. Many residents returned to apartments that were not fixed properly. Some smelled gas - and the plumbing was defective.

The City and County has jurisdiction over these apartments - and the Building Inspection Department has NOT been doing their job.

Jim Hutchinson would have done his job - but the Mayor and his cronies - saw that he was laid off. The present Department of Building Inspection talks the talk - but cannot walk the walk.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation can step in - but has been slow.

One Union Leader has a gambling habit - and has been actively involved in the fleecing.

One Union Leader is always at City Hall proclaiming he is working for the Carpenters' Union - but has failed to maintain standards - and has played a role in the fleecing of Innocent Workers. He is in charge of Marketing - but has used the position to rake in illegal money.

The SF Board of Supervisor without proper dialog with the community - allowed AIMCO to get California State Bond Money - in the millions - over $80 million.

California Attorney General - Jerry Brown must be informed about AIMCO and send the culprits to jail for a long, long time.

In the interim the residents at Bayview Hunters Point - in the AIMCO complexes are suffering.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has jurisdiction over this issue - but he is busy with extra curricula activities.

Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy