Unions seeing new benefits in 'smart growth' By John Ritter, USA TODAY
SAN DIEGO — A battle to curtail suburban sprawl around California's second-largest city feels like déjà vu. The same powerful interests that shot down protections for rural land six years ago are poised to torpedo a new ballot measure in March.
Except for a key difference. Organized labor, once opposed to any development curbs for fear of losing jobs, avidly supports the recycled voter initiative.
The building trades unions, usually wary of "smart growth" policies, have become convinced that those development practices hold potential for more jobs and better jobs than sprawl does.