Homeowners and Workers Travel Across U.S. to Tell Largest Homebuilding Corporation: “Stop Foreclosing on the American Dream”

Homeowners and workers will travel 3,300 miles, stopping in 10 cities across the U.S., to tell Pulte Homes – the largest corporate homebuilder in America – to stop foreclosing on the American Dream.

Riding their “Build America so America Works” RV, the tour will highlight the role Pulte Homes and its smaller partners played in crashing the U.S. housing market. The market collapse has resulted in the loss of 2 million construction jobs, nearly 3 million foreclosures and billions of dollars in lost retirement savings. As the leading homebuilder, Pulte Homes can help prevent another crisis.
Workers and homeowners will participate in variety of events from church and union hall forums to rallies, all featuring the personal stories of homeowners and construction workers impacted by the economic crisis, as well as views from community leaders, elected officials and policy experts. Reporters interested in riding with homeowners and workers for part of the tour should email dpage@liuna.org or jhay@liuna.org to make arrangements.

Contact: Dawn Page at 480-619-9263 or Jacob Hay, 202-445-4788.

TOUR SCHEDULE

Las Vegas, NV
What: Rally at KB Home Regional Office
When: 10:00 am, Thursday, December 3rd
Where: 5655 West Badura Avenue, Las Vegas, NV

What: Build America so America Works forum – a community discussion the impact of corporate homebuilders and the housing collapse on homeowners, workers and communities
Who: Homeowners from Nevada, Southern California and Arizona hurt by the lending, sales and appraisal practices of Pulte Homes and KB Home
• Construction workers from Mesquite, NV and Tucson, AZ fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
• Construction workers from Las Vegas, NV who recently won a $241,000 class action settlement from SelectBuild, a large subcontractor building homes for corporate homebuilders in Nevada
• Representatives from LIUNA Local 872 in Las Vegas
• Marco Rauda, State Director, Democracia USA
• Pastor Joel Menchaca, Amistad Cristiana, International Hispanic Church of Las Vegas
• Ruben Kihuen, Nevada State Assemblyman, 11th District (tentative)
• Mo Denis, Nevada State Assemblyman, 28th District (tentative)
When: 5:30 pm, Thursday, December 3rd
Where: Clark County District Library, 833 Las Vegas Boulevard North, LA Vegas, NV

Phoenix, AZ
What: Rally at Pulte Homes Regional Office
When: 11:00 am, Friday, December 4th
Where: 10235 South 51st Street, Phoenix, AZ

What: Build America so America Works forum – a community discussion on the nation’s largest homebuilding corporation and the U.S. housing market. Participants TBA.
• Homeowners from Arizona and Southern California hurt by the lending, sales and appraisal practices of Pulte Homes and KB Home
• Construction workers from Tucson, AZ and Nevada, fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
• Patricia Garcia Duarte, Executive Director Neighborhood Housing Services
• Tom Chabin, Democrat Representative – District 2
• Representatives from the Laborers’ International Union of North America
When: Friday, December 4thth at 2 -3:30 p.m.
Where: Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Avenue – 4th Floor Lecture Room

Austin, TX
What: Delegation of local construction workers will try to speak with Centex executives; rally outside the Centex Office to follow
When: 2:00 pm, Monday, December 7th
Where: 11149 Research Boulevard, Austin, TX

What: Build America so America Works forum – a community discussion on the nation’s largest homebuilding corporation and the U.S. housing market.
Who: Homeowners from Arizona and North Carolina hurt by the lending, sales and appraisal practices of Pulte Homes and KB Home Construction workers from Mesquite, NV and Tucson, AZ fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
• Wayne Caswell, Homeowners of Texas
• Emily Timm, Workers Defense Project
• Robert Jensen, University of Texas
When: 5:00 pm, Monday, December 7th
Where: Hilton Garden Inn – Creekside Room, 500 North IH 35, Austin, TX

Dallas, TX
What: Rally at Centex National Headquarters
When: 10:00 am, Tuesday, December 8th
Where: 2728 North Harwood Street, Dallas, TX‎

St. Louis, MO
What: Build America so America Works forum – a discussion on the impact of the corporate homebuilding industry on local communities and economies
Who: Homeowners hurt by the lending, sales, building and appraisal practices of corporate homebuilders
• Local construction workers impacted by the economic downturn
• Construction workers from Mesquite, NV and Tucson, AZ fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
• Lou Aboussie, Congressman Clay’s office
• Scott Colbert, Director of Fixed Income, Commerce Bank
• Debbie Irwin, Foreclosure Task Force Coordinator, Beyond Housing
When: 3:00 pm, Thursday, December 10th
Where: LIUNA Local 42, 3710 Enright Avenue, St. Louis MO, 63108

Nashville, TN
What: Rally at Pulte Homes Nashville Division Office
When: 11:00 am, Friday December 11th
Where: 370 Mallory Station Road, Franklin, TN 37067

What: Build America So America Works Forum: Hear first hand accounts of the impact of the corporate homebuilding industry on the housing and job crisis, from Nashville and across the country.
Who:
• Megan Macaraeg, Executive Director for Middle Jobs for Justice which is Co-Sponsoring the forum.
• Homeowners hurt by the lending, sales, building and appraisal practices of corporate homebuilders
• Construction workers from Nevada and a Tucson, AZ worker fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union.
• Local construction workers impacted by the economic downturn.
• Local academics and clergy putting the local impact into perspective.
When: 3:30 pm, Friday, December 11th
Where: Scarritt Bennett Center, 1st Floor of Laskey Building (Room 103)
Parking at 1008 18th Avenue South, Nashville TN 37212 / (Lots A & B)

Indianapolis, IN
What: Build America so America Works forum – a discussion on the impact of the corporate homebuilding industry on local communities and economies.
Who: Homeowners hurt by the lending, sales, building and appraisal practices of corporate homebuilders
• Local construction workers impacted by the economic downturn
• Construction workers from Mesquite, NV and Tucson, AZ fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
• Indianapolis City Council Member Jose Evan
• Professor Tom Marvin, IUPUI
• Pastor Darren Cushman-Wood, Lockerbie Square United Methodist Church
When: 10:00 am, Saturday, December 12th
Where: Lockerbie Square United Methodist Church, 237 North East Street, Indianapolis, IN

Detroit, MI
What: Build America so America Works forum – a community discussion on the nation’s largest homebuilding corporation and the U.S. housing market.
When: 5:00 pm, Monday, December 14th
Who: Southfield Mayor, Brenda Lawrence
• State Representative, Vincent Gregory
• Homeowners hurt by the sales and lending practices of Pulte Homes
• Construction workers fired by Pulte Homes for asking to be paid for all hours worked and trying to join together in a union
Where: Hilton Garden Inn 26000 American Drive, Southfield, MI

What: Massive rally and demonstration at Pulte Homes Headquarters.
When: 10:00 am, Tuesday, December 15th
Where: Pulte Homes Headquarters 100 Bloomfield Hills Pkwy, Bloomfield Hills, MI

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The half million members of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build America.