Judge Decides Cisco Didn't Interfere With Referendum Drive to Stop Their Project

SAN JOSE, CA-A judge has denied Silicon Valley-area environmentalists’ claims that software firm Cisco Systems tried to stop them from gathering signatures for a ballot referendum that seeks to block construction of the company’s Coyote Valley Research Campus. In order to place their referendum on the ballot, the People for Livable and Affordable Neighborhoods must get at least 27,732 valid signatures by Tuesday.

The 688-acre, 20,000-worker campus is slated for North Coyote Valley, 11 miles south of Downtown San Jose. PLAN argued in court that Cisco attempted to block their effort by offering petition gatherers money to support the development. Critics say the campus will pollute the environment, increase traffic and worsen an already nightmarishly expensive local housing market. Proponents say it will do more to enhance the surrounding communities than hurt them.