(KRON) — The Oakland City Attorney’s Office announced Friday that it has filed a public nuisance lawsuit against Suprema Meats and its property owners, alleging that the company has operated for years in a way that harms the community, causing noise pollution and dangerously blocking residents’ right of way.
The attorney’s office said Suprema has ignored neighborhood complaints for years, putting individuals in danger and causing residents and their children to suffer from loss of sleep and constant anxiety.
According to the lawsuit, the company begins daily operations as early as “3:30 or 4:00 a.m.” and allows “refrigerated semi-trucks to idle their engines throughout the night,” creating a “constant rumble” that shakes and vibrates neighbors’ homes. The suit also states that Suprema permits its delivery trucks to use public sidewalks as an “industrial loading zone,” creating traffic hazards and forcing pedestrians to walk unsafely in the roadway.
“Suprema Meats has been using the legal process to delay complying with local laws while they continue to cause harm to the community surrounding them. That stops today,” said Oakland City Attorney Ryan Richardson in a news release. “It is unfair to neighbors and law-abiding businesses when companies like Suprema flout city ordinances to maximize profits. Residents have a reasonable expectation to regular quiet hours and streets that are clear of obstructions.”
The lawsuit, which seeks a court injunction to “stop Suprema’s constant noise,” details the company’s daily activities, including employees yelling to each other, operating forklifts that beep when reversing, “loud unexpected banging and crashes,” and the clanging of a heavy gate.
On weekends, workers regularly power-wash their trucks, creating “loud noise” that prevents residents from opening their windows or using their backyards, the suit states.
The Oakland City Attorney’s Office said Suprema has outgrown its facility but refuses to relocate to a new operational space that better accommodates its growth.
“Suprema Meats has been operating without regard for its neighbors for years and has not shown any willingness to work with the City to legalize their business operations, despite many efforts to resolve these concerns without going to court,” said District 1 Councilmember Zac Unger in a news statement. “My constituents should not have to live alongside this public nuisance, and I’m grateful to City Attorney Ryan Richardson for taking this next step in enforcement to protect the neighborhood.”
The attorney’s office said the City of Oakland has repeatedly raised concerns about code violations to Suprema and its property owners, 955 57th St. LLC and Miguel E. Jara Jr., but “efforts to bring operations in line with City ordinances have been rebuffed.”
(KRON) — The Oakland City Attorney’s Office announced Friday that it has filed a public nuisance lawsuit against Suprema Meats and its property owners, alleging that the company has operated for years in a way that harms the community, causing noise pollution and dangerously blocking residents’ right of way. The attorney’s office said Suprema has […]
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