Construction unions escalated a fight over a proposal to build a $12 billion casino complex in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards complex with a thunderous rally on Oct. 24.
The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York brought out hundreds of construction trades union laborers filling a full city block on 18th Street next to the High Line as a counter response to the High Line’s opposition to the development.
“We have people that are coming out for their own self-interests and this NIMBYism that we see taking place — they are willing to shut jobs down, are willing to prevent economic development from taking place and making the city thrive,” said NYC Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez.
Over the summer, the nonprofit that oversees the linear High Line park launched a campaign against Wynn Resorts and Related Companies’ casino bid, which could include an 80-story skyscraper and a five-story building containing the casino. Related and Wynn say the development would create 5,000 permanent union careers, along with 35,000 union construction jobs.
But opponents of the casino say that a project of this size would diminish the visitor experience at the West Side park by blocking views, creating winds and casting shadows on the park.
At the rally, Gary LaBarbera, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council, framed the High Line opposition as out of touch with the interests of the construction workers who would benefit from the jobs.
“Brothers and sisters, it’s your futures, it’s your family. Remember, they are very wealthy people. They have influences, they have theirs. But you know what? All of your leadership, me, Vinny, we want you to have yours too,” he said.
Related Companies has a tumultuous past with the trades council, which waged a fierce campaign against the developer during its use of non-union labor in the construction build out Hudson Yards. Now the building trades are bolstering Related’s bid for the enormous hotel-casino proposal because it would offer one of the highest levels of union job creation of the 11 developers who are all competing for a casino license next year.
A spokesperson for the Protect the High Line campaign downplayed the group’s disagreement between the construction unions, saying that they both want the site developed but not with the plan that Related Companies has proposed. Prior to the rally, the group released polling it commissioned that found 70% of residents in surrounding areas thought that the skyscraper and casino would harm their communities.
As the Real Deal reported, the High Line group has leverage through local Council-member Erik Bottcher who will ultimately play a key role in approving the development’s zoning change.
“New Yorkers want to see responsible development that respects our existing community commitments,” said Alan van Capelle, executive director of Friends of the High Line, in a press release.
At the rally, Joe Geiger, executive secretary treasurer of the New York City District Council of Carpenters, dismissed this view as anti-development.
“I will tell you what these anti-development people support, they support the suffocation of the American dream,” he said. “It is in part behind the housing crisis, the unbuilt for needed highways. And it’s what pushes people like you and me outta these neighborhoods.”
