(NEW YORK CITY) – Unionized Laborers converged on a block on Manhattan’s Far West Side last week to hear Union Leaders denounce what they are calling the “anti-development” policies of Special Interest Groups and City Officials, who they said are stalling construction and compromising the livelihood of Trades People.

The Labor Leaders, among them Gary LaBarbera - President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, and Vincent Alvarez, who heads the New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, were vehement in their criticism of the Friends of the High Line opposition to development near the elevated park.

According to LaBarbera and others who addressed the throng of Laborers who assembled on West 18th Street last Thursday (October 31st) evening, High Line Officials are against further development along or near the park that would cast shadows on the elevated walkway.

In particular, the Friends of the High Line don’t want to see a casino built near the park’s northern end, LaBarbera said. 

“The project they're trying to stop is a ($12 billion) project over seven years that will employ (30,000) Building Trades Members.  That's what they're trying to take away from us - (30,000) jobs is what they're trying to kill,” he told the hundreds of assembled Union Members. “We can't let them do that, Brothers and Sisters, because again, it's your futures.” 

The centerpiece of the project, a partnership of Related Companies and Wynn Resorts, would be a shimmering, 80-story skyscraper and two smaller towers overlooking the Hudson River across 11th Avenue in the Hudson Yards Development.

Besides the casino, the project would include offices, apartments and a park.

LaBarbera chided the High Line’s opposition, which he told the Workers was principally because the project would cast unwanted shade on the elevated park, which spans nearly 1.5 miles, from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street. 

To Continuing Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Unions, laborers rip ‘anti-development’ stance tied to Manhattan casino project - The Chief (thechiefleader.com)