Published on: October 23, 2024, 03:53h.
Last updated on: October 23, 2024, 03:53h.
A labor union has organized a rally on the West Side of Manhattan in support of the proposed $12 billion development of the Western Rail Yards by Related Cos. and Wynn Resorts. The project is facing opposition from affluent residents in the neighborhood.
The Building and Construction Trades Council will hold an event named “We Build” at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at 555 West 18th Street. This location includes part of the High Line area, which is a famous open space and park in New York that some locals believe will be affected by the development proposed by Related and Wynn.
Union President Gary LaBarbera sees opposition to the plan as a clash between the elites and the working class.
It is actually the elite members of the High Line Board who are against development because they prioritize their own sunlight and views over job opportunities,” he stated in a recent letter to labor organizations.
One of the main concerns about Related’s plan, which includes building several towers including the Wynn casino, is that these structures would obstruct views of the High Line.
Pro-Wynn NY Casino Rally Timing
If the “We Build” rally takes place tomorrow as planned, it will occur shortly after Protect the High Line, a nonprofit group that opposes the Related/Wynn project, released polling data showing that a majority of West Side residents do not want the construction to proceed.
A survey conducted by Public Policy Polling on behalf of the group revealed that 56% of respondents are against zoning changes that would allow the development, and 70% believe the towers proposed by Related would negatively impact nearby communities.
In his letter, LaBarbera emphasized the importance of creating jobs for the middle class rather than catering to the NIMBYism of wealthy individuals.
“We will no longer remain silent and prioritize career opportunities and pathways to the middle class over a few minutes of shade,” the union leader expressed.
Division Between Elites and Working Class
LaBarbera’s framing of the opposition to the Related/Wynn plan as a conflict between the elites and the working class is supported by data. The median income in the area of Manhattan including the High Line was $145,620 in 2022, 88% above the citywide average. This predominantly white Democratic neighborhood also has residential property prices that surpass the borough average.
Related and Wynn have claimed that their project would benefit the local economy by creating 35,000 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent union positions if the casino is approved. LaBarbera believes that creating these opportunities is crucial and that High Line residents need to acknowledge that New York is a city of skyscrapers.
“We live in a vertical City. We must continue to build and create opportunities for our City’s residents, including those in this community, to achieve a middle-class lifestyle. It is essential to raise our voices and make them heard,” he stated in a letter to Protect the High Line.