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Unions Show Support for Casino at Hudson Yards

On Thursday, October 24, hundreds of trade union members gathered near the High Line park offices on Manhattan’s West Side, rallying in support of developer Related Companies and Wynn Resorts’ proposal for a $12 billion casino, office, and housing complex at Hudson Yards.
Unions Show Support for Casino at Hudson Yards
The “We Build” rally, held by union members, responded to recent opposition from the nonprofit Protect the High Line, which argues that the proposed development would obstruct the iconic New York skyline views from the High Line Park. Located above Hudson Yards on the former Western Rail Lines, the urban park has voiced concerns over potential impact.
Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York President Gary LaBarbera joined hundreds of union workers outside the High Line’s main offices on 18th Street, advocating for the six-million-square-foot project.
“This is about your future,” LaBarbera told crowds, according to a report by W42ST.com. “This city must continue to develop. If it does not develop, you don’t have a future.”

Broad union support

The report states that union members from Local 580 Iron Workers, Carpenters, Sheet Metal Workers Local 28, UA Plumbers Local 1, District Council 9, and others gathered outside the High Line’s offices in support of the project.
Debate over the proposal has been ongoing. Manhattan Community Board 4, along with Protect the High Line, opposes the Related/Wynn plan, favoring a 2009 vision for the Western Rail Yards with 5,762 housing units and no high-rise buildings or casino. In contrast, the Related/Wynn proposal includes 1,507 housing units as part of the development.
“Our concern is this massive development project, as currently proposed, was designed without any community input and would do permanent damage to the High Line,” Van Capelle wrote in an op-ed published in Monday’s New York Daily News. “Design choices in the development plan for Hudson Yards West would severely and permanently block views of the city [and] shroud the High Line and other open spaces in shadows for most of the day.”
At the rally, union members supported LaBarbera. In addition, some chanted “F** *the shade!” in response to concerns over the High Line vistas.

“Tyranny of non-development”

LaBarbera addressed the crowd, stating that Protect the High Line's leadership was “prioritizing their elite interests over the future of you and your families.”
“We’re going to fight against this tyranny of non-development in this city,” said LaBarbera. “We have to send a message, not only to these organisations but to the elected officials as well, that we will not support them, we will never leave them alone, until they support us and our futures.”
Wynn and Related have highlighted that the Hudson Yards project would generate 35,000 union construction jobs and 5,000 permanent union positions. Vincent Alvarez, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, shared with W42ST, “We’re eager for real development. We need housing, new stores, and hotels to be built—not excuses.”
The Wynn New York City project is one of 11 proposals competing for three downstate casino licenses near Manhattan, set to be awarded in late 2025.

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