Thousands of Union Construction Workers Rally Against Anti-Development Campaigns in NYC

Thousands of construction workers joined The Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (NYC BCTC) yesterday, rallying against anti-development campaigns led by special interest groups who oppose high rise construction with arguments that tall buildings will create shadows, obstruct views, and cause “wind tunnels.” The most recent and prolific example of this is the Friends of the High Line’s public opposition to high rise construction and other development on the West Side of Manhattan. This kind of anti-development mantra is blocking tens of thousands of middle-class careers, stifling affordable housing creation, and impacting workers and their families.

The rally featured remarks from Gary LaBarbera, President of the NYC BCTC, NYC CLC President Vincent Alvarez, community members and business owners near The High Line who support and benefit from development, and union apprentices and tradespeople who are potentially losing out on life-changing career opportunities.

These types of not-in-my-backyard movements not only undermine job creation, but they also deepen inequality by ensuring that only the wealthy can afford to live and thrive in Manhattan while the working class struggles to make ends meet. Workers should be able to live and raise their families in the city they built. Read more about the High Line anti-development campaign in Crains.