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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 2006)
But voter approval is needed V OT E ! Proposed entertainment center will be union-built Quarry 8” Safety toe or reg. Gortex/Vibram. Black Try a pair on, you’ll like them. Tough boots for the Northwest. AL’S SHOES 5811 SE 82nd, Portland 503-771-2130 Mon-Fri 10-7:30 Sat 10-5:30 Sun 12-6 it represents good faith and goodwill from its backers.” Financial consultant Bruce Studer and lawyer Matt Rossman of Lake Os- wego are trying to secure two ballot measures that, if approved by Oregon voters, would allow for a single casino on nontribal land. But the project is much more than that. At the ceremonial signing of the project labor agreement, Studer and Rossman said the proposed $450 mil- lion facility would be a “world-class en- tertainment center” that would include a luxury hotel, fine restaurants, a spa, shopping, a movie cinema, live theater venues for local, national and interna- tional stars, a bowling alley and water park. The men have formed the Good For Oregon Committee and have filed ini- tiative petitions to 1) repeal a constitu- tional ban on nontribal casinos and, 2) direct the Legislature to authorize a sin- gle gaming facility at the dog track. At press time, the state had yet to ap- prove ballot titles for any of the peti- tions on file. If and when approval is granted the men will immediately be- gin collecting signatures. They will need more than 100,000 registered voter signatures by July 7 in order to get the measures on the November ballot. Rossman said their research shows Oregonians would support a gaming center at the dog track. If successful at the polls, construction would most likely begin in January 2007, with a goal of opening the first of two phases of the center by August 2007. Labor leaders from 18 unions affili- ated with the Columbia-Pacific Build- ing Trades Council signed a project la- bor agreement April 19 with backers of a proposed casino, hotel and entertain- ment center at the defunct Multnomah Kennel Club in Wood Village east of Portland. “They’ve got a big hill to climb (to make it happen), but we think it’s a good idea,” John Mohlis, executive sec- retary-treasurer of the building trades council, told the Northwest Labor Press. “Job creation is one of the most important issues facing Oregon right now. This is a significant agreement and T HE M ARCO C ONSULTING G ROUP T HE M ARCO C ONSULTING G ROUP INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS TO MULTI - EMPLOYER BENEFIT FUNDS P LEASE CALL J ASON Z ENK IN T ACOMA , WA AT (253) 759-6768 W EST C OAST O FFICE M IDWEST O FFICE E AST C OAST O FFICE 2912 N ORTH 26 TH S TREET T ACOMA , WA 98407 P: 253-759-6768 F: 312-575-9840 550 W EST W ASHINGTON B LVD . N INTH F LOOR C HICAGO , IL 60661 P: 312 575-9000 F: 312 575-9840 1220 A DAMS S TREET F IRST F LOOR B OSTON , MA 02124 P: 617 298-0967 F: 617 298-0966 Matt Rossman of Lake Oswego, chief petitioner on a pair of initiatives that would allow a casino on nontribal land, speaks to the press before signing a construction project labor agreement with affiliates of the Columbia-Pacific Building and Construction Trades Council (standing in background). “This would be one of the largest construction projects in Oregon’s his- tory, putting to work more than 3,000 men and women” in the construction industry, said Rossman, who is the chief petitioner on the initiatives. Rossman said a study conducted by Johnson & Gardner said the restoration project would create 3,145 construction jobs, 3,563 permanent jobs, plus an ad- dition 4,500 indirect jobs. “These would all be local, family- wage jobs,” Mohlis said. “The contrac- tors on this project would all have train- ing programs and would be part of helping train the construction workforce of the future.” “We wouldn’t have it any other way,” added Studer. “We’re building a world-class resort and we’re doing it with Oregon’s highest-skilled workers.” 7LUHG RI :RUNLQJ LQ 3$,1" 0RVW,QVXUDQFH 3ODQV$FFHSWHG 3 528'/< 6 (59,1* 3 257/$1' : 25.(56 ) 25 2 9(5 < ($56 PAGE 8 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS In addition to the family-wage jobs, Studer and Rossman have written into one of the initiatives the creation of an Oregon Gaming Commission, in which the casino would be authorized to con- tribute 25 percent of its adjusted gross revenues each year. The Goodfororegon.com Web site estimates potential annual donations of $197 million once the complex is fully operational. It shows Portland School District potentially receiving $20 mil- lion a year; and Reynolds and Gresham- Barlow school districts each potentially getting $5 million year. Rossman said no taxpayer dollars will be used toward the development, operation or regulation of the facility. In fact, the facility expects to pay its full share of taxes in addition to the 25 per- cent for schools and other services. %HHVRQ &KLURSUDFWLF KHOSVEULQJWKH UHOLHI\RXQHHG 7UHDWPHQWIRUSDLQGXHWR RYHUXVHDQGUHSHWLWLYHPRWLRQ &KLURSUDFWLFDGMXVWPHQWV 7UHDWPHQWIRUDFFLGHQWDQG VSRUWVUHODWHGLQMXULHV 5HKDELOLWDWLRQH[HUFLVHV 7KHUDSHXWLFPDVVDJH ,QWHUQDOGLDJQRVLVDQGWUHDWPHQW /DEWHVWVDQG[UD\V 'U'DQ%HHVRQ&KLURSUDFWRU 6(7KLUWHHQWK$YHLQ6HOOZRRG &$// MAY 5, 2006
