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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
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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.”
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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.
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MAY 5, 2006
