Hundreds rally for “fair development”
About 300 march to Inner Harbor demanding the end of tax subsidies to favored developers.
Above: Fair Development campaigners listen to a speaker before Saturday’s march to the Inner Harbor.
In a mix of street theater and old-fashioned labor organizing, about 300 people gathered near the construction site of the Horseshoe Casino on Russell Street, then marched to the Inner Harbor festooned with banners reading, “No More Failed Development.”
The Saturday march and rally were part of a campaign sponsored by Unite Here Local 7, United Workers and Community Churches United demanding a change in city policies that they say shower certain developers with tax breaks without demanding livable wages and other public benefits.
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A fast-food worker speaks out about the “debilitating effects” of low wages in Baltimore.
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In keeping with Unite Here’s campaign to force the Hyatt Regency Baltimore to end its use of full-time temporary workers and “abide by the terms of its agreement with the city,” the rally ended at McKeldin Square opposite the hotel.
“The Hyatt Regency received the benefit of public subsidies with the expectation that development would bring good jobs, yet today many of my co-workers work as temps for years, making barely more than minimum wage, with no hope of a permanent job,” said Mike Jones, a steward at the hotel.
Female rappers Double Impact perform at the rally. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
“We have to hold our local officials accountable,” Regina Davis, a Hyatt banquet server, told the crowd.
“We will get what we deserve if it takes us another year to march to the mayor’s office.”
Failed Development
The protesters cited the Hyatt, the Power Plant Live operations of the Cordish Companies and AirMall USA, the concessionaire at Thurgood Marshall BWI Airport, as examples of “failed development” in which millions of tax dollars went into private hands for projects that did not develop the local economy or bring good jobs to residents.
“Hunger is no stranger to this town,” said D. Taylor, president of Unite Here, which he attributed to the spread of “low-wage, no-benefit, dead-end jobs.”
Lauralee and Richard Humphrey attend at the rally. (Photo by Mark Reutter)
Citing what he said was a pending agreement with Caesars Entertainment Corp. to allow workers at the Horseshoe Casino to unionize without intimidation, Taylor said, “Caesars, Hyatt, BWI – they will come around.”
“I don’t think we can rest. We got to get other businesses in town. We need to get Maryland Live a real union,” Taylor added, referring to the Cordish-owned casino at Arundel Mills.
Lauralee and Richard Humphrey came from their home in Baltimore County because of their conviction that America is based on fair play.
“I’m here to support efforts to give fair wages and benefits to those who do most of the work. We’re from the 99%,” Richard said.
Lauralee said they have been involved with issues of poverty and homelessness, often working through the First Unitarian Church in Mt. Vernon.
Another marcher, Curtis Green, said he’s been unemployed even after graduating from a construction training program sponsored by Richie Armstrong’s Community Churches United.
“I’m qualified,” he said, “but can’t get a job because they [local contractors] are not hiring Baltimore residents.”
The march ended at McKeldin Square opposite the Hyatt Regency. In the distance, the Harborplace food and shopping pavilions and World Trade Center. (Courtesy of Michael Fox, United Workers)