Harborplace Anniversary, Reflecting on 30 years of Poverty-zone Development
This Fourth of July weekend, Harborplace, the first Inner Harbor development, will celebrate it’s 30th Anniversary. Harborplace developer and owner, General Growth Properties (GGP), and many others are using this as an opportunity to call for revitalizing Harborplace. GGP will highlight their plans to expand their consumer base to downtown residents and office workers, by filling empty space with trendier restaurants and retailers.
But as GGP gives Baltimore the pitch for a facelift, harbor workers continue to call for a real revitalization of the Inner Harbor. Inner Harbor developers, GGP and Cordish, must move beyond mere cosmetic changes for quick private gain to Fair Development standards that respect human rights, maximize public benefits, and are sustainable
This weekend GGP will celebrate 30 years of Harborplace history, but how does it hold up to the light when viewed from it’s human rights history? Most workers at the Inner Harbor are paid less than a living wage, which is poverty wage. Many workers must work 60 + hour weeks, holding two or more jobs just to make ends meet. Workers report being clocked out while still on the job. Workers are often required to work sick and injured. They often suffer under authoritarian management that uses unfair scheduling and other penalties to control workers lives. Finally, workers lack healthcare and have incredible barriers to education.
For far too long, we have allowed poverty-zone development to take hold of the heart of our city. As we watch the harbor fireworks burst above our Baltimore skies, we will reflect on the struggle for freedom from poverty and look forward to the day when we can celebrate a harbor that respects the human rights of all low-wage workers.
