United Workers

Pick up today’s copy of the Daily Record or if you’re an online subscriber, go to http://thedailyrecord.com to read the full article.

Protesters for workers’ rights advocacy group United Workers picketed outside of the Baltimore Development Corp. office Wednesday to oppose a $3 million rent break that real estate developer The Cordish Cos. asked BDC for in exchange for making improvements to the historic Power Plant building in the Inner Harbor. About 15 picketers demanded transparency and accountability …

Read the Baltimore Brew’s coverage of yesterday’s Fair Development protest at the Baltimore Development Corporation offices. The Baltimore Brew had reported on the initial closed-door meeting between the BDC and Cordish in which the media had been kicked out half-way through.

A group representing low-wage workers staged a protest yesterday outside the offices of the Baltimore Development Corporation, demanding that the agency release details of a closed-door meeting last month in which developer David S. Cordish sought a $3 million rent break for his Inner Harbor properties.

“How is it fair he is asking for such a big break in rent and workers aren’t being paid a living wage and can’t pay their rent,” said Luis Larin, a leadership organizer with United Workers, as about 18 protesters picketed.

At that June 23rd meeting, first reported by Baltimore Brew, Cordish said his two Inner Harbor properties are in financial trouble and pledged to invest $16 million in return for the $3 million bailout. After deputy mayor Kaliope Parthemos ejected the Brew’s Mark Reutter and another reporter from that meeting, Cordish apparently elaborated and outlined his plans for his ailing Inner Harbor tourist properties, the Power Plant and Power Plant Live.

To read the full coverage, go to http://www.baltimorebrew.com

Check-out this video from today’s protest at the offices of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) to call attention to a closed-door meeting held between the BDC and Inner Harbor developer, the Cordish Co. At this meeting, Cordish asked for a 3 million dollar rent break from the city to make surface improvements to the harbor. The sad irony is that while the BDC is recommending a 3 million dollar rent break for a multi-billion dollar company, low-wage workers at the harbor are struggling to meet their basic needs, including keeping a roof over their families heads. As harbor workers and allies picketed outside, a delegation successfully delivered a letter to the BDC requesting that all documents related to this back-room deal be made public. We look forward to their response.

Reported by Emanuel McCray, Keith Brown and Ron Williams

Members from the United Workers and allies held an action today to call attention to the closed-door meeting between the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC) and harbor developer, the Cordish Co., in which Cordish requested a 3 million dollar rent break from the city. Harbor workers, the public and even the media were shut-out of this meeting and shut-out of this process. That’s why workers and the community came together to protest the lack of transparency and accountability needed to ensure that public money is not used simply for private gain, but for the benefit of the public. Most workers in the Inner Harbor are paid poverty wages, lack health care and educational opportunities. It is shocking that the BDC is to quick to recommend a 3 million dollar rent break to a multi-billion dollar developer when harbor workers are struggling to pay their rent, many under the constant threat of eviction and foreclosure.

A month before this action, the United Workers sent a letter to the BDC requesting that all documents related to this 3 million dollar deal be made public. With no response from the BDC, we decided to go directly to their offices. While workers and allies picketed outside, a small delegation of harbor workers, members, and allies went inside to hand deliver the letter to M.J. “Jay” Brody, CEO of the Baltimore Development Corp. As the delegation entered the building the media followed. Instead of allowing us up to the offices, the building receptionist directed us to call up to the BDC offices to notify them that we were here to deliver the letter. When we called up we were told to wait 10-20 minutes for the appropriate person to return. As we waited, the building manager attempted to force us to leave. They tried to play the waiting game but the United Workers would not give up until the BDC representative came down to accepted the letter. Finally after a wait, two BDC representatives finally came down. We explained to them why we were here and that we hoped that they would be transparent in this dealing and work with the United Workers to ensure that public money supports Fair Development. The BDC representatives accepted the letter said that they would ensure that the message got to the CEO.

Back-room dealing and lack of worker and community participation has lead to the Poverty-Zone Development we see at the harbor. While transparency and accountability are necessary steps towards Fair Development, the ultimate goal is to create a whole new vision of development that benefits and respects all involved from workers all the way up to the developers.

Listen to this audio piece created by the “End Poverty Radio” team.

Indypendent media maker, Bill Hughes, covered today’s Fair Development Action at the offices of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC). Check it out!

Stand for Fair Development NOT Poverty Zone Development!

Come Join united Workers and the Baltimore community for a demonstration in front of the Baltimore Development Corporation, demanding transparency on their back-room $3 million rent break to Harbor Developer, Cordish.

While the city gives out rent breaks to multi-billion dollar developers, harbor workers can barely afford a roof over our heads.  The Inner Harbor needs more than a make-over it needs a transformation of values. 

We need a Living Wage – Health Care – Education

We need Fair Development!

 JOIN US THIS WEDNESDAY!

To read more about this closed-door meeting, go here.

What: Fair Development Action at BDC
When: Wednesday, July 27th, gather at 10 AM
Where: 36 S. Charles St. (meet at corner of Charles & Lombard)

For more details, call 410-230-1998 or email info@unitedworkers.org

We encourage you to participate in the Fair Development Conference by submitting a proposal for a workshop, panel, training or presentation. The themes we would like to highlight include:

Analysis of current development practices, with in-depth looks at the economic crisis, service-sector Poverty-zones, mountaintop removal, prisons, corporate monopolies, etc.

Solutions that encompass the alternative world we want to create, such as communal ownership of resources; human rights to dignity, housing, healthcare and education; equitable and sustainable use of public resources; etc.

Strategies for movement building, including organizing models and skills, strategic campaign development, creative tactics, alternative media, faith-based approaches, etc.

We welcome a mixture of formats and proposals from both individuals and organizations. There will be 60- and 90-minute sessions. Based on space and time, we might suggest collaboration if proposals are similar. In your proposal please include a title with a one-sentence description, your partners in organizing, a longer description of the workshop and how your idea relates to the conference themes, session format, and who the workshop is geared towards.

In discussing this vision of Fair Development, we seek to create a space that puts these values into practice. The conference will emphasize the full participation of all attendants through dialogue and exchange, popular education presentations, multiple media formats and documentation, arts and cultural expression, inclusion of faith perspectives, Spanish/English interpretation, childcare, and youth engagement.

Deadline: Monday, August 15, 2011

Please email proposals to conference@unitedworkers.org

Or mail to

United Workers

P.O. Box 41547

Baltimore, MD 21203

Download, Request for Proposals (PDF)

Be a part of the planning!

To learn more about how you can participate in the planning of the Fair Development Conference, come to the Community Interest Meeting on July 20th or email conference@unitedworkers.org

Participate in Planning the Fair Development Conference

The United Workers and community allies are planning the Fair Development Conference, a national gathering of grassroots organizers, scholars, artists, activists, faith leaders, students, and teachers taking place on October 28-30 in Baltimore. While the Inner Harbor is a clear example of Poverty Zone Development, we know that this model of development is unfortunately all to common in Maryland and across the country. That’s why we’ve decided to hold a Community Interest Meeting to hear your ideas for how this conference can be used to highlight and connect diverse struggles for economic and social justice in our communities and how we can learn from our diverse struggles to more effectively build power. The Community Interest Meeting is also an opportunity to learn about all the ways that you can take part in planning the Fair Development Conference. So share your input and get involved in making the Fair Development Conference the beginning of an exciting national dialogue!

To RSVP, email conference@unitedworkers.org or call 410-230-1998

WHAT: Community Interest Meeting for Fair Development Conference

WHEN: Wednesday, July 20th at 6 PM

WHERE: 901 Hollins St., Baltimore, MD

To learn more about the conference go to http://unitedworkers.org