G
ary LaBarbera, leader of the Buildings and Construction Trades Council, is taking on wind and shadows as villains in opposition stories about Hudson Yards. He's calling out Friends of the High Line for its stance against Related Companies' plans for the western portion of the megaproject. LaBarbera claims it's a ruse to block development, not wanting 30,000 construction jobs and over 4,000 positions for building service workers.

    LaBarbera is rallying his members on Thursday to protest Friends of the High Line's opposition. He says they're an elite group trying to control the West Side's destiny, putting shadows and gusty winds before career opportunities. The group, however, claims it doesn't oppose development but rather Related's changed plans, which include a casino and taller towers.

    LaBarbera's fight is unusual because he was previously at odds with Related over nonunion workers at 50 Hudson Yards and the western yards. They reached a truce in 2019, but LaBarbera says this is just the start of a broader fight to be the counterbalance to opponents of union projects.

    Friends of the High Line says it wants the Western rail yards developed, but Related's changed plans without community input are the issue. The group claims Related has made changes based on their input, and that they're engaging in a disinformation campaign. LaBarbera is determined to push forward with his organization's goals, including a rally in Brooklyn next.

    In other news, graffiti on stalled condo projects spells out "RAMS" in bright yellow letters, while Jesse Hamilton intervened in a city lease deal for Alexander Rovt's 14 Wall Street. Socialist Assembly member Zohran Mamdani is joining the 2025 mayoral race, pledging to freeze rents for four years if elected.