Union cheers agreement to fund city hall project

Hundreds from Laborers Local 872 turn out in support of plan

COURTESY of las vegas government

Las Vegas plans to build a 303,000-square-foot city hall at First Street and Clark Avenue. The project would require that $267 million be raised through public bonds.

By Sam Skolnik

Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009 | 2:13 p.m.

City Council approves City Hall agreement

Members of Laborers Union Local 872 applaud as the Las Vegas City Council unanimously authorized a

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A local laborers union showed up in force today to support the Las Vegas City Council in its efforts to fund and build a new city hall.

The council unanimously authorized a “lease-purchase” agreement to fund the project, which is estimated by the city to cost between $150-$267 million.

About 350 members of the Laborers Local 872, most wearing black shirts with the union’s name and logo, jammed the council chambers to seating capacity. They cheered loudly as city staff, council members and then their own members rose to speak in favor of the project -- which they say would put many of them, currently out of construction jobs, back to work.

The meeting was a chance for city officials to go on the public relations offensive. They’ve been fighting the Culinary Union and its efforts to put such lease-purchase agreements to the voters. If the Culinary-sponsored measure passes, the new city hall project could be scrapped.

“My kids want things, and I’ve got to say ‘no,’” said laborer Greg Caruso, who’s been out of work for five weeks because of the lack of area construction jobs. “This project would put me back to work quicker.”