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Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011 | 2 a.m.
Sun Archives
- Zappos putting its stamp on downtown Las Vegas (10-18-2011)
- Culinary picks a fight with UFC to get at Station (9-24-2011)
- Zappos CEO envisions a new community downtown (3-17-2011)
- Goodman: Zappos move a ‘watershed moment’ for downtown Las Vegas (12-1-2010)
When he’s out in downtown Las Vegas, an area he’s almost single-handedly helping to revitalize, Tony Hsieh is often greeted like a conquering hero. People ask for photos, pitch him on business ideas and generally bask in the reflected light of the Zappos.com CEO who will move his company to the area next year.
But during a recent meal downtown, Hsieh found himself under verbal attack from a handful of fellow diners, members of the Culinary Union who demonstrated their union’s willingness to attack even the popular in their feud with Station Casinos and those who do business with the non-union employer.
Culinary Union Local 226 has long sought to unionize Station Casinos’ 13,000 employees.
Zappos, which sells shoes and clothes over the Internet, does business with Station Casinos in this way: When executives with outside companies venture to Las Vegas for Zappos’ two-day boot camp, the company houses them at nearby Green Valley Ranch Resort, a Station Casinos property. Until its move downtown, Zappos is headquartered in Henderson, near Green Valley Parkway and Interstate 215.
It’s that connection that led to Hsieh coming under attack Friday night at Le Thai restaurant on Fremont Street.
Onlookers who did not wish to be named told the Sun that Hsieh was dining when someone from a nearby table asked if he was Tony Hsieh. When he said yes, four or five people from that table began haranguing him about Zappos and Green Valley Ranch.
Hsieh repeatedly told them that his focus is revitalizing downtown and that he isn’t in the arbitration business.
The confrontation dragged on for about 30 minutes.
This isn’t the first effort by the Culinary Union to call out Hsieh and Zappos. At a recent First Friday, Culinary members badgered Hsieh as he sat at a table signing books.
Union members also sometimes wade into downtown taverns and distribute fliers stating, “Do the right thing, Zappos!” One flier goes on to tell Zappos to “tell Station Casinos to stop attacking workers.” At the Artifice, a tavern in the Arts District, bartenders collected and tore up the fliers in front of the Culinary distributors.
The union also has a website, ZapposWatch.net, which plays on Zappos’ “Delivering Happiness” motto with this: “Zappos: Delivering Headaches.” It allows people to anonymously submit complaints about the company.
To some, there’s an irony in the union’s targeting of Zappos. The company’s move downtown is expected to draw not only new businesses — including restaurants, taverns and high-tech startups — but likely more people to Fremont Street casinos, an ailing lot that has been unionized by the Culinary but offers lesser benefits compared with Strip properties with union pacts. At the same time, Hsieh is pouring millions of dollars of his own money into downtown, has helped keep at least one restaurant open, has committed to donating $1.5 million to help encourage Teach for America members and alumni to move downtown, and has plans to help fund dozens of new businesses on Fremont Street.
As these critics of the Culinary see it, Zappos’ relocation to the area and Hsieh’s investments will do more than any development in recent memory to enrich downtown casinos, which in turn could create a more secure job environment for the casinos’ unionized employees.
Asked if the union’s attacks on Hsieh are a case of biting a hand that could feed, Yvanna Cancela, Culinary Union political director, said the union “wants to make sure that Tony and the rest of (Zappos) knows what’s going on.”
Cancela added that the union wants “to build a relationship with Zappos where we work together as they move downtown.”
Asked for comment, Zappos released a statement addressing harassing behavior:
“In the event that our employees are found to have been subjected to harassment by customers, vendors, or third parties, we will take all reasonable steps to prevent its recurrence, up to and including terminating our relationships and dialogue with those customers, vendors or third parties. … Our priority is the safety and well-being of our employees, and we will not respond to any tactics that include any type of harassment or bullying and threatening behavior.”
Several Zappos employees have already moved downtown, and maybe hundreds or thousands more could follow as the company relocates its headquarters there.
The Culinary Union’s attacks on Hsieh don’t sit well with Richard Worthington, president of the Downtown Las Vegas Alliance and real estate developers the Molasky Group of Cos., which is headquartered downtown. The alliance is a nonprofit aiming to improve business and neighborhoods in the area.
“It’s disgusting and it demonstrates the means the Culinary leadership will use to increase their ranks in membership,” Worthington said. “Here you’ve got a corporate leader who is bringing jobs to downtown Las Vegas — it’s a growth company adding some 50 employees a month to its payroll — and for the Culinary to attempt to intimidate him is disgusting.”
Worthington said he trusts that Hsieh “is the man I think he is, someone with conviction and motivation. This won’t deter him.”
fosimmons you can actually say the union does alot of good when you read something like this? Get a clue buddy this is an outrage and any of you libs that say otherwise are digusting as well. How can you defend this?
Get some class CU. What next funerals?
There is no "reasoning" with thugs and a few of Culinary's members and officials fit that description. They have little respect for the rights of others and are boorish to the extreme. There are avenues for Culinary to pursue in their ongoing attempt to unionize Station Casinos. Berating outsiders for not agreeing with their agenda is not one of them.
Confrontation is NOT the way to endear any successful business person. In fact, it leaves a bad taste in one's mouth. The things that have made Zappos successful is that fact that people are happy to work there. Why doesn't the Culinary Union build a few Hotels and Casino's of their own? They could partner up with those unemployed construction workers, those unemployed teamsters, and just "gitter-done". Offer some rooms to Zappos and I am sure the problem is solved. Not..the Culinary Union has done so much for downtown. Thanks. Hang tight Tony, and turn on your recorder.
People suck. Leave the man alone while he eats. Everyone does business with Non union business'. It is a right to work state so damn near every business in town is non union. The big casinos are union and some of the trucking companies have union affiliation but for the most part if you go into a 7 - 11 or a gas station or a local book store there are non union employees there. They are everywhere in Nevada.
I have said it many times..."If your union members aren't getting hired by local business and if the general public and most business' hate you and your local then you should probably look inward for the reason for your problems.
While I am not the biggest fan of the Zappo's management style...... I just became a convert.
The Culinary Union is a breeding ground for thugs. It shows how many Luddites inhabit the CU. Why don't they try and look at a map of Green Valley? If they did, they would find an interesting logistical fact; G.V. Station and Zappo's are VERY CLOSE TO EACH OTHER GEOGRAPHICALLY.
The Culinary trolls could care less about a persons right to privacy.
How would the Luddites feel if Mr. Hsieh pulled out of downtown and ushered in the collapse of the area?
Union brownshirts, ain't they fun?
Years ago Al Capone would send his guys into a business and make that business an offer. Do it my way, pay me my fee's and I will see you are left alone.
It appears that is the model that the Union is using these days. They go after anyone that has even the smallest connection to Stations.
Stations has 13,000 employees. If they wanted to be union they would vote to be union. It appears that Stations employees are generally happy not being union though or they would take a vote. This has been going on for over 15 years now and still no vote.
At some point it becomes harassment and the public needs to tell the union they are starting to step over that line.
Where is the union support? Why no comments from Colin or teamster justifying this behavior?
Hey, Culinary Union!!! This is AMERICA! People don't have to join your union if they don't want to. Stop trying to force the issue - you seem to be nothing but a bunch of bullies.
I've said it for years--The Culinary is nothing more than an organized crime mob. If someone or something chooses not to deal with them they harass and intimidate by spreading lies and, more recently in their history, claiming the person or group is anti-Hispanic.
It's a tactic that works to a degree as many do not want the hassle. Culinary Union members are now primarily the uneducated and non-English-speaking segment because it's easier to fool that bunch.
I used to think unions had a legit purpose but after watching the Culinary for the past few decades here in Las Vegas I've changed my opinion 180 degrees.
Someone needs to investigate these guys.
Don't be swayed, Tony! So many people here in town support what you are doing and really, really hate the Culinary...
Boy you have the right Scottnv. Where is teamster and colin?
I am a long time union supporter and I will tell you this the Culinary is dead wrong here, now they have ruined avgreat chance to work with Zappos and have positive dialog.
I think that Zappos does have a responsibility in its procurement of outside services to use non-station properties because beyond the union issue Stations owns and promotes UFC which refuses to have a code of conduct for its fighters.
This corporation actively profits from hate jokes about homosexuality, rape, and other bad behavior, PLUS pays its fighters a bonus of $5000 each quarter to the guy who gets the most hits on his offensive tweet.
THEN UFC has the nerve to actively market to our children. Dana White president of UFC wants all children to watch UFC despite its blood and the behavior of fighters. Check out www.unfitforchildren.org with the video details.
Zappos should be a good corporate neighbor and not tolerate this kind of activity from its business partners. Mr. Hseigh should be appalled by the anti-asian sentiment of these fighters easily shown on YouTube from their visit to Japan.
Zappos would not tolerate f@g jokes in its halls or any of its employees saying rape is fun to co-workers - so don't further line the pockets of the people who do!
Zappos can't be the voice of progressive business while helping those who don't support our values enough that HATE is not OK in our community.
Concerned parents and survivors of rape have called upon UFC to adopt a code of conduct which UFC has never taken seriously and in fact its President Dana White continues to stir the pot by emphasizing his players can say ANYTHING.
Zappos has a culture of zero tolerance for hate speech why not only do business with companies who do the same?
Again if a Zappos employee acted like a UFC fighter I trust from the people I know who work there that they would be promptly and without hesitation shown the door. So why the double standard?
I would hope that parents, rape survivors, and LGBTQ employees of Zappos bring this up in their own culture. It is part of being a good corporate neighbor.
When you say one thing - and act another way - you lose credibility as a good corporate neighbor.
Are you kidding me, Chris Kramar??? Don't try to sell your nonsense here. Are you honestly trying to pitch that stupid website, designed and maintained by the union, and claiming that the only motive is to protect children from the UFC??? It's insulting that your stupid leaders actually think that intelligent people won't see right through that nonsense. We get it, you're trying to strong-arm the Station owners into supporting a union so that your corrupt leaders can line their pockets with more union dues. I can already hear your idiotic retort...that the UFC and the Fertittas are just as corrupt, and that somehow justifies your sleazy tactics.
Get a clue, and get the hell out of Vegas. You're holding up progress. These boycotts of new industries is exactly why we're tied to the gaming industry, which is also why we have the highest unemployment rate in the country. I hope you're proud of yourselves.
Are we about to see a return of the union car bombs, circa 1977?
Where is Al Bramlet and Tom Hanley when the union needs them?
Comment removed by moderator. vulgarity
Comment removed by moderator. Inappropriate
keystone6.....where is your credibility? Give your real name please.
So why does the Culinary Union not protest McDonald's? I mean they're workers, probably at least over a thousand in Las Vegas at this chain alone, and they do actually work with food unlike a good portion of the Union's current members.
I mean if the Union is doing all of this pushing and "fighting" as an effort to improve the lives of people, why are the lives of fast food workers not as important to them? How does a union claim equality and fairness when some of the people who truly need their help, said union ignores and continues to force them to live in poverty?
It's a redundant question, I know. But I think it should be honestly asked of the CU if nothing else to simply prove that they're really just a corporation that does hostile takeovers of other companies workforces.
Chunky says:
Regardless of the reasoning, celebrities, politicians, business leaders and other public figures should be left alone during dinner and personal times.
This man is doing so much for Las Vegas and to have a handful of people interrupt him during his meal is poor taste and poor judgement.
That's what Chunky thinks!
Typical Union mentality. What a bunch of scum
unions are nothing but THUGS that are in it for the money and power.
Ban unions. It's not the 1800's anymore.
Golly, the big, bad Culinary union is picking on Zappos for their decision to host things at Green Valley Ranch? Why this animosity? Wait...who's Stations' partner at GVR? Isn't there a line missing about the owners, which might explain why Mr. Hsieh's dinner plans are suddenly worth defending as front page news? Nahh, it couldn't be that important. Best that we just move on and keep blaming the workers for the Valley's misery.
The Culinary union exhibiting poor taste. What a surprise.
McDonald's? That makes no sense! The Culinary Union doesn't just represent workers that deal with food. This union represents all the hospitality workers on the Strip/Downtown. It's confusing because of the word "Culinary" but if you did your research you would know that.
This Union has set the standard of living in this city. If it wasn't for this union then the workers in the casinos wouldn't have the benefits they have now. It is unfortunate that they have to mess with zappos but they have to do what it takes to but pressure on Station Casinos. They're doing this for the workers at Station Casinos.
If zappos.com truly wants to make Las Vegas better then they should call on Station Casinos to do the right thing and treat their workers with respect. Isn't that what zappos is all about? They're supposed to be this progressive company and that treats their workers right. But yet they're doing business with a company that doesn't? That's a bit hypocritical.
Christine Kramer hit right on the nose.
yes, ky-jellydonuts, everyone is blaming the individual "workers". It has nothing to do with that huge, corrupt, sleazy Culinary Union and its leaders. It's all about those poor workers. Nice slant.
And I'm not absolutely positive, but I don't think the Greenspuns are involved in the GVR anymore. If anything, it seems that Brian has some animosity towards the Fertittas (read articles about their bankruptcy, and compare to the article about Maloof and the Palms). Besides that, he's a huge supporter of the democratic party, who are largely bankrolled and supported by the unions. For the Sun to print an article, calling out the sleazy union tactics, is pretty surprising.
I am sorry but the Culinary Union is now haranguing private citizens on an evening out. This is embarrassing. There is better ways of lobbying and this isn't it.
The Culinary Union rep's in this case embarrassed the restaurant and it's workers and disrespected other diners. It is a lose, lose, lose to the Culinary Union's PR.
I have been contacted by this group, and was appalled by the approach. Strong-arming people into agreeing with you is not really an effective method in my opinion, because now I am really quite upset with the 226, whereas before I couldn't really care either way about a union with which I have no affiliation...
It really became personal when my wife received a letter from the same Union Coordinator - and the only way they could have gotten their hands on the information was to have gone through nefarious methods. The information indicated that it came from a conference we attended at Red Rock casino 2 years ago... When my wife contacted the rep, he attempted to strong-arm her into agreeing with him and would not answer the question 'where did you get this information'.
So I am not really shocked by the tactics, but I am shocked that it happened at a restaurant. Tacky. But that's what they are...
These thoughts are my opinion based on my experience with the Local 226 and union rep IC.
I'll remember this behavior when it comes time to tip one of these Culinary member cocktail waitresses pulling down high 5 figures on the strip. Thanks for the drink baby, but I ain't financing your scum union dues, sorry.
Unions are scum. You have this one to thank for Harry Reid's re-election as well.
While I'm not a big fan of unions, the reality is they were responsible for getting a 5 day work week, 40 hours, health insurance and other benefits that the typical factory worker would have NEVER seen in the early 1900's. The legacy lives on. I would love to have a negotiating professional bargain for my benefits, my raises, my health benefits. These guys see thru some of these BS health plans that are being offered to workers. $10,000 deductibles...co-insurance, exclusions. Anyone ever having major surgery knows how it works. You end up in the middle of what the insurance company wants to pay and what the doctors want to charge.
Some unions are not unlike some employers...scumbags. Both sides have their fair share. Invading Tony's personal space while eating is a big no-no in my book.
"an area he is almost single handedly helping to revitalize."
Doesn't this rag have an editor, or someone who knows anything about all the people who have been working on trying to change downtown for years. What about the citizens who are footing the bill for your "conquering hero." To follow that line of reasoning, did he destroy downtown Henderson when he left. Wait a minute, thats journalist integrity and that only gets in the way of your business.
This sounds like what happened, some people representing the Culinary were rude to Hsieh he cried to one his Fertitta buddies and they ordered an article in their fight against the Culinary and that is how this town works.
Interesting theory, skid. I'm guessing what the writer was referring to is the fund that Hsieh started (privately, with his own money, along with some business partners) to invest in other downtown businesses. I think his goal is to make it more pleasant for his employees.
Zappos hasn't left Henderson, so we don't know the effects of the business leaving. I'll bet that there are quite a few restaurants in the area that aren't thrilled to see so many people moving. Apparently your posts could use some "journalist integrity".
The Union business office could stop this activity in 5 seconds if they wanted to. To attack Tony is really stupid. Stations will remain non union just like Toyota and many others.
Yes, skid, there are a lot of people who have been making steps for years to improve the downtown scene. Fact is, it has improved a lot over the past 8 years (since I moved here, so that's all I can track).. But Tony Hsieh is not making statements about being the one to single-handedly revitalize downtown, what he is doing instead is putting his money where his mouth (and passion) is.
Instead of going on the defensive for all those who have worked very hard on downtown, how about being supportive of someone who is putting a lot more on the line (financially) to help downtown take bigger steps forward? just a thought. I cannot wait to see where downtown will be in 5 or 10 years, and much of that will be because people have decided to support the growth/development instead of sitting back and complaining about the semantics of one reporter's writing.
Really silly tactics by the union but also really silly comments in this article on zappos. He is no god but he is a cult figure. We'll see where lv downtown is in 5 years. It won't be austin, i guarantee it. BTW, where's my holly madison article?
Sorry Mr. Jackson but your theory is incorrect.
Down Town is already better then it was just a year ago.
Those that live here and work at changing things are good for Vegas and the people of Vegas. Those that predict doom and gloom all the time have very unhappy lives and will never see anything in a better light.
CU,
You have successfully indoctrinated your membership to the point where they are no longer objective. Your talking points are now more important than the overall cause.
Keep it up and you will continue to erode support from the general public.
Educate your members, so they are not viewed similarly to other organizations that are currently losing the public's support & trust.
Its time for your leadership to resign, and be replaced with personnel that can properly communicate an effective message to the membership. In turn, the membership could learn not to alienate influential people. The membership could learn to actually Help, instead of Hurt your cause.
CU, your leadership has failed you. Its time to make a change.
unions = organized crime
Chris Kramar - you're a nut
No American should be forced to pay money to a union boss to get or keep a job. It's time to strike a blow for freedom by passing the National Right to Work Act.
80% of the American people stand with the NRTWC: http://www.nrtwc.org/
Vegaslee, this has NOT been going on for over 15 years. Do your research. The reason why they haven't become union? Well, once employees start talking union or start wearing union buttons, they get fired.
As for what has the union done for downtown? Well, it has given the workers that work in the Downtown casinos health benefits, job security, and good wages. The workers have worked really hard for these benefits. The workers at Station Casinos deserve the same.
I don't understand what is so great about this guy anyways. He sells shoes. He bought out first friday to "better downtown" uh yeah, he bought out Downtown for better PR. This guy sucks just like the owners at Station Casinos.
While CU clearly exhibited the kind of boorish thug-like behavior unions are increasingly associated with, it seems a bit much to credit Hseih or Zappos with "almost single-handidly" revitalizing downtown (if indeed such efforts are successful).
I am a native Las Vegan and I have to say that downtown is getting better. The naysayers haven't been down there in awhile I would gather. I worked at the Horseshoe years ago and have a softspot for it. It's not in huge jumps but people like Hsieh are making a difference there.
The Culinary needs to have a talk with the people that approached Hsieh and ask them why they thought that was a good idea. Also GVR is within viewing distance from Zappos HQ, why wouldn't you put people up there that are in town to see Zappos? When they go downtown they may end up in a union hotel. To say that from merely using their hotel services counts as a ringing endorsement of everything Station Casinos and Fertita related is the epitome of ignorance.
UNITE HERE is a disgusting union overall, concerned only about the dues they can get from workers who get virtually nothing in return. They continually try to organize workers who don't want to be organized. In Atlantic City, the union tried to stop development of the first new casino in almost 10 years because the president wouldn't insist that his restaurant tenants be required to be unionized. So rather than create thousands of new jobs for its members, the union was willing to stop development of this project that is good for everyone. There is no level the union will stoop to so it can get more money in its coffers and more power to stop entire cities over increased wages. I'm surprised the members don't revolt over the reckless way the union spends their dues and sullies its reputation.
How very unfortunate.
Would any company even consider an expansion/relocation to Nevada with the potential for this brand of ridicule? Sadly, the answer is no -- too much risk.
For the benefit of Nevada, I can only ask the unions for civility.
Hsieh is making an impression in Las Vegas and the union wants to beat on him a bit because his workforce is not unionized, IMO. Does anyone know how much money Zappos employees make? The profiles I see on TV make it appear that everyone is between 18 and 40 years old, and they probably make $10 to 15 per hour. I would guess that Station Casinos pays much more than Zappos in wages and benefits.
Zappos appears to be a fun place to work, filled with the "happiness" that Hsieh is selling in his books. But does this look like a company that is prepared to provide a satisfying career for people all their adult lives (which are currently projected to be 50 years of working) and provide them with a comfortable retirement?
Let the guy eat in peace. The Union should fight in public and not over table cloths. This is a mafia technique. It creates more problems then it solves, and I support the Union cause.
I worked at Sunset Station 13 yrs ago as a seasonal lifeguard. I was non-Union. I thought Sunset Station was one of the best places I've ever worked. I also worked in a non-Union position at a well known downtown hotel for 7 yrs. My treatment in both non-union positions was more than just fine, and without union representation. After leaving this well known downtown property I worked for just one month through a local union....that's all the work they could scrape together for me, and during a time prior to the Great Recession. Yet they still wanted to collect dues. I stopped paying dues quickly and left. I still work non-union and probably will for the rest of my working years. I find it appalling every time I hear union members harrassing those employers who are non-union or that are affiliated with companies that are non-union. I also frown upon those who sit in front of an employer's building with signs that say Shame On Whoever. I say shame on the people who feel it is their right to work union and harrass those who do not. One should NEVER bite the hand that feeds you. Especially when that hand can turn and walk away. Shame on the Culinary for sending its minions out in public this way. How embarrassing!
There are ALWAYS going to jackasses claiming to represent an entire organization by being just that...jackasses!!!! No, wait...IGNORANT jackasses!!!
1 - Who cares about downtown??? They're just putting lipstick on a pig down there...a few million $ isn't going to resurrect anything. Hell, $100 mil isn't going to either. The Strip had over $20 bil invested there over the past 20 yrs. In today's dollars, that number is well over $30 bil...forget it people, downtown isn't "coming back" anytime soon, with or without Zappos.
2 - Legalized gangs, er..Unions are irrelevant and prey on the weak minded, sheep that can't think for themselves...time to sweep them out of town.
3 - Tony Hsieh is not a savior of anything....leave the messiah PR messages alone already, it's getting tired.
4 - If the Sun really cares about the strong armed tactics of Unions, they should do a follow up article digging deeper into the lives of "real" people who get harassed by the Unions. That will be more effective than writing an article about some Billionaire who lives a life most people can't relate to.
That is a idiot's move from the Union Thugs. Not everyone in Unions are not that way, the everyday people that visit a Stations Casino & the local Walmart. Zappos will need to feed its people downtown, 12,000 to 20,000 employees will not want to frequent McDonald's & Subway; these people will end up at the unionized casinos buffets and restaurants. Union Leaders, don't cut yourselves at a foot, get Mr. Hsieh a chance to shine!
Vegasvampire - Everything you said makes sense except Zappos doesn't employ 12,000 to 20,000 people...
LMAO
@ ChrisKramar :
Zappos does have its faults, including portions of the statement that was released about "if" employees are subjected to harassment... etc. Just ask me, as I was fired after saying the B word (to myself) after I had gotten off a particularly difficult call where I had been called every name in the book by a customer on the phone. I'd never been written up for anything... never once was I called on job performance (oh sure, everyone can make improvements, but even my evals were good). I was given no road for arbitration or anything, just shown the door because supposedly someone complained I used the B word. (Even though from my desk I heard the F word thrown around continually)
However, Zappos also has its good qualities, and they (Tony Hsieh)does put out a lot of his own money for good works. He should not be subjected to this type of harassment by union workers for any reason. As well as you should not judge him in that he has quests stay at a Station casino, given its proximity to their main headquarters. In lodging guests that close he is essentially conserving on multiple levels of the environment, and not wasting gasoline in having to have them commute a greater distance.
Look around... stuff like this (seemingly promoting a business even though not all of that businesses ideas are in the right spot). Somehow that all falls under our right to Freedom. Don't judge anyone, lest you be judged. I'm sure you have your faults.
I have one question for the members of the Cullinary Union: What if Zappo's, the station casino people and others that your union leaders are harassing were to say "screw it" and leave Las Vegas? The economy here would totally crash and ALL of you would eventually be out of work. If your leadership are not representing your long term interests of a viable economically sound community, YOU have a duty to let them know you do not support their tactics. the most effective way to do that is to stop paying your dues.
If I were Tony Hseih and were harassed by Cullinary thugs every time i went out to eat or have a drink, I would seriously think about relocating to a community that would welcome the billions of dollars of business my firm brigns to town.
Unions will be the death of the valley yet.
So let's see. Zappo's and Tony Hseih are bringing hundreds if not thousands of jobs to Las Vegas, helping revitalize downtown, investing in First Friday's, etc.
The cullinary Union on the other hand is harassing businesses and indiduals while doing nothing for the betterment of the entire community.
Who are the bad guys here? Sounds like it is not Zappo's and Tony.
@ Sinatra777, I'm glad you won't be supporting downtown, you're a pooper!!!
@geenab65 - I'm just being realistic here...do the math and see for yourself how little the impact of all of the above will make. A couple thousand employees that make less than $100k per year with very little disposable income won't make much of a difference. I hope there's a study of how many Zappos employees actually relocate to the Downtown area...I predict very few will.
I'm not saying that what Tony's doing isn't a good thing. I'm pointing out that he's not going to "Save" downtown, like many people are suggesting. Everyone thought First Friday was going to do that...or remember the Ice House restaurant/lounge? or the renovated El Cortez & Plaza Hotel? Millions of $ were spent on those projects and none of those have impacted the area enough to make a big difference, the area is still 2nd rate. Those projects employ(ed) people downtown, but most employees live in the other areas. There are already tens of thousands of employees at downtown casinos, restaurants, hotels....but it isn't enough to revive it. Why would a 5-10% increase in jobs down there be enough to do that?
It's simple math...
Here's more simple math. 1+1=2. Any and all amounts of money for the economy of Las Vegas and more people EMPLOYED is a good thing. Unless you know something I don't, you can't predict the future!!! We didn't think Vegas would ever be in the turmoil it is now. So instead of being a pooper, why don't you keep your poops to yourself, wait and see?
@geenab65 - LMAO...ok, I'll check back with you 3 yrs from now. Using your logic, Downtown LV will be saved but Henderson, where Zappos is currently located, will be devastated because the Zappos headquarters moved. Your 1+1=2 had to come form somewhere...it's not just materializing from thin air. Good luck!
Wow, who would ever think that a union would use thuggery, intimidation and harassment to get their way??
Would you expect anything less from these low life's who extort money from their members to use as they see fit??