HIGH SPIRIT. Sciame stands tall on the Brooklyn Bridge. (Photo by Guy Lawrence for ENR) Frank J. Sciame Jr. has extra-special affection of late for the Brooklyn Bridge. It all began one day in 1999, when he stood on his favorite structure and gazed back at the East River’s historic seaport district. It was there that New York’s intrepid "little developer who can" made up his mind to follow his gut instinct and risk $4 million on a rundown property a stone’s throw from the World Trade Center. Sciame now calls the decision, taken against advice sought from more-seasoned developers,
When officials from an Associated General Contractors chapter approached a local lawmaker for support on a state-wide highway funding initiative, chapter members instead received a lesson in the importance of voting. The lawmaker had done his homework and knew only a small percentage of chapter members were registered voters. Stephen E. Sandherr, AGC’s chief executive officer, says the lawmaker questioned why he should use his influence to aid the chapter when the majority of its members did not participate in the political process. "If AGC and the construction industry want more influence, we have to get our people interested enough
The heat is on in Florida, the epicenter of political controversy during the last presidential election in which the national winner was determined by a handful of votes in the state. "We’re working like we’re one vote behind," says Sean Mitchell, business manager of ironworkers’ union Local 402 in West Palm Beach and leader of his local’s get-out-the-vote campaign. He and most Local 402 members support the Kerry ticket. "There are 1 million U.S. construction workers who are organized. They have spouses and children. They can have a huge impact, especially here, where the difference in 2000 was 600 votes,"
The Song of the South generally sounds the same from upper management to crafts, especially when it comes to a preference for open shop and to opinions on the economy. It is conservative all the way. "When Mr. Kerry said in a speech to the AFL-CIO that he would overturn Bush’s ban on project labor agreements, it hit merit shop contractors in the face,’’ says Jeff Masters, president of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ Alabama chapter, Birmingham. Many nonunion workers blame today’s economic troubles on Democrats and look toward the GOP to turn things around. "From my perspective, the Republicans
For Eric O’Neil, an African-American ironworker who lives on Chicago’s South Side, work hasn’t gone so well this year. This past spring, 42-year-old O’Neil, a member of ironworkers’ union Local 1, found himself jobless for the first time in his five years in construction. After collecting unemployment checks for two months, he was able to get on a high-rise job tying rebar for locally based Walsh Construction. O’Neil now is trying to pick up the pieces from his recent financial troubles. "People say the economy’s fine but I can’t tell," he says. O’NEIL Wants Bush out in ’05. FREEMAN Still
Construction workers interviewed in the union and Democratic stronghold of Boston say that Iraq, health care and jobs are their main concerns in the upcoming national elections. And no matter what the union, views are strong and similar. "The war is a big issue," says Scott A. DeMello, of carpenters’ union Local 33. "I want all our boys back home. I think that they’re doing a great thing fighting the terrorists there but we need to get out when it’s finished." Richard J. McPhail, steward for ironworkers’ union Local 7, agrees that the biggest issue is Iraq. "Young soldiers are
Most members of the construction industry in Texas support President Bush, and that includes owners and workers alike. "One reason I wouldn’t vote for Mr. Kerry is that Mr. Bush’s policies support small businesses,’’ says Michelle Seward, chief financial officer for Joeris General Contractors, a San Antonio firm with about $100 million in annual business. "I’m from Texas and I think a Texas president will keep money in this area,’’ says Dudley Butler, a construction superintendent working for Joeris on a hospital job. He says he is not a staunch Republican but feels "we would be in a world of
In Ohio, the state some analysts say could be the Florida of the 2004 election, construction workers have become politically involved and may be a significant force. Construction workers in Akron say jobs, health care and standard of living matter most to them. Green’s worry is job security. (Photo by John Klein for ENR) "I certainly hope that labor can make a difference," says Jack Green, of bricklayers’ union Local 7. Green, who volunteers for the Kerry campaign, believes workers will have an impact because a large percentage of them vote. Green worries more about job security and jobs going
In Nevada, building trade unions are registering voters and pushing the Kerry candidacy, despite an appearance by President Bush at the carpenters’ Las Vegas training facility and the international union’s undeclared political stance. "We have registered about 500 union members to vote within the last three months," says Tommy White, secretary-treasurer of laborers’ union Local 872, which represents about 3,500 members in southern Nevada. "We’re supporting John Kerry because President Bush squashed project labor agreements. He also wants to cut overtime and outsource jobs." MESHELLE Looks for a change. WILKENING Gets out the vote. (Photos by Tony Illia for ENR)
New York City construction workers voice strong support for John Kerry, saying that President Bush’s policies have driven them away. "Bush offers us absolutely nothing. We have no incentive to vote for the man," says Dennis Gimblet, of carpenters’ union Local 608 and shop steward at Pinnacle Industries, Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He voted for Bush in 2000 but works for Kerry this time. Maurice O’Brien, a member of concrete workers’ Local 18A and also a shop steward, agrees. "Even unions that temporarily supported Republican candidates won’t support them now," he says. GIMBLET Can’t support Bush. O’BRIEN Freedoms are at risk.
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