Workers and leaders from seven local labor unions rallied in West Columbus Tuesday afternoon to encourage the city of
"Our job is to try to get the city and Penn National to get back to the table and resolve whatever issues they have remaining and get this place built," said Walt Workman, executive director of the Central Ohio Labor Council (AFL-CIO).
"We've got people out of work; they need a job. If we've got some people trying to hold this project up, they need to mind their own business."
Workman questioned the lawsuit recently filed by the Dispatch Printing Company, which owns the Columbus Dispatch. The suit seeks to force Penn National to annex into Columbus and use the city's water and sewer services.
Penn National subsidiary CD Gaming Ventures also has filed suit against the city of Columbus in hopes of securing the use of city water and sewer service without annexation. Columbus leaders have drawn a clear line in annexation discussions with Penn National, telling the company it must annex into Columbus to use city services. By annexing into the city, Columbus would be in line to collect annual casino host city tax revenues projected to be $8 million each year. Penn National has asked for financial incentives from the city, including tax breaks, in exchange for annexation.
"The city gives tax breaks to other people," Workman said. "We haven't had this many jobs created in a long time. I would think the two sides would be able to come to some sort of an agreement."
The casino is projected to create 3,500 construction jobs and 2,000 permanent jobs once it is built.
"We agree that the two sides should negotiate," said Dan Williamson, spokesperson for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman. "[Penn National's] response to date is that they don't want to negotiate. They want what they've asked for. The mayor continues to reach out to them to negotiate.
"Tax breaks are not a gift that the city gives out to anyone who wants them. Companies aren't entitled to tax breaks. The city gives tax breaks for two reasons: for the health of the company or because the company would locate elsewhere without the tax breaks. Penn National's health is not in question. The Ohio Constitution says they can locate in one area. For the city to give them tax breaks to locate where they are already required to locate would create a terrible precedent."
"This same company wrote a tax deal for themselves in 2009, a very generous tax deal. They said during the campaign, 'We will not require, want or seek any additional tax breaks from communities.' The question for Penn is: 'Why not do what they said they would back in 2009?'"
The casino developer agreed in 2010 to move the casino from Columbus' Arena District to the West Side. Until recently, Penn National had publicly stated its intent to annex into Columbus. Company leaders say they have not received cooperation from the city of Columbus and no longer are stating an intent to annex.
"We've never been opposed to trying to work something out with the city," said Bob Tenenbaum, spokesperson for Penn National. "They've been adamant -- annex and we're not giving you any incentives and they've taken overt steps to delay the construction."
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