City accepts White Lodging money

It probably comes as no surprise that City Council voted unanimously to accept $2.4 million from White Lodging on Thursday for fee waivers previously granted to incentivize construction of the downtown JW Marriott hotel. Those waivers were granted on a condition that workers would be paid a prevailing wage. When it was determined that workers had not been paid a prevailing wage, the city asked for its money back. Years later, the matter is finally settled. Council Member Greg Casar, who was instrumental in getting the money back through his work with the Workers Defense Project, took a moment to celebrate from the dais. “I think today proves that no matter how big or powerful someone is, if they break their promises to the people of the city of Austin and to Council, we should hold our ground,” said Casar. “Even though a watered-down version of the agreement was offered, the Council decided to stick to their guns, and today we reap the benefits of that.”