City votes to move meeting

GLENDALE — The Redevelopment Agency voted down a plan Tuesday to hold an upcoming city event at the Hilton Glendale due to an ongoing labor dispute between the hotel's employees and management.

The agency voted unanimously to hold an "Invest in Glendale" seminar to attract potential investors and businesses to Glendale, but voted against holding it at the Hilton, the venue for which it was originally proposed.

The agency voted 4-1 against having it at the Hilton, with member Dave Weaver voting against.

"I don't know what kind of face we are going to present to investors when they are confronted with people and bullhorns and so forth," said Councilman and agency member Frank Quintero, who has been vocal in support of the workers' right to unionize.

Guests were met by protesters when a city holiday dinner was held at the Hilton in December.

Employees at the Hilton Glendale have been at odds with their management, Eagle Hospitality Properties Trust, for about a year and have initiated a boycott against the hotel.

The boycott stems from employee efforts to join with Unite Here — a local union that represents hotel employees and other groups — to achieve better wages and health benefits.

Hilton bartender Angela Reid addressed the City Council, acting as the Redevelopment Agency, Tuesday requesting they not use the hotel to host their function.

"We just ask for your respect for the workers," she said.

"Whatever you can do for us by moving any event, any parties, for us, we would really appreciate that because the hotel is officially under a boycott."

Glendale resident Armond Aghakhanian also spoke to the council, asking them to consider how it would reflect on the city to have protesters at the event.

"I know for some investors it will be very uncomfortable to come to a location where you have people picketing for livable wages," he said.

Hilton Glendale General Manager Linda Norman said this venue change due to the boycott is not improving matters for the employees.

"Its unfortunate if the [venue] movement was a result of Unite Here's call for a consumer boycott," she said.

The new venue for the event has yet to be decided, but possible options discussed at the meeting included the Oakmont Country Club, the Alex Theatre or the Civic Center.

At the event, investors will hear about current Glendale projects. City officials will also create a promotional DVD giving information about the city.

"We would like to hold an event in Glendale to expose ourselves to the corporate community, to investment, to developers that would want to come and invest in Glendale," Development Services Director Philip Lanzafame said at the meeting.

QUESTION

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