Latin Builders Say They're Ready to Build 5-Star Casinos

Leaders of the Latin Builders Association, sporting hard hats and holding shovels, stood before the fourth floor entrance to the Florida Senate in the Capitol as they become the latest group to announce support for the destination gaming bill now before the Legislature.

Bernie Navarro, president of the association that represents developers, contractors, architects, plumbers and other construction fields throughout South Florida, said the decision was weighed heavily to ensure the short-term gain of allowing three resort casinos to go up doesnt result in any long-term detriment to the region.

Noelia Moreno, past president of the association, said with unemployment at 20 percent in the construction industry, the prospect of three mega resorts could mean up to 45,000 construction jobs.

We need these jobs, we needed them yesterday, but we definitely need them now, Moreno said.

The association lines up across from the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Disney on the gaming bill.

A workshop on the gaming bill, HB 487 and SB 710, filed by Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, and Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, will have its first committee review Wednesday.

Fresen said he expects more groups will take sides in the debate as the legislation moves forward.

Youre going to start seeing the voices, not only from our community, but from throughout the state, Fresen said.