America's Road to Wealth

Chapter 420 The problem of building wonders on Manhattan Island

"...he looks so happy."

Manhattan, New York, Waldorf Astoria Hotel Ballroom.

In the corner of the hall, on the sofa in the rest area.

The mayor of New York, and the chairman of Smith Capital.

Surrounded by several bodyguards, the two sat in the sofa booth and talked softly.

The speaker is Mr. Mayor.

Bloomberg's eyes are looking at Ted Lerner, who is beaming in the distance, talking with many people.

He smiled at Abel and said the above sentence.

Across from Bloomberg, Abel holds a glass of Pinewood Chenin Blanc Viognier from California's Napa Valley region.

When it comes to wine and red wine, the first thing people in the world think of is the output from Europe, especially France.

But in fact, in the United States, which has a vast land and abundant resources, the climate in many places is actually more suitable for the cultivation of wine grapes than Burgundy in France.

Wines produced in many places in the United States are not inferior to Europe in terms of quality.

Maybe even a little better.

It's just that old Europe takes up an old word.

Like those luxuries.

European luxury goods seem to be more upscale than American ones, and more popular with rich people.

Wine is the same thing as luxury goods.

At least Pinewood Winery's Pinewood Chenin Blanc Viognier.

Abel felt that it was much better than Romanee-Conti and 82 Lafite.

In the same way, in fact, in addition to brand marketing.

Another country with a vast land and abundant resources, Huaxia.

The wine grapes produced in some places, coupled with the rich flavor process, can also produce wines of the same quality as old Europe.

Just like American wine, it is not as good as old Europe in terms of brand.

So much so that the price cannot be sold, and even the people of my own country don't recognize it.

"It should be something to be happy about." He took a sip of the white wine.

Abel responded to Bloomberg with a chuckle.

"In his own field, Ted is doing pretty well. That's something he should be happy about."

Bloomberg smiled.

Was Ted Lerner doing a good job?
Hehe, if he was really good, how could he go bankrupt so many times?
New Yorkers know it.

If it weren't for a good dad, Ted Lerner might have been one of the many homeless people on the streets of New York.

Of course, Bloomberg would not say such words to Abel.

Mr. Mayor smiled and said, "Let's talk about our affairs."

Abel nodded.

"After you were "attacked". Many things went smoothly. Robert chased after the victory and got rid of many people."

Bloomberg looked at Abel and said seriously:
"The work that was originally expected to be completed by the end of the year has now been completed more than half. Maybe in May, most of the demolition and land acquisition contracts will be completed."

Abel knew Bloomberg and was talking about the Hudson Bay Town Square in Manhattan.

This may be the most valuable real estate project in the United States after the 21st century.

Driven by several New York local snakes, it appeared earlier than the parallel time and space.

Especially Abel, to build a spectacle in Manhattan.

He is particularly concerned about this.

"This is really a good thing." Abel smiled.

The land in Hudson Bay involves almost hundreds of large and small owners.

Among these owners, there are super giants such as Morgan and Rockefeller.

There are also some poor people who are currently receiving relief.

That was Manhattan, the only large-scale land currently available for development since the Gilded Age.

The complexity of its land rights, equity, and creditor's rights makes any American real estate giant scratch its head.

It is precisely because of these reasons that even though its location is so good and so big, it is still on Manhattan Island.

But not many businessmen are willing to develop it.

In the parallel time and space, the New York government is also after the financial crisis in 2007 and 2008.

In order to boost New York's economy, in order to make GDP look better.It took a lot of effort to push this project forward.

But even with the full efforts of the New York government, it took almost three years to succeed.

The construction time is still very long.

Until Abel crossed over.

None of the projects at Hudson's Bay Yards are complete yet.

Now because of the appearance of Abel, this project has been promoted earlier by the government of New York City.

As Abel's influence and wealth and status increase.

In this year, through the "attack" event.

There was also a strong push from Bloomberg and Robert Morgenthau.

This project was officially launched in the face of huge resistance.

Seeing Abel's calm smile, Bloomberg laughed too.

Mr. Mayor said:

"I think we, now, can start discussing who will complete the construction of this project. This is a super fat job, and it is enough to attract any real estate company."

Involving tens of billions of dollars in investment.

It is also a huge real estate project covering an area of ​​10.5 hectares in Manhattan Island, where land is very expensive.

There's just too much oil and water in here.

This is only the value and investment of the project itself.

Because apart from the project itself.

The entire Hudson Yards will also have key municipal projects such as surrounding supporting facilities and subway line renovation.

Add it all up, and the total investment could reach hundreds of billions of dollars.

At least $800 billion.

Among them, the government of New York City is responsible for about half, mainly those municipal facilities.

This is definitely the largest single investment in the entire United States after the 21st century.

"First of all, we need to guarantee the issue of cost." Abel said.

"Money has to come out of our pockets. I don't want my money to go into other people's pockets for nothing."

"So in terms of cost, it is necessary to ensure the quality and at the same time, the cost is the lowest."

Bloomberg nodded.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Mayor will also invest in it.

If others are making money on the project, they are also taking advantage of Bloomberg.

Capitalists can tolerate anything.

I just can't bear to make less money.

"Then what's your idea? Who will be in charge? Or, which real estate construction companies will be responsible for the construction. For such a large project, one or two real estate companies will definitely not be able to handle it. Like Mr. Lerner, he can at most It can only bear about 3% to 5% of the share.”

Bloomberg's remarks are actually very euphemistic.

Let alone 5% of the entire project.

Maybe even 3%, Ted Lerner's company is a little bit propped up.

Even if the total investment is calculated at a minimum of 700 billion US dollars.

3% also has $21 billion.

A real estate project with a construction cost of $21 billion.

Since the birth of the entire Lerner Real Estate Group, all the projects built by itself are estimated to be worth this much money.

Giving Ted Lerner this share is already entirely for the sake of human relations.

"of course."

Abel said softly: "It is impossible for Lerner Real Estate Group to undertake such a large project. Some small projects inside can be handed over to him."

"Tell me," Bloomberg said. "It's just the two of us right now. Tell me what you think."

"I have an idea that is not very mature. If this idea is used, the cost may be kept to a minimum."

Looking at Bloomberg, Abel said.

"Tell me what you think."

"I have learned about it." Abel said softly: "A large-scale real estate project. In terms of construction materials and tools, while requiring quality, the cost is almost fixed, and the fluctuation is relatively small."

Bloomberg nodded.

Even if he is not a real estate businessman, Bloomberg knows this as well.

In the United States, a country with such an early industrialization time.

The construction industry has been developed for hundreds of years, and the construction cost has already become transparent and industrialized.

The same level of building materials, after reaching a certain amount, the cost will not change too much.

100 million tons of cement and 1000 million tons of cement, unless you open your own factory for production.

Otherwise, their unit price difference will not exceed 10%.

"I checked the information and found that during the construction process in the United States, one of the biggest factors affecting the construction cost is the workers' compensation."

"Worker compensation?" Bloomberg frowned. "Are you going to use the knife on this?"

In the United States, construction workers work on the construction site for 8 hours a day, 4 days a week. After deducting taxes and insurance, they can net $1066.

This is an average.

In areas such as Arkansas, which is least developed, the numbers will be lower.

But in New York... On the basis of the average, this number has increased by at least 50%.

In other words, construction workers in New York can earn around $1500 a week on average.

There are 14 days off a month, but the monthly salary is as high as about 6000 US dollars.

The annual salary is more than seventy thousand US dollars.

This is the price in New York City, and New York is the largest city in the United States, everything is expensive, and wages are one level higher than anywhere else in the United States.

Not so much in other regions.

For example, the median annual salary for construction workers in Illinois is $57310.

It was followed by Hawaii at $56240, Massachusetts at $53230, New Jersey at $52220 and Alaska at $50450.

Arkansas earned the lowest at $27530, followed by Alabama at $29360 and Mississippi at $29450.

These are medians.

The median annual salary of construction workers in the United States is about $39000.

Compared with the US per capita annual income (median) of US$2001 in 33500, it is 18% higher.

Of course, construction workers are among the most injured jobs in any country
Most construction workers, usually work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.What they are engaged in is high-intensity physical work, and it is one of the types of work with the highest incidence of work-related injuries and diseases among all occupations.

With such hard work, it is normal to get a little more.

The construction workers in New York did get quite a lot.

Especially in Manhattan, that's more.

"You don't want to take a pay cut in this regard, do you?"

Bloomberg frowned: "Those guys with wrenches, if you get them walking on the street, things will be very troublesome."

Salary increases and benefits are very common in the United States, because every few years, guilds in various industries will come out to make troubles and demand increased remuneration.

The capitalists will respond more or less positively to appease them.

But in some special periods, such as economic crisis or something.

Of course, it is impossible for the capitalists to raise their wages again.

So what to do?Pay cut?
No.

In the United States, salary increases are often necessary, and salary cuts are not allowed.

It looks good to only increase wages without reducing wages.

But capitalists are not stupid.

Since wages cannot be lowered, capitalists will directly choose to lay off workers... or go bankrupt.

If you are directly fired or the company is gone, then it is not a salary cut.

If you lower your wages, you can choose to wander the streets. If you lose your job or company, then even wandering will have no name.

And construction workers, no matter where they are, have always been a group with relatively strong mobility.

Capitalists are not afraid of them, but Bloomberg is not just a capitalist.

"How? I also know the rules of the game. My idea is not to reduce wages." Faced with Bloomberg's doubts, Abel said with a smile.

"As far as I know, there are construction workers in many places. They may not even be paid $500 a month."

Abel said: "My idea is to replace 80% of the tens of thousands of workers that need to be used with cheap foreign workers. Then the remaining 20% ​​of the compensation of American workers will be paid at the same rate as before. An increase of 20% on the basis of

"My actuary told me that this would save 70-80% on labor costs."

"My legal counsel told me that there is absolutely nothing in the federal, New York State, New York City regulations that prevents us from doing this."

Bloomberg is not a fool, he can have the current achievements.

He was born in the middle class, 50% depends on himself, 30% depends on luck, and the remaining 20% ​​depends on the blood of the oilman.

Bloomberg immediately guessed the ingenuity of Abel's approach.

"You mean...use the 20% of high-paid American workers to deal with the dissatisfaction that may arise from other construction workers in the United States?"

"Yes."

"Bring some of them together, and let this part hit other parts of them." Abel smiled and said:

"This is a method advocated by the workers' mentors."

Bloomberg pondered for a while, then nodded slightly:

"It is feasible to a certain extent. But there are many problems to be solved in various aspects."

"It can save about billions of dollars." Abel said leisurely.

"I don't think it's a big problem," Bloomberg said immediately.

"Ha ha--"

Abel laughed and patted Bloomberg on the shoulder.

"It's still a few months away. It's a really important thing that needs to be considered in the long run. And maybe we can save money and still keep the quality."

"Ok?"

Abel smiled slightly and said, "I know a country that has always been obsessed with the dollar. They attach great importance to what Americans think of them. As long as we take advantage of this, maybe we can make them make a lot of less money. Willing to work for us."

"Is there such a country?" Bloomberg was surprised.

"I'm just giving it a try. It won't work and it doesn't have to be." Abel smiled.

Bloomberg nodded and was about to speak.

At this time, two young girls appeared together on the periphery of the sofa where they were sitting, but were blocked by their security staff.

"Hi! Abel! You're back in New York, why don't you contact me!"

The bright blonde girl greeted Abel with a bright smile across the bodyguards.

Bloomberg walked back what he was about to say.

Mr. Mayor smiled and looked at Abel with interest.

He looked at the two girls again, looking like they were watching a play and gossiping.

"Forehead……"

Abel opened his mouth silently, not knowing what to say.

Looking at Abel with a helpless face.

Lydia quickly teased her cousin, wanting her to accept as soon as she was happy.

It was too embarrassing and unladylike.

"Gentlemen, don't you invite us in? After standing all night, my feet are a little sore." Amanda continued to smile and said.

I have to say, Amanda in a full dress, with blonde hair and blue eyes, smiling.

Like the European past, those German noble girls in the Middle Ages were as noble, elegant, beautiful and beautiful.

Amanda is actually more blond than Ikana.

Before Abel even opened his mouth, Bloomberg beside him said with a smile:

"Ah, it's my lack of hospitality. House, Miss Hurst, please come in and have a rest."

Abel couldn't help but look at Bloomberg, who winked at him.

Bloomberg's bodyguards immediately dispersed, trying to let Amanda and Lydia into the sofa booth.

Edward still blocked it, but looked back at his boss.

That's all, Abel can only nod his head.

Amanda and Lydia were let in.

"Oh, William. Your two nieces, that's not very ladylike."

Not far away, Ted Lerner, who was talking with many people just now, saw this scene.

He couldn't help frowning, and said to William Hearst next to him.

Coincidentally, the four generations of the Hearst family in power, including the founder, are all named William, with only a different middle name.

From this naming method, we know that the Hearst family is also pure Angsans.

Looking at Ted Lerner's displeased look.

William Hearst thought to himself that you in the past would not dare to talk to me like this.

It's just that the daughter went to be someone else's mistress, so there's nothing to be arrogant about.

Thinking this way in his heart, William Hearst smiled and said:
"Children grow up, who knows what they think? We elders, it is naturally difficult to control this. Ikana is so good, I think you, Ted, should also have this kind of trouble."

Ted Lerner was left speechless.

William Hearst didn't say a single swear word, but he was telling Ted Lerner, [your daughter is just his mistress].

In addition, Ted Lerner was just pretending to be a tiger, but he didn't dare to really be upset with William Hearst.

Hearst, a century-old giant, is much better than Ted Lerner in New York.

Ted doesn’t really dare to conflict with the Hearst family unless Abel fully supports it.

In the past, Ted Lener didn't even dare to talk to William Hearst like this.

That's why he made a big splash tonight, and his righteousness was in full swing. .

Ted Lerner dared to say what he just said to William, the head of Hearst. . .

(End of this chapter)