This is how opposed the Broadmoor Hotel is to the minimum wage increase proposal on next Tuesday’s ballot. The suits upstairs in the penthouse suite would apparently rather pump tens of thousands of dollars into a campaign to pay for opposition mailers and TV ads than just fork over a little extra dough to its workers, yes, many of whom are low-wage earners.
The Secretary of State reports that so far Colorado’s only 5-star resort in Colorado Springs – which is where George W. Bush claims he got his last drunk on – has contributed a cool hundred grand to the anti-Amendment 42 group “Respect Colorado’s Constitution”:
– $7,000 on September 8
– $25,000 on September 29
– $28,000 on October 19
– $40,000 on October 25Amendment 42 would raise Colorado’s minimum wage from $5.15 an hour, to $6.85 and then be increased yearly for inflation.
Not familiar with the Broadmoor? It’s owned by the Gaylord Family — which also owns Opryland — whose patriarch Ed Gaylord died in 2003. The year before, Forbes magazine ranked Gaylord number 100 in its annual list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, with $1.8 billion in worth. Just a few days ago the resort received notification that it has again received a 5-star rating.
And staying at the Broadmoor can be a pampered and posh affair.
Rates for a room in what the hotel describes as its “Superior south tower” are $400 to $530 a night — that’ll only take someone who earns $5.15 an hour between 78 and 103 hours of labor to save up for. But once you slap down the cash representing two-and-a-half weeks worth of full-time work for a night in a hotel room, here’s what you have to look forward to:
Amenities: Sealy Posturepedic mattress with featherbed (removable), Heavenly goose down pillows (or hypoallergenic), 350 thread count duvet cover, marino wool throws, air conditioning, bathtub/shower combination, cable television, clock radio, coffee maker, desk, free local calls, hair dryer, iron, double marble vanities, mini-bar, high-speed internet access, safe deposit box, Broadmoor signature toiletries and bathrobe, Broadmoor Blend signature coffee, smoke detector, turndown service, walk-in closet. 450 square feet.
Mini Bar Contents (CAUTION: Costs extra – lots extra)
Russian River wine, Joseph Drouhin Beaujolais-Villages wine, Jack Daniels Bourbon, Finlandia Vodka, Courvoisier Cognac, Crown Royal Whiskey, Grand Marnier, Glenlivet 12 yr. old single malt scotch and more!
And, no doubt all that backbreaking work for low wages will require a trip to the spa. Go for it – get The Extravaganza Package, which includes a Serenity Shower, Tranquility Tub Plunge, 50 Minute Swedish Massage, Colorado Classique Facial, Babassu Body Polish, The Broadmoor Lavender Paraffin Manicure & Pedicure.
It’ll only set you back $630 – what’s another 122 hours, a mere three week’s worth –
