POLL: Should Milford Residents Oppose a Casino?
An article on Boston.com says there isn't much opposition from the host community for the proposed gambling resort.
The discussion of a casino in Milford was a hot-button issue in the area even before Gov. Deval Patrick signed the legislation allowing resort-style casinos to be built in the state.
An article from Boston.com on Sunday said while there is opposition formed outside of Milford, residents of the town haven't been vocally against the betting house.
"Such opposition — except from surrounding towns — has been essentially absent in Milford, where town leaders say their constituents are voicing openness to the idea. Residents of nearby communities, such as Holliston and Hopkinton, don’t get a vote. Milford’s referendum, still many months away, would be binding," a Boston.com article said.
The article went on to say that residents are at least interested in seeing what benefits the casino could bring to the community.
“The vast majority of people in Milford are pretty content to look at the situation and say: ‘It’s a business. If it comes forward, let’s evaluate it,’” state Representative John Fernandes (D-Milford) told Boston.com.
A petition started on change.org has gathered more than 1,000 signatures, but a majority of them come from residents of surrounding communities. This differs greatly from a similar petition started in Foxborough that was signed by many residents of the town.
What do you think about the lack of opposition by Milford residents? Answer our poll and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Dana Hall
8:06 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
The Mass gambling bill is flawed. There is not a sufficient market to support 3 world class gaming venues in Mass, and also have Foxwood & Mohegan Sun down the road. Chances are Mass will end up with 3 subpar venues with the addition of all the social problems which gambling creates. The market will be saturated, and no one venue will have the economic mass to attract world class entertainment. So we'll just end up with 3 subpar slot houses.
Mass should have only allowed 1 venue as an experiment, can Mass support a world class gaming industry ? For a casino to succeed and also be a benefit to the community, it needs to be able to attract the high rollers, it needs to be world class so that big name entertainment can be brought in, it needs some level of class, to offset the social problems it can and will create.
Unfortunately a casino in Milford will not be world-class, the high-rollers will go to Foxwoods & Mohegan Sun to be wined and dined in style, and watch top name shows.
In Milford, we'll just get a slot parlor.
Just my $.02
Amy Ritterbusch
8:30 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
I think the Boston Globe article is ignoring the fact that hundreds of MILFORD residents have signed the petition against a Milford casino: http://casinofreemilford.com/
Frank D'Urso
10:17 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
I agree with Amy, obviously they did not talk to any of the the people in Milford that I know.
Ed Bertorelli
10:32 am on Monday, June 4, 2012
First of all-- the one casino for eastern Mass is going to Suffolk Downs site. It's been 'wired' from the start. Speaker DeLeo and Mayor Menino are all for it . Boston pols and their friends stand to make a lot of money by locating it there. Imagine the shady deals and friends and relatives working at the casino and add organized crime to the mix. The developer in Milford has been AWOL for a while making me wonder if he's moving forward or not.
I am a Milford resident and think that Milford has always taken a very practical look at any development-that's why we have over nine million dollars in our stabilization account and have NEVER needed and override. btw I would vote No on a casino.
Barry
9:20 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Milford residents should do and vote according to what they want.. not what residents of surrounding towns want. No person or town can choose the laws they want to follow and those they do not. In this case, what the surrounding towns want is thankfully irrelvant. If other towns slow down or stop a casino in Milford - assuming Milford votes 'yes'- than Milford should sue those towns and those people for loss revenue from the casino.
MiddleboroRemembers
1:26 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Massachusetts Gambling Commission will adopt a 2-step process.
The first part of that process will require Gambling Investors to submit financial and background information. That process from advertising to completion will take + 9 months.
That 2-step process will eliminate unqualified candidates before major investments are required.
David Nunes has no $$$$.
Bill Warner and Warner Gaming LLC has no $$$$. Warner's experience is ???? Paleeze! Station filed for bankruptcy.
[Nevada] Gaming Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard expressed some concern over whether Warner Gaming has enough experience to manage the Hard Rock Hotel.
http://middlebororemembers.blogspot.com/2012/06/milford-boston-globe-didnt-do-homework.html
MiddleboroRemembers
1:27 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The Milford process is laughable! There is no deal. There are no developers.
....rival developer David Nunes (left). Several years ago, he was something of a local hero to Milford. Now he’s on the verge of getting laughed out of town. Nunes has talked big ($700 million, 5,000 slots, etc.) but hasn’t flashed any cash, giving rise to skepticism amongst the selectmen. If the proposed design of Crossroads Casino looks like a rejected rendering that was fished out of a Station Casinos wastebasket, small wonder: mooted operator Warner Gaming is largely comprised of executive refugees from Station. (“Sunset Milford”? “Milford Station”?) Don’t expect Warner to rescue Nunes. It’s strictly a manager (primarily of Las Vegas‘ hard-luck Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, whose owner — Credit Suisse — was affiliated with the project three years ago). It’s not a financier. As for its design sensibility, I guess you can take the executive out of Station but you can’t Station out of the exec.
http://dmckee.lvablog.com/?p=9103