POLL: Will Neighboring Opposition to a Casino Make a Difference?
Residents and leaders of towns surrounding Milford have begun online petitions, and are planning methods to influence state gaming commission members, all in expectation of a casino proposal.
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State legislation that will allow up to three casinos in Massachusetts did not give neighboring communities a vote in whether a gambling resort can locate in a community.
So, if Milford voters decide to endorse a casino proposal, voters in Grafton, Hopkinton, Upton and Holliston, among other communities, can't block it.
But they can try to head one off before it gets to that point, by making a case to the state Gaming Commission that the Milford proposal will not be beneficial.
Opponents who worry a casino proposal might become viable in Milford are stepping up their organizational efforts. As the Boston Globe reported this week, activists in Holliston have started grassroots efforts to build opposition to the casino, and make a factual case against it. The developer, David Nunes, has indicated a proposal could be presented to Milford selectmen within months.
Should people in surrounding communities accept that this decision is not theirs? Or should they push on, and build a case against it?
Jack
6:59 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Casinos are an awful idea the only people who will benefit are the stooges on beacon hill who passed the bill. Casinos will make our problems as a town worse. If we are not smart enough to shoot it down I hope the surrounding towns are
Mary MacDonald
8:07 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
There is an argument that it will bring more jobs, are you thinking they will not be high-paying enough or that they will benefit people from other communities? Or that it will divert business from smaller places nearby?
don mcelman
9:57 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
Mary, where can people find evidence (i.e. other websites) about existing casinos & the surrounding town effects? People need to be really educated about the economic consequences of these decisions, both "in town" & "out of town". I'm sure other communities' story before, during and after installation of a casino complex would be helpful here.
Mary MacDonald
10:26 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
I'll look into it Don, and will post a story. It looks like a proposal is coming this spring, according to the Globe. At this point, Milford has no proposal in front of it.
Tony
10:43 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
Be careful when you google articles regarding the impacts of casinos. Numerous articles from opponents of casinos pop up and they are full of the standard misconceptions that they like to float. It's hard to find the legitimate unbiased study.
Mary MacDonald
10:49 am on Sunday, February 26, 2012
Tony, I'll be doing reporting on it. I'd be interested in getting the background, as it will be hitting Milford shortly and is already an issue for the selectman candidates. Universities have economics professors who will have researched this topic, and there are numerous public policy institutes in the country.
Bill Ferguson
3:25 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012
If the MA casino hires as many as Twin Rivers had, that would be 800. With a base of 3,231,700 people employed in MA as of Sept 2011, each casino would add one quarter of one percent (0.025%) to the number employed. Not worth the trouble and extra expense.