Now, some friends will be going convulsive in defense, but, but, but, he's done this, he's done that. They even recoil when reminded that this is much like the praise heaped on an accused pedophile "Oh, he did so much for the community!" "He was such a good man....!"
The poor choice of candidates forces a voter to accept a candidate WARTS AND ALL!
Except this isn't a mere WART. It's an incurable malignancy that is fatal and the Governor introduced it, promotes it, supports it and endorses it, ignoring the facts because he hired a Gambling Company to produce a report that...what a surprise! Supports the Gambling Industry.
It's a malignancy that CANNOT be limited as Senator Rosenberg, author of this disaster has acknowledged.
It's a malignancy that CANNOT be "DONE RIGHT."
Yes! And he is calling for Slot Parlors in your neighborhood that no way, no how can be 'Done Right' !
Seeking some commonsense, I sent an email to the Governor to again raise pertinent issues that he has ignored.
Recently, there has been a great deal of misinformation
stated publicly, as well as on the Senate floor regarding
the rights of Native Americans to Tribal Gaming.
There are two decision that pertain specifically to Tribal
Gaming and Land in Trust.
One, oft quoted, is Carcieri v Salazar which clearly excludes
either Massachusetts Tribe that are currently recognized:
the Mashpee Wampanoags and the Aquinnah.
The Hawaii decision was signed onto by a majority of
Attorneys General.
In SCOTUS and Hawaii Being Ignored, I included:
Within weeks of the 8-1 Carcieri v Salazar decision,
a second strike on fee to trust was issued. This time it came
from a case originating in the state of Hawaii. In the 9-0 decision
on Hawaii v. the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Justice Alito wrote,
"It would raise grave constitutional concerns" Congress sought to
"cloud Hawaii's title to its sovereign lands" after it had joined the
Union. "We have emphasized that Congress cannot, after
statehood reserve or convey....lands that have already been
bestowed upon a state". How many readers of this paper could
be effected by issues concerning land that has been "bestowed
upon a state"; as an original colony, through disestablished
territory or when the territory entered into statehood?
This information is readily available via google.
To justify this legislation for the incorrect reason you offered is
absurd.
In addition, if you truly believe the 'threat' posed by Native
American Tribes, you need to be aware that there are an
additional 6 or possibly 8 Massachusetts Tribes that have
filed for recognition.
Your predecessors had the wisdom to oppose expanded
gambling, yet you have continued to accept flawed revenue
and job creation figures.
In my opinion, no Progressive candidate supports Slot Parlors.
Costs --
Senator Tucker got it right in her comments on the floor of the
Senate.
For $500 million or $600 million, you get a Slot Parlor, not a
glamorous resort. The simple arithmetic does not produce
any revenue, but instead, produces a net loss.
Your failure to insist on a study that considers the costs and
impacts of Slot Parlors defines your willingness to accept the
grossly overstated revenue and job projections that don't exist.
Groups formed the Western MA Casino Task Force (WMCAT) of
which Kathleen Norbut is a founding member (and had the dubious
privilege of a obtaining an in depth education about the gambling industry)
and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC as well as SWAP).
Both of these regional groups are officially neutral on the issue of
expanded gambling. None of the recommendations of the groups
were included in the Speaker's Special Interest Gambling Bill.
The recommendations are supported by the southeastern regional
task force (Lakeville/Middleboro area).
The costs for gambling treatment articulated by the Mass Council
on Compulsive Gambling was over $30 Million per year. The Speaker's
Special Interest Gambling Bill provides $5 Million.
The costs for a new gambling regulatory commission in comparable
states (there is no exact apples:apples) are between $20 million and
$50 million per year. The Speaker's Special Interest Gambling Bill
provides $5 Million. [The current racing commission cost almost that.]
The costs for expansion of the AG's department for surveillance,
oversight, prosecution, equipment and personnel for an entirely
new category of enterprise and organized crime statutes is -
not included or considered in the bill.
The costs for expansion of the MA state police for a new department,
equipment, personnel is - not included or considered in the bill.
The costs for expansion of the local/regional impacted law enforcement
departments for equipment, personnel is - not included or considered in
the bill.
The costs for district courts, DA departments, Sheriffs, Corrections - not
included or considered in the bill.
The mitigation for directly impacted municipalities is $15 Million in the Speaker's
Special Interest Gambling Bill. The WMCAT that has studied these proposals
extensively (ad nauseum) has identified a MINIMUM of $50 million needed
PER impacted casino region. The Palmer Citizens Casino Impact Study
Committee (see town of Palmer website) articulated millions of dollars of direct
impact expenses - $50 million for water alone. The Palmer Town Council that is
majority pro-casino, refused to have a full hearing of the Citizens Impact Study
Committee report and has abolished the committee.
The $100 million for local aid is NOT new revenue. It is an offset for the projected
local aid losses due to the recession that will be in the FY 11 budget and the losses
to the lottery should slots be legalized when gamblers switch from scratching to
tapping buttons to lose their money. The estimated drop in lottery spending if slots
were legalized has ranged from 5-10% Boston Chamber of Commerce; 10% - 17%
Spectrum Gaming ($124 Million - I believe that is in the 2008 report) and independent
research by legislators)
BTW, Spectrum Gaming does not see Racinos/Slot Parlors as economic
development - there is no multiplier effect - from the Governor's report and
Joe Weinert, V-P Spectrum Gaming when visiting the WMCAT 2008 - this
is not mentioned in the report that was developed for and paid by Mr. DeLeo.
For the Speaker's projections to be remotely possible Massachusetts gamblers
would need to continue losing the estimated 4.5 Billion dollars per year with the
Lottery and lose an additional $1.8 Billion dollars per year down a slot machine.
That is a lot of money to be taken out of local and regional economies,
entertainment and small businesses.
The response I received?
On behalf of Governor Deval L. Patrick, thank you for your letter regarding gaming in the Commonwealth. The Governor thinks that there is a right way and a wrong way to expand gaming in Massachusetts. Based on the analysis his administration has done, he believes the right way to maximize jobs and economic development is through limiting expansion to destination resort casinos.
The Governor will keep your thoughts in mind as we continue to monitor casino legislation as is proceeds through the legislative process. It is important that the final plan balance short and long-term job creation and revenue growth with any potential social impact and other costs.
Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with Governor Patrick on this important issue.
A personal response wasn't anticipated, but Governor, you've isolated yourself with too many "Yes" men willing to stroke your ego and agree. You've forgotten your roots and ignored what Gambling has done to that community.
Pity! You could have been a noteworthy Governor otherwise! We almost thought you cared.
P.S. Does anyone remember this?
Massachusetts Democratic Party Resolution Opposing Predatory Gambling
The Democratic Party used to stand for something.
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