No Fox-Vegas

Residents of Foxborough and surrounding towns have formed a group called "No Fox-Vegas" on facebook.

Opponents Rally Against Possible Foxboro Casino

FOXBORO (CBS) – A group of residents in Foxboro are protesting possible plans for casino on the land across from Gillette Stadium.

On Saturday, about four dozen people held a rally in the town common to demonstrate their opposition on the day before Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft was set to meet with Las Vegas casino developer Steve Wynn.

At Saturday’s protest, common concerns included increased traffic and crime, and diminished property values.

Erin Earnst is one of the town residents vehemently opposed to a casino being built there.

She points out that the Patriots owners have been good neighbors, but says bringing a casino to town would change that.

“I agree that the Krafts have done great things from our town and we’ve definitely benefited from the positive impact that having the revenue from the stadium has had and the donations to the local community, she said. “But, this is too much to ask. This is changing the very fabric of our town and we are not interested.”

Foxboro Selectwoman Lorraine Brue attended the rally and says as a town official, she’ll weigh the pros and cons, but personally, she opposes the idea.

“As a citizen, I’m not interested in having a casino in Foxboro. If I wanted that, I would have moved to Atlantic City,” said Brue.

Walpole Planning Board Member John Murtagh wanted to make it clear that surrounding towns opposed a casino as well.

“Let me send a loud and clear signal to (Robert) Kraft. How dare he put this in our backyard,” Murtagh said. “He’s going to completely devastate our way of life.”



Foxborough Residents Rally Against Casino
Protesters Say Crime Rates Will Increase If Casino Is Built


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- About four dozen Foxborough residents showed up on the town’s common Saturday morning to rally against a proposed casino next to Gillette Stadium.


Calling themselves "No Fox-Vegas," the group first created a website to gain support.

Sources said a $1 billion resort casino would be constructed on 200 acres across from the stadium and Patriot Place Mall on land that is currently used for parking. The deal would be between New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and casino mogul Steve Wynn.

"We are not going to sit back and let Mr. Kraft and Mr. Wynn build a billion dollar casino, a 365 day a year operation, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day in our community" said Foxborough resident, Stephanie Crimmins.

Sighting research, the group said casinos have an adverse effect on the towns in which they are located.

"My main concerns are the impact on property values, public safety is a huge concern" said Foxborough Selectman, Lorraine Brue. "Just the social impact gambling locally how that would affect us. Traffic, congestion, wear and tear on our roads."

Those opposing the deal also said crime rates increase dramatically five to seven years after casinos open.

"We can't be bought," said Foxborough resident, Erin Earnest. "Mr. Wynn doesn't get a vote at the end of the day. Mr. Kraft isn't a Foxborough resident."

The plan would be for the Kraft Group to lease the land to Wynn, but that plan would likely need to be approved by both the NFL and town of Foxborough.

The proposed casino in Foxborough would be constructed across from Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place Mall.

Residents in nearby towns were also at Saturday’s protest.

"We're angry,” said Walpole planning board member, John Murtagh. “We're ready to march on the statehouse, his home in Brookline, you name it."

“We understand that it’s a polarizing issue, and we expect there to be strong opinions on both sides,” said Kraft Group spokesman, Jeff Cournoyer. “If we decide to proceed, the process would provide ample opportunity for the residents of Foxborough and surrounding communities to be heard and to learn more about Wynn’s history of creating world-class resorts that fit the character of their communities.”


Foxborough residents protest a casino
By Brian MacQuarrie
Globe Staff

FOXBOROUGH - The anticasino drumbeat escalated yesterday in Foxborough and neighboring communities, as organizers staged a protest on the town common, promoted two new websites to marshal their forces, and collected signatures to oppose a Las Vegas-style resort being considered for the town.

“We will fight against this with every fiber of our being,’’ said Stephanie Crimmins, a Foxborough mother of two who addressed the morning rally of about 200 protesters on the common. “This will fundamentally impact the town for generations to come.’’

The crowd, holding signs with slogans such as “No Fox-Vegas’’ and “Foxboro Says No Dice,’’ applauded Crimmins and waved at motorists who honked their horns in support.

Crimmins, 40, a corporate executive for Panera Bread, said the grass-roots opposition has been working nonstop since the news broke last week that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn have been discussing a deal to build a casino resort on Kraft-owned land across Route 1 from Gillette Stadium.

“We want to get out there early,’’ Crimmins said. “We need to find a way to say, ‘No, we are not going to let it happen.’ ’’

Wynn is expected to be Kraft’s guest today at Gillette Stadium when the Patriots play the Indianapolis Colts. Under the plan being discussed, Wynn would lease the land from Kraft and build a casino complex that could result in 10,000 construction jobs and 8,000 permanent jobs.

Foxborough Selectwoman Lorraine Brue, who attended the rally, said she has received a wave of negative reaction to such a project.

“The feedback I’ve been getting from the community . . . has been vehemently opposed to this,’’ Brue said.

Brue said she wants public discussion to begin soon, perhaps in a meeting held at the high school before the end of the month. A zoning change to allow a casino would require two-thirds approval in a Town Meeting vote, Foxborough officials said.

“As a citizen, I’m opposed to this,’’ Brue said. “I’m concerned about the impact on property values, the impact on public safety, the traffic impact, the wear and tear on the roads.’’

John Davey, a 45-year-old lawyer with five children, said a historically good relationship between the town and Kraft would venture into unwanted territory with a casino.

“If a casino goes up, there will be some ‘For Sale’ signs going up in my neighborhood,’’ Davey said. “I’m concerned about property values declining in the shadow of a stadium.’’

John Murtagh, a Planning Board member from adjoining Walpole, was at the rally and said his town’s five-member panel is unanimously opposed to a casino on Route 1.

“It’s going to absolutely devastate the town,’’ Murtagh said of a major casino’s impact on Walpole. “All of our roads are going to be like parking lots.’’

Murtagh said he feels “deceived’’ by Kraft.

“We had no idea this was coming. We love the Patriots and Tom Brady, but if we are going to have this seven days a week . . . ’’ Murtagh said, stopping in mid-sentence. “As it is, I can’t get out of my house and go to church on Sunday if there’s a game.’’

Although the crowd on the common appeared overwhelmingly opposed to a casino, a few proponents gave a thumbs-up at a coffee shop in the Foxborough Plaza.

Kenneth Kirby, 64, who grew up in Foxborough and lives in Brockton, said he has mixed feelings. “Are the people who come going to stay and spend their money here? No,’’ he said.

Two sites that have been created to oppose a casino - “Say No to Foxboro Casino’’ on Facebook and www.no-fox-vegas.com - have become a virtual gathering places for opponents. The websites list the negative effects, ranging from crime to child neglect, that its organizers say would accompany a casino.

The next Planning Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday. One of its members, Bill Grieder, leaned against a building across from the common yesterday morning to watch the rally.

When asked his opinion, Grieder was noncommittal.

“I think it’s going to be an interesting process,’’ Grieder said dryly.

Nodding at the protesters, he added, “These are our neighbors, and you’ve got to listen to them.’’