Gaming foes personalize opposition

There is a photo of State Senator James Timility, D-Walpole attending the information event held in Foxborough without any indication of his intent.

The Senator voted to support expanded gambling legislation each time.

Was it simply a photo op or was the good Senator gathering the information he should have gathered prior to his vote? Did he incorrectly believe it wouldn't effect his district? Did he incorrectly believe his constituents would support Predatory Gambling in their community?



Gaming foes personalize opposition
BY LAUREN CARTER SUN CHRONICLE STAFF

FOXBORO - Initially, Monica Staaf was indifferent to the idea of a casino in Foxboro. A self-described "Libertarian," Staaf is not opposed to gambling, lives across town from the proposed site of the resort casino, and felt that the issue might affect other residents in town, but not her.

"To be honest, my first reaction was 'I don't care,' " Staaf said.

Then, just before Thanksgiving, Staaf was invited to a paid focus group about a Foxboro casino conducted by a market research firm in Dedham. At the focus group, she heard arguments on both sides of the issue, and the discussion prompted her to do her own research.

Google searches about the effect of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods on surrounding communities in Connecticut began to tilt her feelings on a casino in her hometown.

"When I did that I just said, 'Oh my gosh, this is bad news,' " Staaf said. "That's when I thought, 'Wow, I don't think I'm for this at all.' " State Sen. James Timility, D-Walpole, left, speaks with Natalia Stasiewicz, Trish Mitchell, and Collin Earnst, all of Foxboro, at Saturday’s informational open house held Saturday by the No Foxboro Casino group at the Union Church Fellowship Hall.Staaf, a 51-year-old lawyer who said she has never gotten involved in town issues before, has since made her stance on the issue clear. She has written letters to selectmen and to The Sun Chronicle, and posted anti-casino signs on her lawn, one of which she said was stolen just before Christmas.

Staaf came to an informational open house at Union Church Fellowship Hall on Saturday afternoon - which she described as a "mini-convention" - to pick up another sign and put faces to the names she has come to associate with the anti-casino movement.

"I've seen a lot of names on blogs and heard people talking at meetings," Staaf said. "It's just good to put a name to a face. I think it's amazing that this group leapt into action so quickly. It's impressive."

The anti-casino movement may not be able to compete financially with the well-funded PR machine of Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn, who has proposed the resort casino on Route 1 across from Gillette Stadium, so it opts for a personal touch.

Saturday's open house included coffee, tea and homemade cookies. There were lawn signs, stickers and business cards, as well as fact sheets, surveys and a print version of the online petition asking Robert Kraft to withdraw his proposal for a casino, which currently has about 1,700 signatures.

Visitors looking to get more involved could donate to the cause or sign up to volunteer. An "information and listening" section was designed to invite discussion about controversial topics that residents may be hesitant to talk about with their neighbors. "They're info and listening tables," said Chris Lowey, No Foxboro Casino's volunteer coordinator. "They're not us preaching."

Lowey said that with the snowy conditions on Saturday, volunteers weren't expecting much of a turnout and hoped for a handful of people.

Instead, an estimated 40 to 50 people came through, including state Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole.

The open house is the first of several more planned as a way to personalize the anti-casino cause and reach those who may not be computer savvy and "wired-in" to the movement's online outreach efforts.

"That's a lot of people, and that's what initiated this whole thing," said Lowey. "We really wanted to reach people who were not necessarily online, and we really want to put a face to the organization, to who we are, so people can see we're neighbors."

Spokeswoman Holly Steel said the open house was also a way to make first contact with people who are undecided and want more information.

Most of those who stopped by on the snowy Saturday afternoon hailed from Foxboro, but residents from neighboring towns came by as well.

Janice McCarty, 52, of Norfolk came looking for signs and information she hopes to share with fellow Norfolk residents, many of whom believe the issue is dead after Foxboro selectmen voted 3-2 against the casino.

"I feel somewhat helpless right now," McCarty said. "I feel like the more education I can get, that maybe in conversations with people I know, I can fill people in."

McCarty said that with distance from the proposed casino seems to come a sense of indifference about the outcome, but she feels the issue is close to home.

"I think people are not aware that even if it's not near your house, it's still going to have an impact on your life," McCarty said. "I feel like if the casino goes up and I've not done anything about it, I have no right to squawk about it."