Racino wrong answer for Plainville problem
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
To the editor: My husband and I have been residents of Plainville for the last 36 years, and we've worked hard to maintain our home, pay our bills, and raise two children. I am deeply concerned about the proposed slot parlor at Plainridge Racecourse.
I haven't always agreed with the selectmen over the years on issues like the landfill, asphalt plant, and sewer project. But I've heard them describe Plainville as a town with rural charm that's a great place to raise a family, and they seemed to want to preserve this ideal. So I hope they will take a very close look at the far-reaching effects that a slot parlor would have on our town.
Slot parlors approach every player as a potential addict, enticing them to play "to extinction," the predatory gambling industry's term for "broke." Many people can't walk away from the enticements of slot machines before they've devastated their finances, family, and life. Casinos and slot parlors are one huge transfer of money from the pockets of working families and seniors into the pockets of multimillionaires. Sadly, our government supports this failed public policy as a misguided jobs scheme. But predatory gambling creates far more addicts than jobs. Even our local clergy opposes gambling, knowing the negative impact on families and the community.
A racino is not the answer to this town's financial problems. It will bring short-term revenue and long term problems, with an increase in: crime, traffic, loss of property value, bankruptcy, addiction, inadequate housing, DUIs, suicide, domestic violence, and foreclosures. The end of Plainville as we know it.
Frankly speaking, I plan to hold on to my money and pass it on to my children, not some millionaire who doesn't share a vested interest in my family, property, neighborhood, and town. Please consider the impact of predatory gambling before it becomes a way of life that we'll never be able to change.
Patricia Hoyceanyls, Plainville
50 Mile Casino Radius Map
Gambling expansion does not simply recapture Massachusetts gamblers who out of state to gamble. It creates more gamblers locally.
Proximity to predatory gambling increases addiction within a 50 mile radius by double. The map below illustrates the areas of the state located within 50 miles of proposed casino locations in East Boston, Middleboro and Palmer.
The costs of managing local increases in addicted and problem gamblers, impacts to municipalities, air and water pollution are additional reasons why USS Mass recommends in the strongest terms, that the Legislature and the Governor perform a comprehensive, balanced, data-driven, cost-benefit analysis of predatory gambling before licensing slots or casinos in the Commonwealth.
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