Taunton casino foe steps out of shadows

Site: StopTauntonCasino

Taunton casino foe steps out of shadows
Benjamin Tigano, a software developer, has little political experience
By Tuoti
taunton gazette
Posted May 15, 2012

TAUNTON — City residents on both sides of the casino issue are increasingly making their presence felt online, using websites and social media as ways to spread their viewpoints and share information.

“I never thought I could make a difference,” said Benjamin Tigano, a 26-year-old software developer from East Taunton.

Tigano, who describes himself as a “regular guy” with little previous interest in politics or activism, said he decided to get involved after learning about the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s proposal to build a casino in the city. His anti-casino website, StopTauntonCasno.com, went live on March 30, a month after the tribe announced its plans to build in Taunton.

Since then, Tigano said the website has racked up 8,000 page views from 2,500 visitors.

“People started contacting me on the website and getting involved,” Tigano said. “Things started growing from there.”

Tigano previously declined to reveal his identity, but has since changed his mind. He also said he still has no desire to be the “face” of the movement.

Being actively engaged in a hot local issue is a new experience for Tigano. While he stresses that he believes it’s important for people to vote in the June 9 citywide referendum on the tribe’s casino proposal, Tigano admits that he’s never actually voted in the past.

“I was ashamed when I went to City Hall to register to vote for the first time at age 26,” he said.

The online world has also played a major role in the pro-casino campaign.

‘‘Obviously it’s an excellent mechanism to get the information out there,” said Terry Quinn, chairman of the tribe-backed, pro-casino group Together for Taunton. “You can go to TogetherForTaunton.com and get as much details as we have so far on the project. Prior to social media, we would have to do many more mailings and physical meetings.”

Quinn said he supports the casino proposal because he thinks it holds the potential to revitalize the city’s economy and create jobs.

“They were looking to get some Taunton people involved, and I was more than happy to do so,” he said. “I feel like a resort casino would be good for the city and was happy to be involved and be a part of it.”

Tigano said he supports efforts to create more jobs but expressed concerns that the proposed casino location in Liberty and Union Industrial Park is too close to schools and residential neighborhoods.

“It’s more of a location issue …” he said. “I’m not against casinos, I’m not against jobs and I’m not against tribal casinos.”

People on both sides accuse the other of misrepresenting the facts on some points.

Quinn and Tigano both urged Taunton residents to get involved as the referendum approaches.

‘‘It does no good if you don’t get involved or make your voice heard,” Quinn said.

Tigano said he hopes the outcome of the casino vote isn’t taken for granted or viewed as inevitable.

“I think my biggest fear is people not thinking it’s going through or thinking it is going through and not voting,” he said. “I think it’s important for people to get out and vote regardless.”



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