Preserve Taunton's Future

The following is from a Taunton resident. Please share and circulate. Hi, friend, relative, neighbor. I NEED YOUR HELP! I appreciate your taking the time to read this important letter. I am a member of a newly-created committee known as "Preserve Taunton's Future". This is a grassroots organization, started one month ago, which is trying to prevent the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe from building a destination resort casino in East Taunton. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) accepted by Taunton's city council last week is severely flawed and will negatively impact Taunton and its neighbors forever.   Although it promises jobs and touts some financial benefits to the city, this agreement contains much more bad than good for the city of Taunton. Our members have spent countless hours reviewing the agreement and, with the help of attorneys, have come to realize that this casino project, should it go forward, will be the end of Taunton as we know it. As we see it, there will only be one gain to the city...some jobs. However, the list of negative impacts is endless...increased traffic, increased crime, higher taxes, impacts to water and sewer, lower property values, etc. According to a study done by the state of Connecticut on the negative impacts realized after Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun were built, property values in the area fell by 10%, the rate of DUI's in the affected towns rose dramatically, as did the financial burdens to the schools, which saw their ESL programs explode! (The impact study on the city's websire indicates that there will be an estimated annual increase of $890,000.00 to the schools, but the tribe will provide only $360,000.00 of that sum. Will the taxpayers be required to make up the difference of $530,000.00?)   The current project includes a casino, three hotels, several restaurants, a water park, a parking garage and, potentially, an event arena. The proposed casino location is the Liberty and Union Industrial Park, which is across from the Silver City Galleria Mall, only 300 feet away from an elementary school and directly abuts a residential neighborhood. There are two other schools within one mile of the site. In addition, because the agreement states that the Tribe may purchase any land adjacent to the casino site, Taunton is likely to lose the Silver City Galleria Mall and the millions of dollars in tax revenue that it (and any other property the Tribe wants) provides to the city. According to the agreement, the tribe does not have to pay taxes on any annexed property is obtains. Plus, think of the businesses that will choose not to relocate to the industrial park because of the traffic, noise, etc. This will create an even bigger tax loss for the city. "Preserve Taunton's Future" recognizes the need for jobs in our community, but it is clear that this agreement between the Tribe and the City of Taunton will do much more harm than good. This IGA is a major win for the Tribe and a huge loss for Taunton. And, the money that the Tribe promises will only go to help mitigate all the negative impacts that the casino will create. And, some negative impacts cannot be mitigated. This will be felt when the first child walking to or from school is killed by a drunk driver leaving the casino! By the way, the Tribe admitted at a recent city council meeting that should someone be killed by a drunk driver leaving the casino, the Tribe cannot be sued! This is a 24/7 operation - 365 days a year. And as for jobs, the Tribe conceded that their members will be given priority, as fifty percent of this tribe is unemployed and that all management positions will be filled by tribe members. In addition, the majority of the jobs are low-paying, temporary, or even part-time jobs. There is no stipulation in the IGA that any of the jobs will go to union workers. Here is one more things to consider: the Tribe is currently being sued by the Town of Middleborough for breach of contract. The Tribe had an agreement with that town, but backed out of it, leaving Middleborough with a financial loss of $500,000. If the land in Taunton is taken into trust by the Tribe(as required under the agreement), Taunton will have little recourse should the Tribe not hold up its end of the agreement. That land is considered sovereign land and will be treated like a separate country. I have never before been actively involved in a cause such as this, but I can't sit by and watch the city that my family and I have lived in for the last 23 years be destroyed because of a well-intentioned, but severely flawed concept. We can bring businesses to Taunton without gambling with the future of our city! Please consider forwarding this to everyone in your address book, whether they live in Taunton or not. (Someone you know may know someone in Taunton.) Encourage them to do the same. Keep in mind...Taunton is not the only city fighting this battle. Lakeville and Freetown both won their battles against their proposed tribal-run casinos last week. Middleborough and Foxborough also recently pushed back against casinos proposed in their towns. Who knows where the next fight may take place? It could be right in your community! Finally, should you want to help us with our cause, let me know. We can use all the help we can get! On Saturday, June 9th,the city of Taunton will have the opportunity to vote in a non-binding referendum. This week, we will be holding signs, going door-to-door, and writing environmental impact letters. If you live in Taunton and would like a sign opposing the casino, we will gladly deliver one to you. And, if you live in Taunton, please vote "NO" on June 9th! Help us "Preserve Taunton's Future"! (For more information about this proposed casino project, visit PreserveTauntonsFuture.com, StopTauntonCasino.com or casinofacts.org.) Don't forget to read the attached flyer created by our group.   Thank you very much