Too much KoolAid!

The small town of Palmer, MA appointed a citizens group to study the costs a Slot Barn would bring to the community.

When the citizens determined that the annual cost to host the Mohegan Sun Folly would be $19 million to $39 million, town fathers buried the study.

It should be noted that Palmer lacks adequate water to supply this project and the estimated cost to bring water from the Quabbin would be $50 million. Another cost to be absorbed by Massachusetts taxpayers in this Scam.

Casino Developers: MGM Proposal Not a Game Changer

August 23rd, 2012

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — MGM Resorts International’s proposal for a casino incorporating existing parts of downtown Springfield is in stark contrast to the Mohegan Sun and Ameristar designs. Those are stand-alone facilities.

Jennifer Barufaldi is the spokeswoman for Palmer First, a citizens group supporting Mohegan Sun.
[This group is not registered as 'lobbyists' with the Secretary of State. This group is not registered with the Palmer Town Clerk's Office. Who's paying? Is anyone asking?]

She is still convinced Mohegan Sun’s plans for a non-urban casino in Palmer will ultimately win out.
[The Mohegan Sun SEC filing is revealing!]

“As the Mass. gaming commission also says, competition is healthy,” said Barufaldi. “We out here in Palmer, we do have 300 acres zoned and ready for development which also includes a premier retail destination. We do have regional and local support.”

Palmer Town Manager Charlie Blanchard also sees a great benefit to his town from a casino.

“Certainly, their plan has some really excellent characteristics and some really good potential,” said Blanchard.

But whether the state ultimately chooses Mohegan Sun or not, he’s confident the process will be fair.

“The nice thing about this legislation is it’s really spelled out a lot of areas that the gaming commission will be looking at to try to evaluate the best possible application,” said Blanchard. “I think between the economic development for the region and the local area, job creation and so forth, there’s a lot of opportunity for applicants to present the best process they possibly can.”

Mohegan Sun Vice-President of Development, Paul Brody, said their proposed location in rural Palmer gives them an edge.

“We believe a non-urban site is in the strongest and best interests of the Commonwealth,” said Brody. “We think it have the greatest draw. We think it will have the least negative impact and create the least negative mitigation issues. We’re mindful of the governor’s comments in the past the he favors non-urban sites.”

One of the first hurdles for all casino companies is proving their financial viability to the state. MGM has already paid their $400,000 non-refundable application fee to the gaming commission. Ameristar and Mohegan sun have not. Some have argued that means these two are less committed. Brody said that’s inaccurate. They are simply waiting for their application to be complete first and that in fact, they have already invested far more than $400,000.

“We’re 14 million dollars into the project,” said Brody. “We’ve been there in our storefront for three years. We’ve leased the land for almost five years on a 99 year lease. We’ve been active throughout the region, throughout the community.”

Ameristar’s casino would be away from downtown Springfield along page Boulevard, Ameristar Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Public Affairs Troy Stremming said MGM doesn’t yet control all of their site property while Ameristar does. Because of that, Stremming said Ameristar could build sooner. Stremming also noted that like MGM, they would partner with the MassMutual Center, City Stage and the Springfield Symphony Hall for entertainment venues.


http://www.wggb.com/2012/08/23/casino-developers-mgm-proposal-not-a-game-changer/?doing_wp_cron=1345820409.7369110584259033203125