Casino opponents take Palmer Town Council to task

A Palmer Citizens Casino Study Committee determined that to host Mohegan Sun would cost the community $18 MILLION to $39 MILLION EACH YEAR.

The Palmer Town Council buried the report!

They don't want residents to know the costs will destroy the community.

Casino opponents take Palmer Town Council to task over casino stance

Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2012

By Lori Stabile, The Republican



File photo | The Republican 02.18.10
PALMER — Quaboag Valley Against Casinos co-chairwoman Iris Cardin stands outside her home.

PALMER — An anti-casino leader criticized the Town Council at its Monday meeting for not being impartial regarding the casino issue, a claim two of the councilors rebutted.

Iris L. Cardin, co-chairwoman of Quaboag Valley Against Casinos, took the council to task for not telling "both sides of the story."

Mohegan Sun, of Connecticut, is competing for the lone Western Massachusetts casino license, and it wants to build a resort casino across from Massachusetts Turnpike exit 8 on the hillside off Thorndike Street (Route 32).

"A lot of us here in Palmer don't feel we're getting the attention we deserve about our feelings ... Please tell both sides of the story and the pros and the cons. Let the rest of Palmer, the silent majority, be heard," Cardin said.

Council Vice President Barbara A. Barry said the council has never taken a vote regarding its stance on a casino.

"Some councilors have stated their opinion," said Barry, adding they are speaking as individuals.
Cardin said she understands the need for jobs. She said she is "all for jobs, just not in this fashion."
Charlotte Burns, co-chairwoman of Quaboag Valley Against Casinos, agreed with Cardin. Cardin asked the council not to push the casino without noting its impacts just because it wants a casino. Cardin said she grew up in Palmer and doesn't want to see it ruined.

Burns said she feels a casino is "an inappropriate development for the town," and said a casino makes more sense in a city like Springfield, where several casino operators want to build gaming facilities.
At-large Councilor Mary A. Salzmann urged the anti-casino group to attend council meetings whenever the casino is on the agenda.

At-large Councilor Paul E. Burns said those who cannot attend can always submit questions via email or in writing. Burns has been the council's most vocal casino supporter.

Paul Burns also noted the spring council meeting at which Mohegan Sun answered questions from the public about the proposed project. Paul Burns said every question that was submitted was answered, including those not addressed at the meeting. The answers to those questions from Mohegan were posted on the town of Palmer's website, Burns said.

"We went out of our way to accept every single question," Paul Burns said. "I think we are trying to get both sides of it."

Council President Philip J. Hebert asked Cardin and Charlotte Burns about their main concerns. Charlotte Burns replied with social problems, crime, traffic and compulsive gambling, and said that a casino would change the town's character.

Town Manager Charles T. Blanchard noted host community agreement negotiations are under way with Mohegan, which will address these concerns. Hebert said he would vote against Mohegan's project if issues were not addressed properly.

"When the time comes, it's up to the voters," District 4 Councilor Donald Blais Jr. said, referring to a community referendum that must be held before a casino project can begin.

Salzmann said she wouldn't vote for something that would hurt the town. Cardin asked her why she was standing with the pro-casino group, Palmer First, in downtown Springfield recently.

"Right now I agree," Salzmann answered.

Cardin said her group will host an educational forum about casinos on Oct. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Palmer High School on Main Street.

Featured speakers include Les Bernal, executive director of Stop Predatory Gambling; Robert Goodman, author of "The Luck Business"; and Holyoke activist John Epstein.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/palmer_town_council_taken_to_t.html