At no point have Springfield's leaders addressed the costs of Predatory Gambling - the Gambling Addiction, increased crime, the experiences of other communities, the financial condition of the developers, the destruction of local businesses.....
Springfield City Councilor Timothy Rooke shuns advice, seeks contact with casino companies
By
on November 08, 2012
Timothy J. RookeRooke said he wants as much advance information as possible from casino developers so that he can make the most informed vote when a casino agreement or more than one agreement is forwarded for council consideration by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.
City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula, however, said in an email to councilors, that casino proposers “are prohibited from communicating directly with any city employee,” under the city’s formal request for casino proposals. The City Council members are city employees, he said.
Pikula said the three companies proposing a casino will be required to make a public presentation between Dec. 4 and Dec. 14, and the councilors can be present during those public meetings.
Council President James J. Ferrera III said he has met with casino developers and plans to continue those meetings to help them “navigate the process” to answer any of their questions, and to provide information to his constituents on a major economic development project.
“That’s my job as an elected official,” Ferrera said, adding that Pikula’s warning is Pikula’s opinion.
Rooke said the warning from Pikula amounts to a “gag order.”
“How can the legislative body of the city (the council) and a licensing agent of the casino process not be directly involved, approached or educated in our due diligence/fact finding efforts” Rooke said.
“My opinion is that if this ‘gag order’ was allowed it will give the false appearance that developers who are investing millions, if not billions of dollars would not have fair, equal and open access to the City Council decisions makers. That is not the case.”
Three casinos are being proposed in Springfield. Under state law, a single casino will be permitted in Western Massachusetts, and up to three casinos statewide. The council would need to approve any mayor-negotiated agreement with a casino developer and would approve any needed zone changes or special permits, officials said.
Proposed casinos in Springfield include: Ameristar, proposing a project at the former Westinghouse site in East Springfield; MGM Resorts, proposing a project in the South End; and Penn National, proposing a casino in the North End of the downtown corridor.
In addition, the owner of Mohegan Sun is proposing a casino in Palmer off the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Rooke said he has also suggested that in considering which casino proposal is the best for Springfield, that a “score card or matrix be used to weigh each economic development proposal on all objective issues.” Thus, each would be rated on objective criteria, he said.
“I am not, nor do I intend to let the largest economic development process in the city’s history to be made by a consultant, the economic development director or one elected official,” Rooke said. “Nor would I suspect that my colleagues on the City Council will allow this either.”
Pikula said the city’s consulting firm, Shefsky & Froelich of Chicago, plans another monthly meeting with the City Council on Nov. 14.
“Should a councilor feel a need to communicate with a proposer, the communication should be coordinated and vetted through the city’s consultant,” Pikula said in his email to councilors.
Ferrera said "we as councilors have a responsibility and obligation to ensure Springfield gets the best possible casino proposal or proposals to the Gaming Commission. I intend to be fully involved in the process."
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/springfield_city_councilor_tim_7.html
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