It's go time.
All signs indicate that the process to approve a
casino at Suffolk Downs may ramp up significantly over the next month or so.
Revere has already reached a mitigation agreement with the race track, and we
could see an agreement from Boston's Host Community Advisory Committee by the
end of this month. Our local politicians have decided to side with Caesars in
this fight, rather than the people of this neighborhood.
Time is running
out for us, and the stakes could not be higher. All that said, there are
numerous ways you can stand up for East Boston in this critical time (see
sidebar to the right), but here are the two most important at this time:
- Attend the Stand Up! East Boston event on March 23! (Info Here / RSVP on Facebook) - and forward
this email to someone in East Boston who doesn't know about the event!
- Donate money!
We're raising $10K by 3/31!
To borrow an old maritime phrase,
we need all hands on deck. They took away Wood Island Park, they gave us two
toll tunnels, the airport creeps more and more into the neighborhood, and now
they expect us to bear a large, predatory casino. Enough is enough.
Thank you for your support!
The No Eastie Casino
Team
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What We've Been Up To
 Public Hearing with the Massachusetts Environmental
Protection Agency at Suffolk Downs
Members of No Eastie Casino
attended a presentation of Suffolk Downs' environmental plans before MEPA. While
under-attended in general, casino opponents voiced their concerns with
environmental issues created by additional traffic, as well as the cumulative
impacts of the casino + airport + tunnels + oil fields. We must submit
our concerns in writing to MEPA
by March 26th.
Secretary of Energy and
Environmental Affairs (EEA)
Attn: MEPA Office
100
Cambridge St., Suite 900 (9th Floor)
Boston MA, 02114
Fax: 617-626-1181
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In the News
East Boston residents praise environmental plan for proposed casino, but
reservations remain
(Boston Globe, Mar. 8)
"These plans really are beautiful, and if Suffolk Downs was building
anything other than a casino, I think I would be wowed as well," said Jessica
Curtis, a resident of East Boston's Wood Island area. "But the fact is that
we're bringing in something that will have significant impacts on substance use,
drug and alcohol addictions, and crime rates in our
communities."
CT Casino Slide: Bay Staters Not Coming
(Hartford Courant, 3/17)
"Connecticut's casinos have continued to experience double-digit declines in
year-to-year slot revenues ... a major reason is because Massachusetts residents have significantly
scaled back on the number of visits they make to casinos, while
simultaneously shifting more of their visits from Foxwoods Resort
Casino to Twin River Casino in Rhode Island..." (emphasis ours)
Survey Shows Opposition
to Casino Plan
"Casino opposition
was highest - 56 percent - among registered voters, who by law will have an
opportunity to vote on the casino plan in a referendum. Casino support was
highest among those with a high school education or less.
Residents surveyed expressed
concern about possible casino side effects that included increased crime,
traffic, air pollution, noise, and addictions of several varieties. They worried
the casino would place extra pressure on police and fire departments.
About 42 percent said they
expected residents to have less pride in the neighborhood if a casino is
built."
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Upcoming
Events
- Sat, Mar. 24 - Stand Up! East Boston
This family-friendly
demonstration will UNITE neighbors from the many backgrounds, industries, faiths
and walks of life that make East Boston such a great
place to live. Please join us as we PLEDGE TO PRESERVE a safe, affordable,
diverse East Boston and OPPOSE the predatory casino
industry from taking root in our neighborhood.
Where: Maverick
Square
When:
Saturday, March 23 from 10 AM - 12 PM
Who: All are
welcome!
What: Join us
for baked goods and seed-planting for the youngsters at 10, followed by a short
press conference and "Speaker's Corner" at 11:30.
- Tues., Mar. 26 - MEPA Comments Due
Please send your
environmental concerns about Suffolk Downs' casino proposal to the Mass.
Environmental Protection Agency by no later than 3/26. (info on how to do this
above)
- April - Casino Info House Party
Where: Your house! That's right, we'd love
for you to host a simple coffee / tea / cocktail night for your East Boston
friends and neighbors to come learn about how a casino will impact them. Please
send an email to Celeste at noeastiecasino@gmail.com for more information.
Thanks in advance!
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East Boston's Elected Officials on a
Casino at Suffolk Downs: A Primer
If a casino comes to Boston, it
will arrive with the full-throated support of Boston's mayor and East Boston's
city counselor, representative, and senator. Our local leaders - including those
who grew up here and know Eastie the best - risked everything they'd helped East
Boston become and threw their support behind the statewide casino bill and the
idea of expanded gambling at Suffolk Downs.
They didn't always support a
casino here, though.
Read
More.
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Quick
Vote: Casino - Y or N?
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Donate Now!
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We're raising $10k by 3/31 to keep a casino out of East Boston, and
help keep our neighborhood safe and thriving. Please consider making a donation
today!
Donate With a Check (preferred)
- Make Check Payable to "No Eastie Casino"
- Please include your Residential Address
- If donating $200 or more, please include: Employer,
and Occupation (see below for details)
Mail to:
No Eastie Casino
C/O Bryan Schnittjer
742 Saratoga St.
Boston, MA 02128
-OR-
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Contact Us
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Have a question? Want to get more involved? Email us at noeasticasino@gmail.com
Necesitas información en
Español? Email: levantate.eastboston@gmail.com |
Header
Photo By: Steve
Holt
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