No Questions Asked

An Open Letter to City Councilors At-Large regarding The Potential Casino at Suffolk Downs

by Tina St Gelais Kelly  on Sunday, April 14, 2013

Dear Councilors at Large,

We are nearing a vote in East Boston on something that will impact our entire city tremendously.

How many of you have attended HCAC meetings? You are the Checks and Balances for our Mayor, how many of you can reiterate the information that the HCAC has given to the community? The answer is none of you, because the HCAC has NOT given any information back to the community.

You know, there was a meeting that HCAC held on Suffolk Downs transportation plan last Wednesday. Where were you? Where were you to ask the hard questions of the Mayor's committee and Suffolk Downs? This casino is going to be a huge impact on the City of Boston and every single politician that I voted for, (which is every single one of you too, by the way) has not been able to give me absolute proof this is a prosperous choice for the city and beneficial to our community.

Have you read the transportation plan? If you did, you would know that it is not a plan, it is a band aid. Have you listened to constituents concerns at community meetings? What research have you done to show your constituents that this is a good idea for the City besides creating jobs? That the revenue the city will be reportedly making will offset the the long list of negative impacts on East Boston? What about the people who live here? Have you spoken to them? Or just the politicians that are in Suffolk Downs pocket? The Mayor, Sal Lamattina, Anthony Petrucelli and Carlo Basile are all in, and here’s why: The Jobs! Exactly what Suffolk Downs says as well. Who is asking how many additional police officers will we need to off set the increase in addiction, burglary and prostitution?

How much have we spent already to prepare for this? Why is Chip Tuttles wife donating to Senator Petruccelli and Carlos Basiles’ campaign? Why was John Vitagliano, the Suffolk Downs traffic consultant (who has donated 1000 dollars to Petrucelli, Basile and also donated to Deleo) appointed by Speaker Robert DeLeo last week to serve as a member to the newly created Special Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Commission? (Conflict of interest, no?) Why are they changing the law all of the sudden to let the background check on investors “slide” BEFORE the community votes?

No one has given solid research that this is a good choice for East Boston. All positive accounts are conducted by gaming consultants. I suggest that you all sit down and research before you let this Casino be shoved down East Boston’s throat. East Boston votes you in too. Start asking questions.

Start getting us some answers because right now Suffolk Downs is running the show and you are letting them. It is time to roll up your sleeves and remember why you wanted to be a leader, why you wanted to make a change in this great city and why you want to continue to do so: because we believe in you. East Boston needs you, Councilors, more than ever. We need to hear why this is a good idea or why it is not. I think it is not, because of all the back door negotiating that the HCAC has been doing for a year with no information available to the public, will you prove me otherwise?

Thank you,
Tina St. Gelais Kelly