June 24, 2013
Dear Neighbor,
We wanted to share with you the press release we sent to area media outlets this morning stating our reactions to the Everett vote on the Wynn casino proposal. Thank you for your continued support of our work to keep East Boston safe from a casino. Watch for a full newsletter late this week or early next week.

Best,
Steve for No Eastie Casino

Everett Vote Reveals Lack of Transparency and an Unfair Fight

 
EAST BOSTON, MASS.-On Saturday, roughly 6,000 Everett residents comprising 32 percent of registered voters cast votes on Steve Wynn's vision of a waterfront casino in their town, approving the plan by a 6-to-1 margin. The lopsided result demonstrates just how effective a one-sided, corporate-infused propaganda campaign can be when a casino proposal is rammed through the process in eight months with no chance for a substantial counterpoint to rise up.

 
"The Everett vote reveals deep flaws in the approval process set forth by the Massachusetts State Legislature and Gaming Commission," said No Eastie Casino co-chair Celeste Myers. "Under the law, a billionaire like Steve Wynn can spend any amount of money pushing only the positives of his proposal, while residents who question a casino development are handicapped every step of the way." We now know Wynn spent $405,000 to influence votes in Everett. Noting that the deal did not include an independent study of the costs Everett residents and surrounding communities will face, Myers added, "With big business teaming up with city governments, this is not a fair fight - whether we are talking about Steve Wynn or Caesars / Suffolk Downs. We are disturbed by the lack of transparency and real detail that developers and city planners are making available to residents-in Everett, and in Boston."

 
Myers noted that, while an Everett casino will impact East Boston residents, current state law offers limited protections to surrounding communities' residents and business owners who may be negatively impacted by a neighboring casino but have little recourse to address problems. "Time and time again, casino operators are full of big promises, and when they are unable to deliver on those promises, it's the local residents and businesses that are caught holding the bag," said Myers.
 
No Eastie Casino stands in solidarity with the residents of Everett and urban neighborhoods everywhere that are being forced to shoulder disproportionately heavy burdens by serving as the sites for casinos. We will continue to work hard to keep a Caesars casino out of East Boston while standing united in our vision for a prosperous and safe future for ourselves and our neighbors - including Everett.