Attached are copies of the letters sent
to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Governor Patrick, Speaker DeLeo,
President Murray and Secretary Galvin requesting an immediate suspension of all
casino referenda statewide until the state can assure that voters will have an
opportunity to hear both sides of the issue before they go to vote.
There is also a detailed Press Release
regarding the reasons for the request, as well as reasons voters should be
concerned about a casino coming to their town.
I URGE you, on behalf of your own
community, to contact the above named legislators directly to express your
support for this very reasonable request. I also urge you to pass the attached
Letters and Press Release along to your media contacts and encourage them to
give this issue coverage.
We are all facing this together and this
is an opportunity to sway public opinion, statewide.
Note: you may forward this e-mail, in
its entirety, to leaders of other community groups that are facing
threats from a casino.
Thanks,
John Epstein
Holyoke
Citizens Against Casino Gaming asks state officials to suspend casino votes
By
on July 08, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- The anti-casino group Citizens Against Casino Gaming is calling for a suspension of community votes on gaming resort proposals, arguing that the state's casino law lacks a mechanism to provide voters information about both sides of the issue.
In a letter sent to Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby, Gov. Deval L. Patrick, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray and Secretary of State William Galvin, Springfield doctor Mark Mullan of Citizens Against Casino Gaming said gambling opponents have been left out of the discussion, adding, "voters cannot consider arguments they cannot hear."
Mullan cited the amount of money casino companies are able to spend in their efforts to sway voters as evidence of the imbalance of the debate. "For every $100 that opponents can raise and spend, casinos can spend $100,000," Mullan wrote. "For every 10 messages opponents can convey, casinos can convey 10,000."
He added: "There is no provision or mechanism in the law that attempts to level the playing field."
In a press release issued in conjunction with the letter Monday, Michael T. Kogut, the group's chairman, wrote, "How can they say 'the voters have had their say' when the voters aren't allowed to hear opposing viewpoints? It taints the entire process."
Springfield's casino referendum [full ballot] is set for July 16. If it wins voter approval, the city will send MGM's proposal to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Mohegan Sun is proposing a casino in Palmer while Hard Rock International is proposing a casino in West Springfield.
In a letter sent to Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby, Gov. Deval L. Patrick, House Speaker Robert DeLeo, Senate President Therese Murray and Secretary of State William Galvin, Springfield doctor Mark Mullan of Citizens Against Casino Gaming said gambling opponents have been left out of the discussion, adding, "voters cannot consider arguments they cannot hear."
Mullan cited the amount of money casino companies are able to spend in their efforts to sway voters as evidence of the imbalance of the debate. "For every $100 that opponents can raise and spend, casinos can spend $100,000," Mullan wrote. "For every 10 messages opponents can convey, casinos can convey 10,000."
He added: "There is no provision or mechanism in the law that attempts to level the playing field."
In a press release issued in conjunction with the letter Monday, Michael T. Kogut, the group's chairman, wrote, "How can they say 'the voters have had their say' when the voters aren't allowed to hear opposing viewpoints? It taints the entire process."
Springfield's casino referendum [full ballot] is set for July 16. If it wins voter approval, the city will send MGM's proposal to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.
Mohegan Sun is proposing a casino in Palmer while Hard Rock International is proposing a casino in West Springfield.
This story will be updated after further reporting. Below, the full text of the letter.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/07/citizens_against_casino_gaming_4.html
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