Anti-casino coalition proposes ballot question to repeal Massachusetts casino law
Michael Kogut of the "Citizens Against Casino Gaming" checks out the casino vote at Gasoline Alley in Springfield, Mass. Tuesday, July 16, 2013. Voters in Springfield have approved a casino agreement between city officials and MGM Resorts International. (AP Photo/The Republican, Dave Roback
BOSTON -- The mayor of Somerville, an Episcopal leader from Western Massachusetts and other members of a coalition today filed a petition for a ballot question next year to repeal the state's 2011 expanded gambling law and block plans for casinos in Springfield and elsewhere in Massachusetts.
"This is the wrong direction for the state of Massachusetts," said John Ribeiro of Winthrop, chairman of Repeal the Casino Deal and a member of the coalition. "The state should not be promoting casino gambling."
Ribeiro said volunteers plan to collect signatures this late summer and fall in order to qualify the question for the November 2014 election ballot.
Ribeiro said the coalition faces an uphill battle. He said he understands that casino companies would likely spend heavily to defeat the question if it makes the ballot.
If the referendum to repeal the casino law qualifies for the ballot, it could at least temporarily create chaos and uncertainty for companies that win licenses to build casinos.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission in December is planning to award a license for a slots facility that could be anywhere in the state.
The commission in about April is planning to award licenses for casino resorts in Western Massachusetts and the Boston area.
Steven Abdow
Rep. Robert Koczera, a New Bedford Democrat who supports casinos, said he does not believe the ballot question would pass.
"Most people are resigned to the fact that casino gambling is something that people do," he said.
Koczera said casinos mean jobs, tourism and government revenues.
What a pity Rep. Koczera failed to conduct his due diligence prior to his vote.
He would have been proven WRONG on each item he included.
Casinos bring LOW WAGE JOBS.
Casinos actually discourage TOURISM.
Studies have proven that for each $1 in revenue Predatory Gambling provides, the cost to taxpayers is + $3 because of increased crime, increased DUIs, increased child and spousal abuse, increased bankruptcies caused by Gambling Addiction.
Legislation should be based on FACTS, not Gambling Industry Propaganda.
Among the initial ten signers of the petition are: Mark Gottlieb, executive director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law; Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone; former state Senator Susan Tucker of Andover; Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, and Steven Abdow, administration and finance officer of The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
The state's casino law allows up to three casino resorts in different regions of the state and a single slots facility with no table games.
In Western Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, the Mohegan Sun and Hard Rock are proposing casinos in Springfield, Palmer and West Springfield respectively.
Meeting a deadline, petitioners submitted the question to Attorney General Martha Coakley. The attorney general would determine by Sept. 4 if the question is constitutional.
If the attorney general clears the question, petitioners would need to collect almost 70,000 signatures and submit them to local election officials for certification in late November.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/coalition_proposes_ballot_ques.html
"This is the wrong direction for the state of Massachusetts," said John Ribeiro of Winthrop, chairman of Repeal the Casino Deal and a member of the coalition. "The state should not be promoting casino gambling."
Ribeiro said volunteers plan to collect signatures this late summer and fall in order to qualify the question for the November 2014 election ballot.
Ribeiro said the coalition faces an uphill battle. He said he understands that casino companies would likely spend heavily to defeat the question if it makes the ballot.
If the referendum to repeal the casino law qualifies for the ballot, it could at least temporarily create chaos and uncertainty for companies that win licenses to build casinos.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission in December is planning to award a license for a slots facility that could be anywhere in the state.
The commission in about April is planning to award licenses for casino resorts in Western Massachusetts and the Boston area.
Steven Abdow "Most people are resigned to the fact that casino gambling is something that people do," he said.
Koczera said casinos mean jobs, tourism and government revenues.
What a pity Rep. Koczera failed to conduct his due diligence prior to his vote.
He would have been proven WRONG on each item he included.
Casinos bring LOW WAGE JOBS.
Casinos actually discourage TOURISM.
Studies have proven that for each $1 in revenue Predatory Gambling provides, the cost to taxpayers is + $3 because of increased crime, increased DUIs, increased child and spousal abuse, increased bankruptcies caused by Gambling Addiction.
Legislation should be based on FACTS, not Gambling Industry Propaganda.
Among the initial ten signers of the petition are: Mark Gottlieb, executive director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law; Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone; former state Senator Susan Tucker of Andover; Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, and Steven Abdow, administration and finance officer of The Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
The state's casino law allows up to three casino resorts in different regions of the state and a single slots facility with no table games.
In Western Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, the Mohegan Sun and Hard Rock are proposing casinos in Springfield, Palmer and West Springfield respectively.
Meeting a deadline, petitioners submitted the question to Attorney General Martha Coakley. The attorney general would determine by Sept. 4 if the question is constitutional.
If the attorney general clears the question, petitioners would need to collect almost 70,000 signatures and submit them to local election officials for certification in late November.
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/coalition_proposes_ballot_ques.html
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment