Nearly 400 Attend Casino Free Milford Forum, Prepare for Campaign
The group is organizing for a push to defeat the casino proposal at the Nov. 19 referendum.
The crowd included nearly 400 people. Credit: Mary MacDonald
A packed house attended the Call to Action forum called together by Casino Free Milford Wednesday, listening to speakers who have experience with casinos, and in defeating casino proposals.
The crowd was nearly 400 in size, with 100 people standing around the perimeter of the St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church parish center.
Speakers included Board of Selectmen Chairman Bill Buckley, the sole dissenting board member who voted against the host community agreement with Foxwoods Massachusetts, and who receiving a standing ovation when he was introduced.
Buckley advised the group to remember that there could be two campaigns before them: one to defeat the casino at the Nov. 19 referendum vote in Milford. And a second at the Town Meeting vote on zoning changes, which would require a two-thirds vote from the Town Meeting members who attend. "Find your voters. Get the vote out."
He cautioned opponents of the casino to not engage with residents who have clearly made up their minds in favor of a casino, but to focus on people who have not yet decided. "It's important that we debate honestly and respectfully," he said. "... When this is all done, whether they approve this or not, whether the referendum passes or fails, we all have to live with each other."
State Rep. John Fernandes (D-Milford) addressed the casino review and approval process. Another guest speaker, former U.S. Rep. Robert Steele, of Connecticut, spoke of his experience with the two resort casinos in Connecticut: Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Milford, he said, should be concerned about the over-saturation of the gaming industry in the Northeast, and the potential for the gambling profits to drop over time, as has happened in Connecticut, where casino revenues have fallen 32 percent over the past five years.
Layoffs have begun at both casinos in Connecticut, and they have turned to part-time workers, rather than full-time, to save on benefits, he told the crowd.
There is no doubt, he said, that the first year for the Massachusetts resort casino will be successful. Over time, he said, the revenues will fall off. "The concern is what happens the next year. In Connecticut, we've had 20 straight months of lower slot revenues.... Give it a few years."
Attendees also heard from Alan Cabot, the leader of a casino opposition group in West Springfield, where a casino referendum was defeated this month, and in brief comments, from former state Rep. Marie Parente, who stated that she was concerned about the casino because in order for it to produce revenues, regular people have to lose their money.
She cited the Martin Scorsese film Casino, and a character played by actor Robert DeNiro, who observed that the casino always gets its money back.
"The problem with the casinos is good, decent, honest, ordinary people have to lose so they can make money," Parente said. "It's bad business for Milford."
http://milford-ma.patch.com/groups/business-news/p/nearly-400-attend-casino-free-milford-forum-prepare-for-campaign
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