Letters to the Editor: Casino referendum in Holyoke gets lost in the mix
Gambling chips sit on a card table at Revel Casino Hotel as a dealer prepares for the casino's opening last year in Atlantic City, N.J. (Wayne Parry / Associated Press file)
By
on October 24, 2013
on October 24, 2013
Isn’t it odd that with less than two weeks away from Election Day, residents of Holyoke will be voting on a casino referendum, and neither the press nor the candidates are talking about one of the most serious issues to face Holyoke?
Less than two years ago, casinos were a defining issue in the last mayoral race. True, it’s technically a non-binding referendum, but so were the last two and that doesn’t stop politicians from referring to them like political currency.
If this non-binding referendum was so unimportant, why did City Council members, Daniel Bresnahan, Kevin Jourdain, Brenna McGee, Todd McGee, Joseph McGiverin, Anthony Soto, and Linda Vacon push a vote on this issue knowing that three other members (who were likely to vote against it) would be out of town due to serious illness, previously scheduled vacation, and another meeting? If they wanted to give residents a voice, why aren’t they reminding them now to be informed voters on this issue?
Casino applicants do not have to specify a location yet as stated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Casino backers will be vetted by the commission.
MGM is already being questioned about its Macau casino investor, Pansy Ho, whose father has connections to organized crime. Doesn’t look good for their Springfield casino. If we get a mayor who supports casino development after this election, there is still time for casino development in Holyoke. Deadlines stated by commission are stated as “likely.”
Any lawyer will tell you that is calculatedly vague. Alex Morse, for a two-week period considered a casino, then admitted his error, took full responsibility, and has not looked back, including comments made in recent debates.
Jeff Stanek stated he would consider casino development. Stanek claims that he is running on his business expertise but casino development is “monkey business” negatively impacting people across all socioeconomic backgrounds. As a businessman he should also know casino development is a saturated market. If we want to draw in legitimate businesses, consider this, no healthy corporation in their right minds has employees that want to live in a “casino town,” nor do the casino developers.
-LYN HORAN, Citizens for a Better Holyoke
Less than two years ago, casinos were a defining issue in the last mayoral race. True, it’s technically a non-binding referendum, but so were the last two and that doesn’t stop politicians from referring to them like political currency.
If this non-binding referendum was so unimportant, why did City Council members, Daniel Bresnahan, Kevin Jourdain, Brenna McGee, Todd McGee, Joseph McGiverin, Anthony Soto, and Linda Vacon push a vote on this issue knowing that three other members (who were likely to vote against it) would be out of town due to serious illness, previously scheduled vacation, and another meeting? If they wanted to give residents a voice, why aren’t they reminding them now to be informed voters on this issue?
Casino applicants do not have to specify a location yet as stated by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Casino backers will be vetted by the commission.
MGM is already being questioned about its Macau casino investor, Pansy Ho, whose father has connections to organized crime. Doesn’t look good for their Springfield casino. If we get a mayor who supports casino development after this election, there is still time for casino development in Holyoke. Deadlines stated by commission are stated as “likely.”
Any lawyer will tell you that is calculatedly vague. Alex Morse, for a two-week period considered a casino, then admitted his error, took full responsibility, and has not looked back, including comments made in recent debates.
Jeff Stanek stated he would consider casino development. Stanek claims that he is running on his business expertise but casino development is “monkey business” negatively impacting people across all socioeconomic backgrounds. As a businessman he should also know casino development is a saturated market. If we want to draw in legitimate businesses, consider this, no healthy corporation in their right minds has employees that want to live in a “casino town,” nor do the casino developers.
-LYN HORAN, Citizens for a Better Holyoke
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