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I have two very important items to share that are Massachusetts-related:
1) First, there is a critical statewide meeting of citizens committed to repealing casinos in Massachusetts on Saturday morning, April 26 at 10am. The meeting location is Wesley United Methodist Church, 80 Beacon St., Framingham. It's hard to find the ideal place to meet but the Repeal the Casino Deal organizers have tried to find a meeting location in a somewhat central area for most participants. (I understand that for some in Westen MA it is still a significant drive but please make every effort to attend.)
The primary purpose of the meeting is to prepare for the final critical step of getting a casino repeal question onto the ballot which, because it is unlikely the Legislature will pass our proposed casino repeal law by May 1st, requires all of us to go out to collect another 11,485 certified voter signatures beginning May 9th- a much, much smaller figure than we did last fall but still a final hurdle we must get over to achieve our mission.
The meeting is open to all citizens and you are strongly encouraged to share the meeting notice with your group and other concerned citizens in your community through your social networks by email, Facebook, etc. BUT anyone planning to attend must RSVP prior to the meeting with their name, address and phone number to RepealTheCasinoDeal@gmail.com. The meeting will start promptly at 10am so please arrive early. Hot coffee will be provided. If you want to bring along baked goods or other food, feel free. You can find directions here: http://www.framinghamumc.com/ The meeting agenda includes: preparing for the final signature collection effort, a discussion of the repeal campaign message going forward and a plan of action for the weeks ahead.
2) Secondly, Stop Predatory Gambling filed an amicus brief with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court yesterday regarding the soon-to-heard case on whether citizens can vote to repeal state government's sponsorship of casinos. The heart of SPG's argument is this: Unfairness and inequality of opportunity has been called the defining challenge of our time in our country and in our state. Mounting evidence shows state sponsorship of casinos is contributing to unfairness and inequality of opportunity and therefore, the citizens of Massachusetts deserve an opportunity to debate and decide an issue of such public importance. We urge you to read the SPG amicus here and share the facts within it to your family and friends. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled to be heard May 5, 2014.
Also, one of the most important emerging voices against government-sponsorship of casinos, the public health community, weighed in powerfully in a must-read, must-share brief filed yesterday by the prestigious Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law. Their brief highlights how "the predatory gambling industry shares much in common with the tobacco industry. Legalized casino gambling causes devastating effects on the public’s health, including not only the gambler but also their families, neighbors, communities and others with whom they interact. Massachusetts voters should not be denied the opportunity to be heard directly on the question of whether to invite a predatory and toxic industry to do business in the Commonwealth." Read and share widely the brief by PHAI which can we found here.
It's inevitable that casinos will be repealed in Massachusetts. It's not a question of if but when. But it will happen only because each of us does our part to make it happen.
If you support our mission and work, please participate by contributing $10 or more today to help sustain it.
With gratitude,
Les
____________
Les Bernal
National Director
Stop Predatory Gambling
"Ending the unfairness and inequality produced by government sponsorship of casinos and lotteries."
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