No Questions Asked

An Open Letter to City Councilors At-Large regarding The Potential Casino at Suffolk Downs

by Tina St Gelais Kelly  on Sunday, April 14, 2013

Dear Councilors at Large,

We are nearing a vote in East Boston on something that will impact our entire city tremendously.

How many of you have attended HCAC meetings? You are the Checks and Balances for our Mayor, how many of you can reiterate the information that the HCAC has given to the community? The answer is none of you, because the HCAC has NOT given any information back to the community.

You know, there was a meeting that HCAC held on Suffolk Downs transportation plan last Wednesday. Where were you? Where were you to ask the hard questions of the Mayor's committee and Suffolk Downs? This casino is going to be a huge impact on the City of Boston and every single politician that I voted for, (which is every single one of you too, by the way) has not been able to give me absolute proof this is a prosperous choice for the city and beneficial to our community.

Have you read the transportation plan? If you did, you would know that it is not a plan, it is a band aid. Have you listened to constituents concerns at community meetings? What research have you done to show your constituents that this is a good idea for the City besides creating jobs? That the revenue the city will be reportedly making will offset the the long list of negative impacts on East Boston? What about the people who live here? Have you spoken to them? Or just the politicians that are in Suffolk Downs pocket? The Mayor, Sal Lamattina, Anthony Petrucelli and Carlo Basile are all in, and here’s why: The Jobs! Exactly what Suffolk Downs says as well. Who is asking how many additional police officers will we need to off set the increase in addiction, burglary and prostitution?

How much have we spent already to prepare for this? Why is Chip Tuttles wife donating to Senator Petruccelli and Carlos Basiles’ campaign? Why was John Vitagliano, the Suffolk Downs traffic consultant (who has donated 1000 dollars to Petrucelli, Basile and also donated to Deleo) appointed by Speaker Robert DeLeo last week to serve as a member to the newly created Special Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Commission? (Conflict of interest, no?) Why are they changing the law all of the sudden to let the background check on investors “slide” BEFORE the community votes?

No one has given solid research that this is a good choice for East Boston. All positive accounts are conducted by gaming consultants. I suggest that you all sit down and research before you let this Casino be shoved down East Boston’s throat. East Boston votes you in too. Start asking questions.

Start getting us some answers because right now Suffolk Downs is running the show and you are letting them. It is time to roll up your sleeves and remember why you wanted to be a leader, why you wanted to make a change in this great city and why you want to continue to do so: because we believe in you. East Boston needs you, Councilors, more than ever. We need to hear why this is a good idea or why it is not. I think it is not, because of all the back door negotiating that the HCAC has been doing for a year with no information available to the public, will you prove me otherwise?

Thank you,
Tina St. Gelais Kelly

Vitagliano appointed to serve on Infrastructure Comm.

Mr. Vitagliano is the person who was commissioned by Senator Petrucelli to conduct a review of infrastructure surrounding Suffolk Downs, determined the cost would be + $500 MILLION and then couldn't find the report.

Does something smell funny?

From Facebook --

Vitagliano appointed to serve on Infrastructure Comm.

By Giordana Mecagni in No Eastie Casino (Files)

Vitagliano appointed to serve on Infrastructure Comm.
By John Lynds

Longtime East Boston activist and transportation guru John Vitagliano, principal of
Seagull Consulting, was appointed by Speaker Robert DeLeo last week to serve as a member to the newly created Special Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Commission.

Vitagliano, an Eastie native, will join six other members on the legislatively mandated commission that will reviews and approve all public-private partnership transportation infrastructure requests.

“We have potential to address the state’s deteriorating infrastructure issues by entering in good partnerships with private entities to address some of the costs given the current economic climate,” said Vitagliano.

According to MassDOT, commission members had to be experts with experience in
transportation law, public policy, public finance, management consulting, transportation or organizational change. Vitagliano was a former Massport board member and the former Transportation Commissioner for the City of Boston.

He was most recently involved in the multimillion-dollar federal construction project of the Chelsea Street Bridge and played a significant role in the bypass road that now connects Eastie via Logan Airport to Chelsea.

“There’s a need to identify entities that benefit from the state’s infrastructure and find
ways to bring them into the fold to help defer some of the costs,” said Vitagliano.
Vitagliano said his role, although not yet defined, could potentially focus on public transportation improvements.

“I look forward to our first meeting and take an active role in addressing some big
transportation needs”, said Vitagliano.

According to MassDOT requests for proposal for a public-private agreement for
design-build-finance-operate-maintain services must receive the commission’s
written approval before being issued by DOT.

Vitagliano and the commission will also, in reviewing the requests for proposals, consider such issues as the proposed policies for overseeing a privately operated transportation facility; financial issues including taxation, profit-sharing, revenue producing ideas and the financial value of any state transportation facility
involved; use of new technologies; and the anticipated advantages of entering into a
public-private agreement for services.

“These highly-qualified leaders will provide critical early input to ensure that
transportation investments are made wisely,” said Governor Deval Patrick. Last year the U.S. Coast Guard recently honored Vitagliano for his work on the Chelsea Street Bridge project.

Vitagliano was presented the award along with a certificate and official medal at a ceremony in Eastie.

The Coast Guard recognized Vitagliano for ‘meritorious service of national and
regional significance while providing critical public and multi-coordination in the facilitation of the Chelsea Street Bridge’ project. Throughout the entire bridge project, Vitagliano provided thousands of hours of outreach and coordination efforts
between state agencies, the Coast guard, the Army Corp of Engineers as well as the community.

The Coast Guard recognized Vitagliano’s astute networking and communication skills as being a critical part in completing the multi-year project.


[Picture] John Vitagliano with Representative Carlo Basile during the dedication of the new Chelsea Street Bridge. Vitagliano, was appointed to serve as a members to the newly created Special Public-Private Partnership Infrastructure Commission.

http://www.eastietimes.com/wp-content/uploads/EastieTimes.pdf

Vitagliano 'loses' Petrucelli's $500 million study on route 1a improvements and somehow gets a sweetheart position serving on a public-private transportation infrastructure committee? Also, he was on the Massport board? 

This smells REALLY BAD to me. Anyone else?

 

 

http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/101868/carlo-basile

 

 

Top of the list:

 

VITAGLIANO, JOHN A

$1,000.00

 

 

 

http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/1965/anthony-petruccelli

 

Senator Anthony Petruccelli's Campaign Finances

votesmart.org

Review Senator Anthony Petruccelli's campaing finances, learn where the money is coming from, and who are the top contributors

 

 

http://votesmart.org/candidate/campaign-finance/4792/robert-deleo

Representative Robert DeLeo's Campaign Finances

votesmart.org

Review Representative Robert DeLeo's campaing finances, learn where the money is coming from, and who are the top contributors

 

 

Taken from a tiny article on pg 7 of the ET ... after the fluff.
**
Suffolk Downs and its partner Caesars Entertain-
ment (NASDAQ: CZR) will announce their plans for a
multi-faceted business partnership program, offering local businesses a variety of opportunities to benefit from the proposed $1 billion world-class resort and casino at the
historic racetrack. The announcement will be held on Thursday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at the Courtyard Boston Logan Airport, 225 McClellan Highway, East Boston. bers to redeem their rewards
at participating local businesses, and to partner with the
resort as an on-site restaurant, among other opportunities.
This small business announcement comes only weeks after Suffolk Downs and Caesars Entertainment announced a major arts and cultural agreement with the Citi Performing Arts Center.
The event will be in the first floor conference room at
the Courtyard Boston Logan Airport.
For more information,
please contact Lara Mendizza
at (617) 338-6601 or lara@carpmancommunications.com.

**
I have to say, SD/"CZR" will 'spend' all the fake mountains of cash they (won't) say they have to bribe the crap out of people and eat this town for breakfast when they get folks go to sign up.
I'm so sick of it.
ALL these things CAN be achieved without casino involvement.
DONT tell them what you want. JUST VOTE NO!

 

 

When Mayor Menino and Senator Petrucelli are allowed under law to maintain 'charities' that received undisclosed contributions, it would seem there is much work to do.

What other contributions were received?

We also know that Secretary Bialecki and Senator Rosenberg profited from investment in casino interests that weren't publicly disclosed.

It would seem that the public knows very little.

This needs to change and the change requires all of us asking and insisting on change. We need to support candidates who insist on change.

Democracy is not a spectator sport and only works when all of us protest.