Mayor Rizzo ushers in Halloween early

An additional 20,000 cars on gridlocked roadways?

Where is Mayor Rizzo's head?

Mayor hopes to bring Revolution to Revere

Plans a stadium for Revolution

By Mark Arsenault

Globe Staff / October 1, 2012

 

REVERE — Mayor Dan Rizzo will try to acquire the Wonderland Greyhound Park property for the city in his casino negotiations with nearby Suffolk Downs, as the first piece of an ambitious plan to bring the New England Revolution professional soccer team to Revere.

“It’s a very important property to the future of the city of Revere,” said Rizzo, speaking of the shuttered dog racing track near Revere Beach. “It’s definitely something I’d like to see in play as we consider mitigation.”
 

Rizzo is negotiating mitigation payments with Suffolk Downs over plans to build a $1 billion gambling resort at the thoroughbred track, which straddles the city line between East Boston and Revere. As the mayor of one of the host cities, Rizzo has tremendous leverage under state law to demand compensation from Suffolk Downs for accepting casino gambling in the community.
 

The partnership that owns Suffolk Downs also controls Wonderland, a 34-acre parcel entirely in Revere and assessed at about $10.8 million, according to Suffolk Downs and city records.
 

Enter New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who also owns the Revolution Major League Soccer team. Kraft has been looking for several years for an urban location to build a new soccer-specific stadium, with the intention of moving the Revolution from cavernous Gillette Stadium in suburban Foxborough. Kraft explored building in Somerville as recently as 2010.

The team has been talking with Rizzo about building at Wonderland if the city gets control of the land. “We are in discussions with the City of Revere, which offers the proximity to urban centers and access to transit that we are seeking for a future Revolution stadium, but talks are preliminary at this stage,” said New England Revolution president Brian Bilello, in a statement to the Globe.
 

Revolution games in 2012 have drawn an average of 13,281 fans, who tend to get swallowed up in an NFL football stadium that seats nearly 70,000. Team officials believe they could draw 20,000 a game in an urban area. Revere fits the bill as a densely populated community close to Boston, with the added attraction of a large number of immigrants from soccer-crazed Latin America and Brazil.

The city “has to be right in the wheelhouse in terms of soccer fans,” said Rizzo. “I’d love to see a full-blown professional soccer team here.”

The negotiations between Revere and Suffolk Downs could be another test of the clout of local officials under the state’s 2011 casino law.
 

Municipal officials have become extraordinarily powerful figures in the early months of the development of the Massachusetts casino industry. In Holyoke, for instance, Mayor Alex Morse was elected on an anticasino platform and promptly persuaded Hard Rock International to give up plans for a gambling resort in the city. In Foxborough, the part-time Board of Selectmen stonewalled a casino proposal from Las Vegas billionaire Steve Wynn. When the May town election strengthened the anticasino tilt of the board, Wynn gave up.
 

In Springfield, Mayor Domenic Sarno took the opposite path, by inviting gambling companies to his city. Sarno will have as many as four proposals from which to choose, as wealthy casino operators eagerly tailor their projects to fit the city’s every whim, in their rush to win Sarno’s favor.
 

Suffolk Downs, the only applicant to date for the sole casino resort license in Greater Boston, cannot complete its application to the state gambling commission until it reaches a negotiated deal with Rizzo on compensation. It must reach a separate agreement with Mayor Thomas M. Menino of Boston.

State Senator Stanley Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat and one of the architects of the casino law, said lawmakers gave cities and towns leverage over developers to ensure that the communities are made whole for any negative effects from casino developments or for any added drain on services.
 

The compensation can come in just about any form: cash payments, new equipment, services, or local preferences in hiring. “We wanted to provide that flexibility,” Rosenberg said.




Attack of the 50 foot Egos
 

Wonderland, a former dog racing and simulcast track, fell on hard times and closed in 2010, hurt by a state ban on live dog racing.

Suffolk Downs secured an option to buy Wonderland in 2008 and took title of the property last spring.

The owners are open to different options for redeveloping the parcel, said Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer for Suffolk Downs.

“We want to develop Wonderland in a manner that complements the ongoing revitalization of the Revere Beach area,” Tuttle said. “We don’t have specific plans for Wonderland yet.” He said the negotiations with Revere are in their early stages and that the city has not yet asked for the property.

“That concept hasn’t been broached,” he said.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/09/30/revere-sees-wonderland-site-for-major-league-soccer-stadium/idIejy2JuqjI0LZ4iQsvWN/story.html

Senator Patrucelli 'commissioned' an infrastructure report he doesn't remember, can't find or has hidden indicating the cost of infrastructure improvements would be + $500 MILLION - a cost Massachusetts taxpayers would fund --

“I want to look at the big picture–whether there is a casino or not–and see if its feasible to make some of the changes first suggested in the 2000 study,” said Petruccelli.

In his study, Vitagliano suggested widening Route 1A from Curtis Street in East Boston to Mahoney Circle in Revere. This would include property taking and cost $40 million; widen Revere Beach Parkway in Revere, Everett and Medford at a cost of $90 million; perform a Copeland Circle grade separation in Revere that would cost $75 million; perform a Mahoney Circle grade separation in Revere that would cost $30 million; perform a Brown Circle grade separation in Revere that would cost $25 million; install a Route 1A to Route 16 connector on Railroad Ave. in Revere at a cost of $45 million; construct a haul road in East Boston at a cost of $20 million; build a Route 1A-Chelsea Street Bridge connector in East Boston that would cost $40 million; perform a Route 1A/Boardman Street grade separation in East Boston that would cost $10 million; build a Route 1A-Route 16 interchange that would cost $15 million; perform a Revere Street grade separation in Revere that would cost $10 million; improve traffic signalization along the Route 1A corridor at a cost of $5 million; and finally mitigation for traffic impacts on the local communities would be $15 million.
http://middlebororemembers.blogspot.com/2011/10/senator-petrucelli-sticks-taxpayers.html

The report below was paid for by Governor Slot Barns with hard-earned taxpayers' dollars. Page 23 addresses the cost of infrastructure:
COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS: Projecting and Preparing for Potential Impact of Expanded Gaming on Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Governor Patrick, Don’t Roll Out the Slot Parlors Just Yet

The Ball State University Study referenced in the article below, is found here in additional detail:

Racinos Create Low Paying Jobs


Governor Patrick, Don’t Roll Out the Slot Parlors Just Yet
BY Jason Schwartz

At this point, it’s pretty safe to add the State House’s debate over whether or not to legalize casinos to the list of things in Boston that feel like they will never, ever end — up there with winter, Mayor Menino’s time in office, and the Big Dig (What, you thought it was done? Better check the lights). With Governor Deval Patrick, Speaker of the House Robert DeLeo, and Senate President Terry Murray all in favor of expanded gambling, though, many feel that action may finally be coming. The only hangup has been that while DeLeo has insisted that we allow race tracks to install slot machines — his district includes both Wonderland Greyhound Park and Suffolk Downs horse track — Patrick has been dead set against it.

Yesterday, the governor indicated he was open to compromise. During a radio appearance on WTKK, he said, “If it helps get a deal, I will accept one slot parlor that is competitively bid anywhere in the commonwealth. I’ve been clear about that with the leadership, and I think that is the framework for an agreement on those principles.”

That’s a position he held briefly last summer, and it’s too bad that he’s returned to it. Slot parlors are bad news — not just socially, but for the economy as well. Two years ago, I wrote a column in the magazine about that very fact, and it remains just as true today as it was then. The key point:

According to a new study of West Virginia racinos published by Ball State University, counties that installed slots at racetracks benefited from a one-time employment boost of 1.1 percent. Over the course of 26 years, however, the average salary in those same counties fell by up to almost 3 percent. In other words, racinos create low-paying jobs that depress other salaries in the area.

There are plenty of other reasons that slot parlors would be bad for Massachusetts, some of which I cover in that column. Hopefully, the governor will reconsider.

DeLeo Finally Honest: We Need to Protect Gambling Investors

Whoever thought we would finally see the day that House Speaker "Racino" DeLeo would finally be honest?

Cracking down on 'cybercafes' isn't about 'consumer protection' at all.

It's all about the Gambling Vultures circling the Commonwealth hoping to suck up the discretionary local income.

Note to DeLeo: You sold yourself cheap. They spent $60 million in Pennsylvania and $50 million in Ohio [on the 5th attempt]. Don't you think you're worth more?


DeLeo said he is concerned that cybercafes may threaten his attempts to attract full-scale casinos and slot parlors to the state’s race tracks, two of which are in his district. The Legislature plans to debate casino legislation in September.


“If we’re asking people to invest millions of dollars [on casinos],’’ DeLeo said, “and you’ve got 10 or 20 of these rogue gambling places out there, they’re going to say, ‘Why are we going to invest that much money if they’re going to be taking money away from us?’ ’’


From:
State cracking down on cybercafe gambling
Businesses are legal, owners say

Bailing out the rich

When Senator Richard T. "Debt Collector" Moore proposed to bailout wealthy investors who gambled on Tribal Recognition for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the Senate Chamber might have been/should have been filled with:

gasps at the stupidity
laughter
snickers
boos and hisses
protests by the Republican hypocrites who didn't oppose the government expansion

Instead, it was arrogant Beacon Hill 'business as usual,' 'this is what we do for our wealthy buddies.'

Now, voters are expected to sit silent while a move is afoot to bailout a shuttered racetrack?

Voters spoke. They voted to end greyhound racing.

Any business decision a track owner made was made knowingly.

This from a regular reader --

I just don’t get it. We cry crocodile tears over the dog track closings, but not over Wrights closing in Warren or American Optical in Southbridge or Bosh in Springfield or Legos in Enfield, CT. Hardly a mention of the cruel outsourcing that has devastated this country from out fearless leaders. How come Patrick or Cahill or Baker never brought up a plan to get manufacturing back into Massachusetts ! We’re supposed to blindly accept globalization, but accept a poisonous, corrupting industry like casinos because the race tracks are closing down. What ever propaganda is expedient for the billionaire big boys.


Legalizing slot machines to 'Save the Tracks' is disingenuous.

Detailed articles about the proposed bailout below --

Wonderland seeks to revive simulcasts
A Suffolk Downs venue is sought


Wonderland seeks state approval to operate out of Suffolk Downs



WONDERLAND SEEKS STATE APPROVAL TO OPERATE OUT OF SUFFOLK DOWNS

By Matt Murphy
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, NOV. 10, 2010….

After shuttering in August shortly after expanded gambling efforts faltered on Beacon Hill, Wonderland Greyhound Park is asking state officials to let it relocate its simulcasting operations to Suffolk Downs in an effort to raise revenue to pay off outstanding debts.

The Revere track, which made the decision to close its facility and lay off all 85 employees this past summer, continues to hold a license for off-track simulcast betting on dog races through July 31, 2011. Their request was tabled on Wednesday by the State Racing Commission, with commissioners requesting additional information.

Wonderland has filed a request for a venue transfer to Suffolk Downs to generate money from the license to pay back creditors, including Plainridge Racecourse. The plan would also reintroduce off-track betting on dog races to the Boston market.

"As you know, Wonderland Greyhound Park was recently forced to suspend its simulcasting operations due to drastic economic conditions in the industry which made it increasingly difficult for Wonderland to remain competitive," wrote Richard Dalton, the president and CEO of Wonderland, in a recent letter to the racing commission. "This suspension has caused many hardships, most notably to the many longtime members of the Wonderland family whose jobs were lost as a result."

After 75 years of continuous operation, Wonderland took a twin-blow from the failure of efforts to expand gambling in Massachusetts and a voter-approved ban on greyhound dog racing that went into effect in January 2009. Wonderland and Suffolk Downs had expressed interest in a joint casino venture if the Legislature and Gov. Deval Patrick had agreed on authorizing legislation.

Dalton , in the letter dated Sept. 7, proposed relocating its simulcasting operations to Suffolk Downs to satisfy "its obligations to other racing meeting licensees and industry vendors" and meet the "existing public demand" for greyhound simulcasts in Greater Boston.

The racing commission's three-member board delayed consideration of Wonderland's proposal, opting to give owners additional time to produce a full accounting of how much Wonderland owes in debt and what the potential revenue market is for simulcast greyhound betting at Suffolk Downs.

The commission meets next on Dec. 1 when it plans to deliberate on Wonderland proposal.

Under the proposal, Wonderland would continue to operate as a separate entity at Suffolk Downs, retaining all revenue from off-track dog betting. Suffolk Downs would be paid an administrative fee for hosting.

"We would be amenable to discussing with you specific measures to ensure that proceeds from wagers on these simulcasts are set aside to settle debts with other racing licensees and to satisfying statutory payment obligations to the Racing Commission and to the Racing Stabilization Fund," Dalton wrote.

Commissioner Terry Segal, however, raised concerns that the plan asked the racing commission to take action beyond its scope of regulating the state's racing industry by asking it to help Wonderland settle its debts.

"I don't think we should be a collection agency," Segal said.

Segal said he was "strongly considering" offering a motion at the next hearing that would require Wonderland to put up a $300,000 refundable letter of credit as a condition of approval. "I don't think all these clients should have to wait for the next 10 years for some simulcast to pay them off," Segal said.

Although Wonderland's precise debt load is unclear, a racing commission document estimated that the track owed Plainridge in excess of $35,000 in fees unpaid since Sept. 2009 for the right to simulcast races from that track.

Wonderland was prohibited from continuing to simulcast races from Plainridge in early July 2010 for failure to pay.

Chip Tuttle, the chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs, said he is supportive of the plan that would allow the East Boston horse track to offer simulcast dog racing for the first time since 2009.

Suffolk Downs holds a license for off-track horse betting, but Tuttle said the track would be able to make space in his simulcasting facility for the addition of dog races.

Suffolk Downs previously held a license to simulcast dog races from Raynham-Taunton Greyhound Park and Lincoln Park in Rhode Island from 2006 to 2009.

"There's still some interest in this product. We just don't know how much," Tuttle told the News Service.

Suffolk Downs currently holds an option to purchase Wonderland Greyhound Park through July 1, 2011. Tuttle said he plans to move forward with the purchase at this point regardless of whether expanded casino and slot machine gambling is resurrected in the Legislature next session.

Asked whether the merger could be jeopardized if Wonderland is not able to retire its debt, Tuttle said it was unlikely: "I think we've got a solid agreement with Wonderland that we can work with."

Tuttle said Wonderland also owes money to Suffolk Downs' purse fund that is used to pay horsemen.