CasiNo Forum

by Bobby Blair 1/26/12

Several hundred people gathered Thursday eve to discuss "what if" a casino is built in Milford.

Most of those who attended Thursday night's "not a gripe session" concerning proposed casinos in Massachusetts were from Holliston. Others attending by a show of hands were from Hopkinton and Ashland, a few each from Medway and Millis. Only several in the audience were from Milford one of the three prosposed sites in the eastern district. There will be three districts, the other two in our district being Foxboro and Suffolk Downs in Boston.

Organized by Holliston Board of Selectmen Jay Marsden (above right) State Senator Karen Spilka (left) told those attending "I don't know any other area in the state where a collabrative such as this is taking place this early in the process. Spilka thanked Marsden for organizing the forum. Spilka went on to outline the process which will take place from the state level on down. As the Chairwoman of the Senate Economic Development Committee, Spilka was at each step of the process before it was voted on by the legislature. Spilka voted against casinos but insured that surrounding communities for proposed casinos have a say in the process. Spilka outlined the process that Chapter 194 (an act establishing expanded gaming in the commonwealth) will now take.

Spilka noted that the process is still young, and while Governor Patrick has announced Stephen Crosby to head up the Gaming Commission, four others must be appointed by March 21st. Best practices for expanded gaming were taken from 38 other states who allow gaming. Timewise it could be 12-18 months before the Gaming Commission gets going, 18-24 months before the Commission receives bids from developers and yet another 1-24 months before the first casino is built. The minimum bid to build a casino is 500 million and 125 million for the only-slots parlor. There would be a one time license fee for casinos of 85 million and 25 million for a slots parlor.

While the state will realize a portion of the yearly revenues generated from casinos, those monies have already been designated to such purposes as local aid, community colleges, community mitigation and tourism. Rep. Carolyn Dykema spoke about regional and local mitigation boards and the safeguards and protection in Chapter 194 along with the impact on local facilities. Dykema, like her counterpart Spilka, voted against casinos.

In what was the only humorous moment of the night, David Bastille who lives on the Milford line near Washington Street told the audience that he had written a few notes but then realized one was a rant and the other a rave. He said the people of Milford are the elephants in the room while the residents of Holliston represent the rhinoceroses. "I now wished I had more friends who live in Milford." Bastille is an opponent of a casino in Milford and is the creator of the little "CasiNo" signs scattered about Holliston.

The audience was addressed by Rep. Tom Sannicandro and Ashland Selectman Jon Fetherston who is also a member of the MetroWest Regional Collabrative.

While not speaking during the forum, I asked Hopkinton Selectman Brian Herr (above left) what the feeling about the proposed casino was in his town. "The residents are very concerned and if I had to score it, I'd say 70% are against the casino and 30% in favor.

One out-of-the-area casino opponent did seem to crash the party. John Ribeiro said he traveled all the way from Winthrop. Ribeiro is heading up a group to repeal the legislature's casino act. Ribeiro cited stats from Connecticut that showed local aid to host communties had not risen since the casinos arrived there.

Residents will be notified as local legislators and municipal boards discuss and follow the process according to Selectman Jay Marsden.

Posted in News.

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