MA Casino Developments

[HenryAlan]

I could really see this backfiring on the Mayor. I'm not sure what residents really believe a casino in there backyard is a good thing.

I agree. I think the local support requirement is written in a way that will make it very hard for a casino to find a suitable location. Who would vote a casino into their back yard without some sort of huge quid pro quo?

 

[Justin7]

And people also believe Romney is the Republican nomination........right now

Nominations are people too, my friend.

 

[whighlander]

I could really see this backfiring on the Mayor. I'm not sure what residents really believe a casino in there backyard is a good thing.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1061130261

No Chance!

here's the difference:

Foxboro relatively small community with permanent major commitment from Kraft and Patriots -- most elected officials opposed (even before the recent election)

end game -- Kraft will eventually build on the other side of Rt-1 or sell the land to someone who will find a productive and lucrative use

Boston & Revere -- Suffolk Downs -- its casino or bust -- if the Sufolk Casino was defeated eventually the site would be redeveloped as warehouses or some low value use but the track and its existing employees -- they would be history

Revere has a recently elected mayor who has publicly supported expanded gaming and the House Speaker who arranged "the deal" for the Casino Bill

 

[whighlander]

I agree. I think the local support requirement is written in a way that will make it very hard for a casino to find a suitable location. Who would vote a casino into their back yard without some sort of huge quid pro quo?

Riff & Henry -- there is already a commitment on the part of Suffolk / Caesars' to do $200 M in local purchases of goods and services from Revere + several significant road projects Revere has been looking for funds to do for years

From a Globe story about a month ago

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma..._anticipates_gains_from_suffolk_downs_casino/

REVERE
The Boston Globe
City begins talking up casino plan
Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs, said a casino development would have a positive impact on Revere. Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs, said a casino development would have a positive impact on Revere. (Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff/file 2010)
By John Laidler
Globe Correspondent / April 5, 2012

More than 1,000 residents turned out at four public forums called by Mayor Daniel Rizzo to solicit community input on how Revere should spend the millions of dollars it anticipates receiving if Suffolk Downs is granted a casino license.

The ideas from residents, coupled with those offered by city officials, will form the basis of the proposal the city puts forward for a host agreement in its upcoming talks with Suffolk Downs, located in Revere and East Boston.

Rizzo said he hopes to begin formal talks as early as the next few weeks, with the hope of holding a voter referendum on the casino agreement as early as September. The application can go forward only if the ballot questions pass in Revere and Boston.

“I’ve been a proponent of expanded gaming at Suffolk Downs since I first joined the City Council 13 years ago,’’ said Rizzo, who took office as mayor in January. “It’s something we’ve been waiting for, for a long time.’’

.....Suffolk Downs has estimated that when a casino resort is at full operation, with hotels, restaurants, retail, gambling, entertainment, and horse racing, it would spend about $200 million a year on local goods and services, Tuttle said.

While Festa said the city has concerns, particularly about traffic, Tuttle said developers have committed to spending up to $40 million on road and infrastructure improvements along routes 1A and 16. And while no specific job figures have been established, Tuttle cited a report by the Spectrum Gaming Group, used by the Legislature, that estimated three casinos in the state would create up to 13,000 permanent jobs.

Under the casino law passed last year, license applicants must negotiate impact agreements with host and surrounding communities, spelling out funding and other benefits they would provide if licensed.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

After the collapse of plans in Foxboro, Malden is all over this, as I'm sure every other city abutting or within 10 miles of East Boston and Revere is. Mitigation monies has the neighbors all in.

 

[AmericanFolkLegend]

end game -- Kraft will eventually build on the other side of Rt-1 or sell the land to someone who will find a productive and lucrative use

Boston & Revere -- Suffolk Downs -- its casino or bust -- if the Sufolk Casino was defeated eventually the site would be redeveloped as warehouses or some low value use but the track and its existing employees -- they would be history

Whig, are you seriously arguing that several acres in Foxboro are more valuable than several acres in East Boston?

 

[whighlander]

Whig, are you seriously arguing that several acres in Foxboro are more valuable than several acres in East Boston?

AFL -- not in general

But if you compare the land opposite to Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium with the land formerly occupied by a defunct Suffolk Downs - I think the scale tips toward Foxboro

Without a Mega Development to fund the infrastructure -- Suffolk Downs location is not that great -- its too far from Logan to be a good site for hotels connected with the airport and its not on the beach

 

[Beton Brut]

Without a Mega Development to fund the infrastructure -- Suffolk Downs location is not that great -- its too far from Logan to be a good site for hotels connected with the airport and its not on the beach

This is the first sensible thing you've posted on this topic. (Those oil tanks aren't full of Coppertone).

 

[whighlander]

This is the first sensible thing you've posted on this topic. (Those oil tanks aren't full of Coppertone).

But -- I think this discussion is an academic exercise -- the fix is in and Suffolk will become an integrated gaming complex featuring:

1) some Live horse racing,
2) a lot of big screen video horse racing,
3) a Traditional Casino with slots, table games and poker
4) Some reasonable sized show venue
5) Some Conference / expo facility
6) some shopping and eating
7) With a few thousand of hotel rooms spread between Suffolk and Wonderland in several hotels at different price points

Infrastucture improvements including:
1) New roads including a better tie between Rt-16 and Rt-1A
2) T in the area -- much like the investement in the new station at Assembly Sq. eventually this could lead to the Blue Line extension north to Lynn and beyond

 

[bbfen]

But -- I think this discussion is an academic exercise -- the fix is in and Suffolk will become an integrated gaming complex featuring:

1) some Live horse racing,
2) a lot of big screen video horse racing,
3) a Traditional Casino with slots, table games and poker
4) Some reasonable sized show venue
5) Some Conference / expo facility
6) some shopping and eating
7) With a few thousand of hotel rooms spread between Suffolk and Wonderland in several hotels at different price points

Infrastucture improvements including:
1) New roads including a better tie between Rt-16 and Rt-1A
2) T in the area -- much like the investement in the new station at Assembly Sq. eventually this could lead to the Blue Line extension north to Lynn and beyond

It's bizzaro-world when I 100% agree with Westie.

He calls it perfectly here.

 

[JohnAKeith]

Where are our brave city councilors asking for a citywide vote?

 

[Matthew]

Infrastucture improvements including:
1) New roads including a better tie between Rt-16 and Rt-1A
2) T in the area -- much like the investement in the new station at Assembly Sq. eventually this could lead to the Blue Line extension north to Lynn and beyond

Prediction: All the money gets sucked up into cost "overruns" while building more roads for (1) and then they throw up their hands and say "we're broke" when it comes to (2).

Sound about right?

 

[TheRifleman]

^^
We might see the Casinos built in the area.......

But the roads & MBTA upgrade----I DOUBT IT.
I predict over the next couple of years 2013-2016 the GOVT could possibly default on its DEBTS.
This will grind to halt anytype of GOVT spending for highway & T upgrades.

 

[whighlander]

^^
We might see the Casinos built in the area.......

But the roads & MBTA upgrade----I DOUBT IT.
I predict over the next couple of years 2013-2016 the GOVT could possibly default on its DEBTS.
This will grind to halt anytype of GOVT spending for highway & T upgrades.

Riff -- you're losing the target and firing at random again -- perhaps its time to run a shoelace through the barrell to clean things out

We are not yet Greece or even France -- there's no indication that anyplace except Providence or such a corrupt locality is going bankrupt

If the Suffolk Casino is approved so will be the infrastructure improvements

 

[TheRifleman]

Riff -- you're losing the target and firing at random again -- perhaps its time to run a shoelace through the barrell to clean things out

We are not yet Greece or even France -- there's no indication that anyplace except Providence or such a corrupt locality is going bankrupt

If the Suffolk Casino is approved so will be the infrastructure improvements

Whigh, Your delusional if you think our Govt can continue to spend recklessly for the next 5 years. The U.S. is worse shape than Europe.
California and Illinois are already bankrupt. Pensions alone are not sustainable.

Now what do we have going on in MASS.
How about the BIG DIG 50Million dollar gift that keeps giving to replace lighting and a giant sink-hole. Also the Greenway Conservancy just went up in price another 5 Million more.
Conclusion:
Good luck getting another infrastructure bill through congress needing another 300-500 Million for highway expenditures & MBTA upgrades for a CASINO that will thrive at Suffolk Downs in the next 3-years. It aint happening.

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

We are not yet Greece or even France -- there's no indication that anyplace except Providence or such a corrupt locality is going bankrupt

Hate to break in on the conversation here, but...

• Central Falls is in receivership, and holds the dubious distinction of being the first town (IIRC) to file bankruptcy in the US
• Providence isn't 'going' bankrupt, the minute the pension deal falls through (and it will, nobody speaks for the retirees, it only takes one old guy to sue and this thing is over) they have no choice but to file bankruptcy
• Woonsocket does not have enough money to keep its public schools open through the end of the year
• West Warwick, Cranston, and other towns facing assorted major cash problems
• All this points to Rhode Island facing bankruptcy at the state level

I hate to sound cynical or defeatist, but I think Riff's half right here. It only takes one to start a domino effect. Central Falls, Providence goes, the next few in line after that, and Massachusetts can't be far behind.

Bankruptcy™: It's coming to a town near you.

 

[underground]

The RI economy isn't really comparable to the MA economy.

 

[Beton Brut]

...I think this discussion is an academic exercise -- the fix is in...

Westie --

You're right to suggest that the elected representation of East Boston and Revere, at the local and state level, have coordinated to engineer the result they desire by controlling the messaging on the casino proposal (see below). Your dismissive tone suggests that the voters in these communities should roll over. I find this sentiment disappointing from a person of your intellect.

Now let's talk about those infrastructure improvements:

1) New roads including a better tie between Rt-16 and Rt-1A

Seagull Consulting conducted a study to this very end in 2008, and the price tag was ~$420 million. That kind of money is not coming out of Caesars, which, by the way, is currently $22 billion in the red. If they wanted to rent an apartment in my building, I'd tell them to get lost. When it comes to getting any sort of mitigation money from them, we'd need to get in line with their creditors. At best, they'd fund a grade separation at Bordman Street @ ~$35 million. That's not a solution.

2) T in the area -- much like the investment in the new station at Assembly Sq. eventually this could lead to the Blue Line extension north to Lynn and beyond

With the exception of Orient Heights (currently in pre-construction), all of the Blue Line stations on our side of the harbor are < 20 years old. The possible extension to Lynn or Salem will be problematic because the thugs who were running Revere in the late 90s allowed for a condo to be constructed in Point of Pines on the right-of-way. Will Caesars buy that building and tear it down so the trains can run through?

Below is an editorial written by one of my compatriots. The East Boston Times, an excellent local paper if you're house-training a puppy, refused to print it.

East Boston
Opinion: East Boston, we can do better than a casino

Posted by Jeremy C. Fox May 10, 2012 12:57 PM

By Giordana Mecagni

Recently, I joined the group No Eastie Casino, and I feel I needed to explain why I feel so compelled to take up this issue in such a public way.

I’m not a native East Bostonian, but I have lived in Massachusetts for most of my life. My husband and I bought a home in Eagle Hill in East Boston almost seven years ago after living in various apartments in Brighton and Somerville for 10 years.

I love Eastie. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I have multiple East Boston propaganda speeches, and I try to give back to my community in any way I can. Over the years, I have met people (both old-time families and newcomers) who care just as deeply about our community and are willing to work hard to make it the best place it can be.

One of the things I love about Eastie is that we feel like we live on an island (because we do). There are defined island boundaries, and we’re surrounded by water. This gives Eastie a completely different atmosphere from anywhere else in the city.

I love Eastie’s nautical history and the remaining ocean and boat culture that is pervasive. The Harbor Arts Gallery, the marinas, Piers Park Sailing Center, and the Jeffries Yacht Club are all unique and wonderful Eastie institutions that remind us in a very visceral way that we are tied to the ocean.

Eastie has a can-do attitude. It is a place where an idea or a cause can take root and flourish. I love that Madeleine Steczynski had an idea for the youth music empowerment organization ZUMIX, started it, now is ensconced in a beautiful renovated firehouse, and was recently given a national arts award from Michelle Obama.

I love how a group of Eastie moms had an idea for a dream school and formed Harbor City School in just a couple of years. I love the Atlantic Works Gallery. I love how Chris Marchi and Air Inc. got the East Boston Greenway extended. I love the legacy of the Maverick Mothers who lay down in the road to stop airport traffic from coming through their neighborhood.

Eastie’s small businesses are the cornerstone of our neighborhood. East Boston is a place where “boot-strapping” is possible, as evidenced by our hard-working small businesses, restaurants, and community organizations run by many first- and second-generation Americans. It is also a place where people take a lot of pride in their work, and it shows.

I love my daughter's pediatrician at the wonderful East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. I love candlepin bowling at the Central Park Lanes. I love the Bremen Street YMCA. I love the restaurants. I love the library, and I can't wait to see the new one. I read the East Boston Times-Free Press from cover to cover every week, and I love the articles about new mom-and-pop places opening.

I oppose a casino because what I’d like to see in Eastie is more of what makes this place special. What might be better for East Boston than a casino? A minor-league ball park? A new home for the New England Revolution? A Patriots training field? A new biotech development? A water park?

To grow further, Eastie needs something that will draw people and dollars to our community — and keep them here. I hope for something enriching, something cultural, something positive for moms and dads and kids.

I oppose a casino because I haven't heard a single convincing reason why a casino would be good for East Boston, and in particular for Eastie families. Just by nature, the gambling industry does not serve the middle class, children, or small businesses.

I have heard: A casino will bring income to the state. It will bring jobs for construction and workers in the casinos. But there are a million things that would provide more sustainable growth jobs for Eastie residents and would keep most of the money in small businesses in the area.

As Professor Jack R. Van Der Slik noted, “[casino gambling] produces no product, no new wealth, and so it makes no genuine contribution to economic development. It stimulates a great many people to make a series of small wagers. Most of them lose. A lot of revenue goes back to the few winners, a piece goes to the state … and a big slice pays for administering the game and advertising to attract more losers.”

Can’t we demand something better for our community than a casino? In the age when economic inequality is an urgent topic of public discussion, how can our legislators support an institution that would primarily benefit the already-wealthy casino owners?

A casino at Suffolk Downs may just become just another bad neighbor. East Boston already has two tunnels, a fuel tank farm, and an airport. Although there is a lot of debate about this, many Eastie residents fear that a casino would bring shady lending policies, increased crime, backdoor dealings, and even organized crime.

It undoubtedly will bring heavier traffic to an area that already burdened by north-south drivers. A recent independent study showed that to fix the current problems with the Route 1A infrastructure would cost the state almost $500 million.

First our elected representatives say a casino would bring more visitors to Eastie and more customers to Eastie’s small businesses, and then they say casino traffic won’t impact us because people will be getting to the casino by way of a flyover road from the airport. These two claims are mutually exclusive. Which is it? Will gamblers be driving on our streets or not?

In my opinion, the debate about traffic issues is a red herring to distract East Bostonians from the real issue of whether or not a casino is good for East Boston: do East Bostonians want a casino at all? The Big Dig solved the traffic issues from downtown to Logan, but we’re still stuck with the airport’s constant land- and airspace-grabbing. Until we have an independent, non-casino-funded community impact analysis we won’t know the true scope of what might happen in East Boston.

I contend that keeping a casino out of East Boston and repurposing the land to a different job-growing industry could create sustainable growth for East Boston, truly creating more sustainable business for area restaurants and shops. All I want is more of the Eastie we love, and less of the Eastie we don’t care for.

A casino in East Boston will probably be like my cousin’s ex-boyfriend: a slick guy, a fast car, and a gold card: someone who promises a lot and doesn’t deliver. My advice to her: “You can do much better than him.”

Eastie, we can do better than a casino.

Giordana Mecagni is resident of Trenton Street in East Boston.

Not in my Commonwealth!

 

[Commuting Boston Student]

The RI economy isn't really comparable to the MA economy.

It doesn't need to be anything like the MA economy for it to have an impact on MA. My argument boils down to "RI could go bankrupt, and when it does, it'll pull MA right down with it."

Like a chain reaction.

 

[TheRifleman]

^^^^^

WHIGH.............HOW YOU LIKE THEM APPLES?