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Casino Opponents Band TogetherBy Catherine Williams - October 30, 2007
State House News Service
BOSTON - Opponents of Gov. Deval Patrick's casino legislation gathered outside the capitol Monday morning to issue a call to arms and protest the plan, warning that if passed, it would lead to more individuals and families coping with the ramifications of gambling addictions.
Leaders representing the mentally ill, women voters and churches held a news conference to launch a coalition aimed at preventing the advent of casino gambling in Massachusetts. The group, known as Casino Free Mass, plans to hold a series of regional meetings across Massachusetts and is calling on casino opponents to connect with each other at www.casinofreemass.org.
Patrick is betting the casino measure will bring in much-needed revenue into the state and spur economic growth in communities outside of the 495 belt. Supporters of Patrick's plan say casinos will bolster the economy and create stable revenue sources for transportation spending and property tax relief.
Opponents, including Leo Maley, a community leader in Amherst, said casino gambling would fail to provide a steady flow of dollars into municipal coffers and would damage local small businesses.
"This is not a good way to raise government revenue," said Maley. "It sucks the life out of communities instead of revitalizing communities."
Coalition members include the Massachusetts League of Women Voters, community activists from Western Massachusetts, and representatives from 1,700 Bay State congregations across 17 religious denominations, said Laura Everett, associate director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts first voiced its opposition to casino gambling in 1982, said Diane Jeffery, president of the league. The league opposes casinos because casino jobs are short term, such as construction jobs, or low paying. In addition, casinos sprout crime, gambling addiction and traffic, according to studies conducted by the league.
"At a time when cities and towns are looking for money, this is not the time to bring in gambling," said Jeffery, in an interview. "We need to focus on industries that don't drain the economy."
Opponents also fear casinos breed gambling addiction and related mental health problems.
"Casinos hurt families," said Louis Derry-Wells, a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
House leaders, including Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, who is the co-chairman of the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, have expressed serious reservations about the plan, which has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing.
Casino Free Mass plans to hold its first regional meeting on Nov. 12 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. |
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