Dear Honorable Legislator:
Attorney General Martha Coakley has joined Governor Patrick, the Mass Chiefs of Police Association, United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts (USS Mass), League of Women Voters, Mass Council of Churches and numerous statewide organizations and individuals calling for an independent cost-benefit, data-driven analysis of expanded gambling before legalizing slots or any additional form of predatory gambling. AG Coakley stated at legislative hearings, “Before the legislative debate on gaming even begins, the Commonwealth must have the law enforcement tools necessary to combat potential illegal influences both during the legislative debate and after proposed legislation becomes law in the Commonwealth.” When asked how much that would cost, she replied, “expensive”.
Recent focus on the concentration of political power, ethical and legal problems associated with legislators in the Commonwealth and the long history of corruption associated with the gambling industry requires elected officials to step-back and re-evaluate the proposals to legalize predatory gambling, slots/casinos.
The people voiced their ire with “business as usual” in Massachusetts politics in the recent US Senate election. Voters repeatedly state that politicians are not listening to their concerns including the negative fiscal impacts slots/casinos have upon entire regions, small businesses and local economies. The Globe released a poll (January 2010) that showed the majority of respondents (38%) oppose any form of expanded gambling, (30%) support casinos and (3%) support racinos/slot parlors.
The Western MA Casino Task Force is joined by municipal officials across the state with the following recommendations:
Comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of slot parlors and mega-casinos.
The legislature will perform a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and develop data-driven budgets by region that account for fiscal revenues and both operating and capital investment expenses. Benefits/revenues will result from income and property taxes, license fees, job creation, reduction of welfare rolls, and ancillary economic development for regional businesses. Costs/expenses will result from capital investment projects, infrastructure expansion and maintenance thereof; mitigation compensation to affected regional communities for issues defined in the paragraphs below; and state and regional oversight and administration expenses.
The cost-benefit analysis will address but not be limited to costs such as the expansion of the Attorney General’s office for regulation, enforcement, investigation, prosecution, auditing; Gaming Commission personnel, equipment, operating budget, software and all consultants; gambling addiction services; state and local police and overtime; domestic violence advocates at district courts serving the regions impacted by proposed expanded gambling; expanded prison and corrections services; financial counseling; subsidized health care costs for transient workers and workers not covered by proposed expanded gambling health insurance.
USS Mass represents the people of the Commonwealth, not lobbyists or corporations. The people are sending you a message, no back-room deals for slots and predatory gambling.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC
United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts
USS Mass
PO Box 376
Palmer, MA 01069
www.uss-mass.org
10 comments:
Just like Martha was up by 15% in the Globe poll. Everyone is tired of listening to you Kathleen.
TtP, as you know, I'm a democrat who voted for Brown - and it was precisely because they weren't listening to people like you and me on this issue. So please keep talking - because people are finally listening. Which is exactly why you are now attracting creepy drive-by comments from anonymous scaredy cats. If you weren't being effective, they'd be doing something more productive like watching watching reality TV and blaming Obama for all their problems.
When someone is as effective as you have been, it frequently brings out the rodents who lack the facts and information about predatory gambling or have something personal to gain.
It's always interesting that those who have negative comments hide behind a cloak of anonymity and bully from the shadows.
As you know, the House held closed door meetings with the industry before approving OTB parlors on a voice vote.
What were they hiding? How did your rep vote? It's deliberately hidden from public view.
The gambling industry operates behind closed doors by lobbying elected officials and monopolizing the conversation. One need only look at how they have successfully operated in other states.
Pennsylvania approved predatory gambling at midnight on the 4th of July. How sleezy is that?
Surely if slots will pave the streets with gold as proponents insist, they should support an independent cost benefit analysis.
I recommend that anonymous send his address so I can send him some ear plugs. I'm still listening!
Dear Anon 1/26 1:01p.m.,
You spineless individual.
How dare you slam a woman who has selflessly given up all of her free time to educate her community about the harmful effects of gambling. You didn't even have the guts to sign your name.
Kathleen is someone to be admired. She is passionate and dedicated because she knows she's right. She is driven by the passion of not seeing her community be destroyed by the likes of big mogul casino interests.
She is a very bright and courageous woman. I admire her willingness to stand up and continue this fight. Most people have no idea the drastic effects a casino will have on their community.
You should be actually thanking Kathleen for all of her endless hard work, but it doesn't sound like you get it.....some people never do.
Anon,
I bet it took you all day to come up with such a brilliant rebuttal to Kathleen's blog. Were you the captain of the debate squad at your school? No? I don't know how they could have overlooked such talent.
Your parents must be so proud.
Regards,
Tracy
FOR GOD'S SAKE! LET US FREELY HEAR BOTH SIDES! (Jefferson)
I must say, how could anyone be offended by someone doing the reasearch for the other side of the issue??
Before I make any decisions on any issue's I want to read documentation from BOTH sides, how else can any intelligent adult make a choice without it????
So, I for one, (and many more I'm sure), thank Kathleen for giving me the info/tools to help me with a decision, either way, at least after reading all info from each side I now know what the pro casino and anti casino has to offer and will feel confident that *my* choice is the correct one, and one made from INFORMATION/DOCUMENTATION put out from both sides of this issue.
Thank you Kathleen and all that have done the research.
Judy
Wow!
Ladies:
I have been proud to know you during the Middleboro fiasco and you have made me even more proud to condemn a vole (the little critters who live in leaf litter and never come into the light)!
We have all discovered that the more you read and learn about predatory gambling, the more your opposition grows and the stronger your conviction becomes.
Poor little Palmer allowed its officials to have their egos stroked by a group whose financial condition is not open to public scrutiny. That group cancelled a major expansion project due to financial constraints.
The financial solvency of ANY proposed 'partner' in this endeavor needs to be considered and discussed in public, in addition to the impacts.
When the streets of CT are paved with gold, when their unemployment rate is lower than Massachusetts, when their financial condition is enviable, when their public schools outperform Massachusetts, Mr. Anonymous might have a legitimate argument.
Until then, Mr. Anonymous, do some research, reading and gather the facts. It sure sounds like you have something personal to gain. Maybe you own a piece of property to sell?
My offer of earplugs still stands. I'm just waiting for your address.
Oh! Before I forget -- I know some ladies who can send you some reading glasses to replace the rose colored glasses.
Until then, Mr. Anonymous, you might listen to the ladies.
Dear Anon,
A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after awhile he learns something.
So listen and learn.
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