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MASSACHUSETTS DAV WANTS TO BUILD A CASINO IN
WORCESTER -- As part of the group's proposal,
it has suggested sharing the net profits from
the
casino with veterans groups, the city and
state.
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http://www.telegram.com/
article/20070807/NEWS/708070697/1116
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Disabled vets seeking city casino
Site considered along Route 146
By Nick Kotsopoulos TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
nkotsopoulos@telegram.com
WORCESTER— The Disabled American Veterans of Massachusetts is asking
City Manager Michael V. O’Brien to establish an exploratory committee to
look into a proposal that has been broached by the group for a casino on
city-owned land off Route 146.
Daniel P. Stack, department adjutant, petitioned the City Council in
late June, requesting city officials consider the possible siting of a
casino on 3.5 million square feet of municipal land at 260 Granite St.
The site is bounded by Granite Street to the east and Providence Street
(behind Vernon Hill American Legion Post) and Millbury Street (the old
Ballard Street) to the west. The land is under the jurisdiction of the
city’s Department of Public Works and Parks.
The City Council has asked for a report from the city manager on the
request and what, if any, of that land might be available for sale. Mr.
O’Brien has not responded to that request.
As a follow-up to his petition, Mr. Stack is pushing to have a meeting
with the city manager this week. He said he has been trying to arrange a
meeting with Mr. O’Brien to discuss the DAV proposal, but vacation
schedules have prevented such a meeting from taking place.
As part of the group’s proposal, it has suggested sharing the net
profits from the casino with veterans groups, the city and state.
“In the past, we have provided you, the mayor and the city councilors
copies of our proposal,” Mr. Stack wrote in a letter to the city
manager. “On average, the city of Worcester would net $40 million in
addition to what would be generated by property taxes. As they say,
timing is everything in life and with the current discussion at the
state level regarding casinos, it would be regretful if we could not
make the time to meet and establish an exploratory committee to assure
Worcester’s economic future.”
Mr. O’Brien could not be reached for comment last night.
Casino gambling is not legal in Massachusetts. Last month, voters in
Middleboro approved a deal to bring the state’s first casino to that
community. The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has an agreement with that town
to support a $1 billion casino on several hundred acres the tribe has
secured off Interstate 495 when the casino developers go to the state
and federal governments for approval.
If and when the state gives the go-ahead to casino gambling, the DAV
Department of Massachusetts group appears interested in pursuing a
casino-slot machines venue in Worcester.
Councilor-at-Large Dennis L. Irish said he is hopeful the council will
receive a report from the manager at its special meeting next Tuesday or
soon after. He said that while councilors are aware of the DAV’s
proposal, they have not received any feedback from the city
administration and nor has the surrounding neighborhood had an
opportunity to weigh in on the idea.
“It’s certainly a possibility that should be considered,” Mr. Irish said
last night.
A nonbinding advisory question will be on the Nov. 6 municipal ballot:
Voters will be asked if they support the siting of legalized gaming
activities within the city, if legalized gaming is approved in the
state. The effort to get that ballot question was speared by Mr. Irish.
“Given the proposal that has been put forward about siting a casino in
Worcester, this ballot question could be taking on greater importance in
November,” the councilor said. “Personally, I don’t know how I will vote
on that question, but it has always been my position that voters in
Worcester should at least have an opportunity to express their opinion
on this subject.”
Meanwhile, a preliminary analysis done by the Center for Policy Analysis
at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth said commercial resort
casinos at Suffolk Downs in Boston and in southeastern (Middleboro) and
western Massachusetts could generate $500 million in new annual tax
revenues, create about 10,000 construction jobs and later more than
10,000 jobs at the casinos.
“If the governor and state Legislature approve world-class commercial
resort casinos at Suffolk Downs and in southeastern and western
Massachusetts, they will ensure Massachusetts’ dominance of New
England’s gaming, entertainment, tourism, hospitality, and convention
and meeting industries,” said Clyde Barrow, director of the Center for
Policy Analysis.
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Larry Scott --
