The Massachusetts House of Representatives has already passed a bill that paves the way for the siting of a resort style casino at Suffolk Downs, smack dab in the middle of our neighborhood. The Senate is about to follow suit. There are many questions to be answered before ground should be broken: Will I have a say whether a casino should be built in our neighborhood?
A: Senator Anthony Petruccelli believes you should: “This is far too important to not let the people who are going to be impacted have the final say.” Call his office today at 617-722-1634 and ask him why we won't have a say on a slot parlor.
What will having a casino in our neighborhood do to the flow and volume of traffic on our streets?
A: According to an East Boston Times story, a study commissioned by Senator Anthony Petruccelli found that $500 million in infrastructure improvements would be required to accommodate the increase in traffic in addition to what we already put up with. If these improvements aren't made, those cars will be clogging up our neighborhood streets. The story tells us what we already know:
"Rush hour traffic has long been a problem on Route 1A, and anyone who uses the road during his or her commute is familiar with the gridlock that occurs southbound in the morning and northbound in the afternoon."
Won't a casino bring badly needed new jobs to our community?
A: There will be new jobs but those jobs may come at a price to existing hotels and restaurants. The state is going to allow the casinos to be open 24/7, to provide free alcohol and to extend credit to its customers. How can local businesses compete with that?
Will crime increase in my neighborhood if we build a casino (we've been told that the money the state will make will more than make up for any increase in crime)?
Won't a resort-style casino like those in Connecticut bring more tourists to our town?
A: More people visit Faneuil Hall than Disney World every year. Do you think that more people will come to Boston for the gambling? |