WILL MASSACHUSETTS LAWMAKERS GIVE THE GREEN LIGHT TO CASINOS?

Lawmakers betting bill for casinos will pass House
By John J. Monahan TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

BOSTON — House lawmakers are set to hold marathon three-day debates this week over a bill that would make Massachusetts one of the top gambling centers on the East Coast, with two half-billion-dollar casinos and slot parlors at four existing racetracks.

The debate comes at a time when broad opposition to a casino culture that blocked expanded gaming proposals two years ago appears to have given way to the allure of a mid-recession job and state revenue bonanza.

House Speaker Robert E. DeLeo, D-Winthrop, has scheduled the debate on the bill and 216 proposed amendments to begin Tuesday, with a vote expected on Thursday. After a joint Republican-Democratic caucus behind closed doors last week, Mr. DeLeo, who has two racetracks in his district, said he is confident of House passage of the bill.

He expects it to produce up to 15,000 temporary and permanent jobs and more than $300 million in new state revenue annually. Gambling opponents, who prevailed in stopping Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s plan for three casinos and no slot parlors at tracks in 2008, have been frustrated by the fast-track push behind the 172-page bill filed 10 days ago.

Still, groups such as the Massachusetts Family Institute, and United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts are appealing to the public to oppose the plan. MFI President Kristian M. Mineau continued warning last week of the dangers and complaining about a rushed and closed process that produced the legislation.

“Once again with its secretive crafting of the predatory gambling bill, Beacon Hill is showing that it caters to well-funded special interest groups to the detriment of hard-working families,” Mr. Mineau said.

“Many people rightly talk about the organized criminal corruption that comes with legalized predatory gaming” he said. “A far more silent problem is the corruption of the family,” with gambling often contributing to home foreclosures, divorce, domestic abuse and suicide, he argued.

Unlike the governor’s plan that would have put casinos in three regions of the state, the House plan would allow casinos to be proposed in a competitive bidding process without restrictions on where the developments, valued at a minimum of $500 million each, would be sited.

While no developers have so far indicated sites in the immediate Worcester area as possible locations for a casino, proposals are expected for Boston, Palmer, Marlboro, Middleboro, Milford and possibly New Bedford. State Rep. Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn, said a proposal for a casino in the Worcester area is not out of the question once the planned bidding process begins.

Even without a local proposal in Worcester, passage of the bill could result in casino operations built in nearby Palmer along Route 20 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, or at sites being considered along Interstate 495 in Milford and in the Marlboro area.

Jeffrey E. Hartmann is chief operating officer of Mohegan Sun Tribal Gaming Authority, which operates the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut and wants to build a casino in Palmer with direct access from a Turnpike exit. He said the Worcester area would be impacted by a Palmer resort operation.

The development, he said, would include a 600-room hotel, retail shops and restaurants under the Mohegan Sun brand. “Number one, you will have to reach out to area residents for jobs,” he said of local hiring prospects, while the casino would also become a major new customer for local paper, beverage, food and other products and services. “The economic benefit will definitely touch areas like Worcester,”

Mr. Hartmann said. With the extended recession, prospects of new track and casino jobs and $300 million to $600 million in new state revenues have proven enough to turn around scores of House votes.

Those votes include many from Central Massachusetts that opposed casinos when the House rejected the three casino plan on a 108-46 vote two years ago. State Rep. Vincent A. Pedone, who was among those who voted to keep out the casino culture then, said last week he has changed his mind.

“I’m flipping,” the Worcester Democrat acknowledged after the caucus Thursday, saying the economic times and shift in gambling availability are among his reasons to support the racino/casino plan now.

He said Mr. DeLeo’s projections for new jobs and state revenues “are conservative” and while there are clearly negative impacts from gaming, he believes they can be mitigated with funding to treat gambling addictions and incentives in the legislation to force casino operators to limit casino impacts on local restaurants and theaters.

Moreover, he said, gambling is more available than ever, not only from nearby Connecticut casinos, but also in the form of online poker and other games. “Every home with a computer can be a mini-casino,” he said. Online gambling can also be done on a cell phone.

Meanwhile he said, “People stand in lines at the Honey Farms now, scratching tickets.” State Rep. James J. O’Day, D-West Boylston, said he is backing the plan even though he sees social harm in its wake. “I don’t think we can turn up our nose at the number of jobs it is going to generate,” he said. With so many jobless across the state many lawmakers are taking a different stance this time around, he said. “It is a totally different scenario,” Mr. O’Day said.

House leaders are pushing for a two-thirds majority to overcome any possible veto of slots at the tracks by the governor, he said. “It strengthens their hand. I think leadership would feel a lot more comfortable knowing that they had that kind of support behind the bill.” He said he is pushing for assurances that adequate funds will be set aside to treat gambling addictions.

Mr. Frost said while there may be concern that a large resort casino in Palmer could draw on the local customer base for restaurants and entertainment, it could also provide opportunities for cross marketing with area attractions and hotels to bring more visitors to places such as Auburn and Sturbridge.

After some initial confusion about the potential state revenues, House leaders said last week they estimate all the racinos and casinos would produce in excess of $300 million in new state revenue each year.

House Economic Development and Emerging Technology Chairman Brian S. Dempsey, D-Haverhill, said at a press conference last week that it would bring in between $1.4 billion and $1.9 billion annually in new revenues for the commonwealth.

While that statement went uncorrected at the press conference, Mr. Dempsey said when questioned later that he was referring to the gross gambling revenue that would go to the casinos.

The state would tax slot machines at the tracks at a 40 percent rate and gambling revenue at the casinos for slots and table games at a rate of 25 percent.

Mr. Hartmann said that compares favorably for the state to casino taxes in Connecticut, which taxes slot revenues at 25 percent, and imposes no tax on revenues from table games at the tribal casinos.

He said the Palmer location would give his company the chance to draw customers from Massachusetts as well as Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTES: Is Hartmann right? Can a casino in Palmer make the Mohegan Tribe money? Is it another Pocono Downs? The casino would only be 55 miles from the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. Who is really taking the risk of Palmer, the Mohegan Tribe (represented by the MTGA) or the executives in charge of gaming at the Mohegan Sun? How much could this cost the Mohegan Tribe? Where will the MTGA get the funds for a casino in Palmer? Will the MTGA look for a partner in the Palmer project? What do you think?

THE GREEN MARBLE TABLE

Years ago, when I was a boy, my parents took me to the Vanderbilt estate (mansion), in Centerport, New York, In my adult life, I have visited mansions through out the United States.

With that in mind, I recently visited the Elms, 367 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, Rhode Island. The mansion was built between 1899 and 1901. The architect was Horace Trumbauer.

The mansion was built for coal baron, Edward Julius Berwind, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Berwind was considered one of the 59 most influential Americans at the time.

The house is Classical Revival design and was built during the Guilded Age at a cost of $1.5 Million ($1,500,000.00). It was one of the first houses to be fully built that was totally electrified at the time. Like all mansions built in Newport, it was considered by the wealthy as a "Summer Cottage." It would normally be occupied for about eight (8) weeks every summer (the social season).

During the week, Mr. Berwind would spend his time at his company headquarters in New York City.. His wife Mrs. Sarah "Minnie" Berwind would stay at the mansion. Mr. Berwind would visit the Elms on weekends. The couple had no children.

When you enter through the main entrance (3 pairs of double doors) you see two marble spiral staircases leading to the second level. On the first floor is a conservatory (room made like a garden on the southwest corner). On one of the interior walls has arched mirrored doors, that match the arched doors leading out of the room to the outside of the house. A great idea, it reflects light and makes the room look larger.

On the second floor, is the family room, a family dining room and the bedrooms for the mansions occupants (Mr. Berwind, Mrs. Berwind and Julia Bewind (Mr. Berwind's sister). Julia's (the sister's) bedroom was on the south east corner. Mrs. Sarah Berwind's bedroom was on the South west corner of the house, with Mr. Berwind's bedroom connected to Mrs. Berwinds bedroom on the west side of the mansion.

On the other end of the second floor were other bedrooms for other members of their families.

Quests of the Berwinds, stayed in three (3) quest houses across the street. The quest houses had no kitchens or dining rooms, as the quests were expected to eat at the mansion.

In 1922, Sarah "Minnie" Berwind died. Mr. Berwind, invited his sister Julia Berwind to stay at the mansion, so the family could be represented during the summer social scene. In 1936, Mr. Edward Berwind died, leaving the estate to his sister, Ms. Julia Berwind. Ms. Julia Berwind died in 1961 leaving the mansion to her nephew. At the time of Ms. Berwind's death, the mansion had a staff of 40 people. The mansion never had an electric washing machine or electric clothes dryer installed.

Outside the mansion, was a carriage house, which later on was used for a garage for automobiles. Inside the garage house, is a turntable to turn the cars around. There are also two (2) magnificent gazebos.

The nephew and the family auctioned off the contents of the mansion and sold the mansion to a company, that planned to tear down the mansion and put something else up. The Preservation Society of Newport County was able to purchase and preserve the building.

Brokenwing, what about the GREEN TABLE? It seems that the green table, which is at the top of the winding stairs on the second floor, was made out a solid slab of green marble. It is about five (5) feet wide and about ten (10) feet long. It weighs about 5,000 pounds. It was auctioned off, but it couldn't be moved. How did it get there? It was lifted into place with a crane before the third floor (servants quarters) was put on. On the second floor is a painting that was secured to the ceiling. It too, was sold at auction, and couldn't be removed from the building.

The point of the story, is that a great deal of planning went into the building of this mansion. The furniture was built for the mansion, in fact some interior pieces were taken from other mansions in Europe. Putting the green marble table in place took a great deal of planning. Funds were put in place to secure that the building would be completed.

Could you imagine the Mohegan Tribal Government ever attempting such a project? Would the MTGA have built the mansion and forget to install the Green marble table ? Would they have figured it out? What about the ceiling painting?

Can they build a casino inside a budget? Didn't the Sky Casino and hotel cost $1.2 Billion when in the beginning the projected cost was $800 Million? HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAS THE PRESENT AND PAST TRIBAL COUNCILS SPENT TO PRODUCE NEGATIVE RESULTS?

What about the "WHITE ELEPHANT" (the Mohegan Tribal Government Community Center), that no one seems to want? Were the funds secured for the construction of the government community center? What about Pocono Downs? What about a projected casino in Palmer, Massachusetts? What about the projects in Wisconsin and the State of Washington?

DO YOU THINK THE MTGA COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT THE GREEN MARBLE TABLE OR THE PAINTING ON THE CEILING? What do you think?

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: If you get the chance, visit the Elms and see the Green Marble Table. What do you think?

THESE ARE THE OPINIONS, IDEAS AND FACTS OF BROKENWING.

THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL RESULTS

Uncasville, Connecticut, August 30, 2009.......according to the Feather News, the Tribal Council election was won by Lynn Malerba, Bruce "Two Dogs" Bozsum, James Gessner, William Quidgeon, and newcomer Kathy Regan-Pyne.

The top voter getter was Lynn Malerba. Will she now become the new Mohegan Tribal Council Chairman?

Did the Mohegan Tribe, when they voted, get it right? Are we (the Mohegan Tribe) in for more years of mismanagement?

Look what is happening at the Mashantucket Pequots with an estimated debt of about $2.4 Billion. What is going to happen to the Mohegans with a debt estimated at $1.6 Billion?

We wish Kathy Regan-Pyne well, in her new position. Good Job.

Hopefully, the Mohegan Tribe voted right. Only time will tell. We wish the winners, our congratulations. Hopefully things will turn out okay, for the Mohegan Tribe.

Four more years of the present management? Is it a good or bad thing? What do you think?

THESE ARE THE OPINIONS OF BROKENWING.