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The mood was nothing if not celebratory last evening in Phenix as a new campaign office was opened for the Rhode Islanders for Jobs and Tax Relief.
At promptly 5 p.m., the smell of cooking hot dogs and hamburgers wafted through the air as promised as the center threw what it called an "old-fashioned West Warwick cookout," offering volunteers and casino supporters a place to gather and celebrate what the organization sees as an accomplishment for spreading its local presence. According to a release earlier this week from spokesman Jonathan M. Romano, the group is dedicated to "gaining fairness for the Narragansett Indian Tribe" as well as garnering support for the increased jobs and potential tax relief that it contends could be offered should the Nov. 1 question pass, allowing a Harrah's casino to be located in West Warwick.
"We're pretty excited," said Mike Levesque, former mayor of West Warwick and long-time casino supporter.
"We've got a good turnout. This is really a celebration for both the town and tribe. We're on the 1-yard line and this is the final push to get over the goal line. The question is finally on the ballot and the people have gained the right to decide."
Also present was David Satz, vice president of government relations and development for Harrah's, who said he was excited to see the turnout and to see the new headquarters receive its grand opening, before turning comment over to Romano.
"It's just great ... anytime you can get an outpouring of support, it's clearly evident that all these supporters are here celebrating the official opening of the office and the campaign," said Romano, who pointed out that volunteers were canvassing the crowd taking names and addresses of those offering pledges of support, including those who would like to begin volunteering.
After the line for the food had dwindled a bit and the band that the organization had hired took a break from its booming brass strains playing familiar tunes, four speakers addressed the crowd, in which many were wearing "Keep it in RI" t-shirts that referred to the desire of casino supporters to see revenues from casino gambling stay in Rhode Island as opposed to filtering into Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Randy Noka, the first councilman for the Narragansett Tribe, was the first to offer his remarks, stating simply that the tribe "was not going anywhere," and that it would "see this through for a successful vote in November."
"Our determination will not be swayed in any way," said Noka.
State Rep. Timothy A. Williamson (D-West Warwick) was the next to speak. Williamson is a long-time casino supporter and sponsor of the bill that put the casino question on the Nov. 1 ballot. Williamson detailed the long and often arduous legal battle that the casino proponents had fought in order to get the question on the ballot to be decided by the people of the state. The only two constants throughout that battle, said Williamson, have been the tribe and West Warwick.
"I don't want you to vote yes, I just want you to have the opportunity to vote," he said, referring to the fact that Nov. 1 would mark the first time in eight years that the issue would be put to a public vote as opposed to simply a higher judicial body, such as the state supreme court.
"The state of Rhode Island has turned its back on West Warwick ... now, we'll help ourselves ... don't give up the fight," he said, giving nods to both Harrah's and the Narragansetts.
After a brief hello from Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, town council president John Flynn welcomed supporters on behalf of himself and council members Ed Giroux and Jeanne-Marie DiMasi, vocal proponents of the casino.
"We're getting close," he said.
"On election day, everyone is equal," he concluded, referring to the power of each person to voice an opinion at the polls. |
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