Casino news source: Capital 9 News - http://www.capitalnews9.com/
Casino in the future for Western Mass?
Updated: 1/30/2007 10:54 PM
By: Karen Honikel
Governor Deval Patrick is anteing up casinos in Western Massachusetts as a possible way to cut state deficit. And he has his Housing and Economic Development Secretary looking into to the impact they would have on the state finances.
Local resident Amber DeMarco said she is glad the new Governor is exploring the plan.
"People are traveling to New York and Connecticut all the time so why not have it here,” North Adams resident Amber DeMarco said.
DeMarco isn't the only one in the Bay State who is hoping for more places to gamble. A new UMass Dartmouth Center study shows that more than 50 percent of residents are in favor of casinos.
The study suggests that Western Mass would be the best place for the facility. But some Adams town officials are worried the quick financial fix could deal a bad hand to small businesses.
"You ever see a mall help a small community,” asks Adams Selectman Joe Dean. ”It would be like putting a mall in this area if you did that. It would suck every small business downtown. It's not going to get any revenue from the casino."
DeMarco said if the casino was well thought out with a lot of planning it could indeed help small businesses.
“Small businesses, as long as they, whatever casino it is that wants to come here and doesn't add in something that's going to take away from small businesses that would be something to look at," said DeMarco.
Pittsfield resident, Arline Gilbert moved to Western Massachusetts to get back to nature. She said a casino would change all that and worries about it may bring crime.
"I moved up here for quiet simple life,” Gilbert said. “Not involved in any kind of gambling program."
According to the UMass Dartmouth study Bay State residents spent more than $800 million on gambling in 2004.
Patrick is also considering forming a group to study the impact casinos have had on other states. |
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