Casino news from http://www.projo.com/
Avid newspaper readers will remember hearing the other day that Harrah's Entertainment has spent $2.85 million thus far to push for a West Warwick casino. Last month alone, the Las Vegas-based casino company spent $2.7 million.
The bulk of that money -- more than $2.2 million -- was spent on TV, radio and newspaper ads.
We at Political Scene decided it was time to look at some of the smaller, but more interesting expenditures.
For instance, a report filed with the state Board of Elections shows that former state Rep. Frank A. Montanaro was paid $5,000 last month for "consulting services." Montanaro's father, Frank J. Montanaro , is president of the state AFL-CIO, a big supporter of the casino.
The filing also shows that Harrah's knows how to celebrate in style.
On June 1, the day the Senate approved the casino question, Harrah's threw a celebratory meal at the Capital Grille for its "team members." Cost: $2,335.22.
Across town on Federal Hill, $5,507.87 was spent for Rhode Island team members at Renaissance Restaurant.
Harrah's spent money on more than meals.
Somebody -- the report doesn't say who -- made a lot of very expensive phone calls on June 7. The report shows $185.73 worth of calls billed on that date from Verizon's in-flight Airfone service. That night, the West Warwick Town Council held a meeting regarding negotiations with Harrah's over a host-community agreement. An anti-casino group's rally that night also drew Harrah's supporters.
Speaking of supporters, Harrah's had a good turnout at a July 20 event to open its West Warwick headquarters. To get some of the seniors there, the company spent $400 to bus them to and from the event.
The casino opponents won't file their next report for a month, but as the spending spree continues on both sides, we at Political Scene will continue to keep you posted.
Who's who
Sometimes we all need to stop, step back and read a bit of history to remember just how small and interconnected this state is.
Last week's decision by a federal judge allowing the casino question on the ballot gave us a chance to play another round of who's who in Rhode Island.
The players this time: U.S. District Judge William E. Smith , who issued the decision, and former West Warwick Mayor J. Michael Levesque , who now works for Harrah's.
Levesque was not directly involved in the legal fight, but we dusted off our history books to refresh your memories about his past connection to Smith.
Back in the early 1990s when Levesque was mayor, he hired Smith to be West Warwick's labor lawyer. Smith eventually went on to be the town moderator and was later appointed West Warwick's municipal court judge by the Town Council, a post he held for five years. Smith also spent seven years as Warwick city solicitor during the tenure of then-Mayor Lincoln D. Chafee Mixed review for Underdog
The crew of Underdog is done filming in Rhode Island, but the rhetoric over its month-long use of the State House isn't over.
The other week Governor Carcieri said that while he likes to see filming here, the crew of the Walt Disney Pictures movie went a bit far when it flew the fictional Capitol City flag over the State House instead of the Rhode Island flag. He also commented on how the crew essentially took over the State House's public spaces. "I'm supportive of the filming that we're doing, but I think in the future what we do inside this building, I want to look at a lot more closely," Carcieri told Political Scene at the time. Now House Speaker Now House Speaker William J. Murphy , D-West Warwick, and Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano , D-North Providence, have weighed in on the Underdog production.
"Your entire production team was extremely professional and courteous. We were very happy to have you here, and are eagerly anticipating the release of this family-oriented motion picture next year," the leaders wrote to Jerry Ketcham, senior vice president for motion picture productions at Disney.
"We extend an open invitation to you and Walt Disney Pictures to utilize the Rhode Island State House and any other state facility for your productions," they wrote. "Walt Disney Pictures has provided a major boost to our state's economy, for which we are grateful."
The leaders also sent a letter to the producers of the Showtime series Brotherhood, thanking them and looking forward to having a second season filmed in Rhode Island.
"We would like to continue to forge a partnership with the television and motion picture industry, which has provided a major boost to our state's economy," they wrote.
So how much of a benefit -- if any -- were the productions to the state?
It's hard to say. The Underdog crew spend millions of dollars here, but the picture also got substantial tax breaks thanks to a law pushed last year by Murphy and Montalbano.
The state's film office has yet to provide financial data showing that Underdog or any other production that got the tax break has provided a net benefit to Rhode Island taxpayers.
Asked to respond to the letter, Carcieri's spokesman Jeff Neal said: "The governor would also welcome film producers to use the State House for future productions, but he wants to make sure that the dignity of the State House is preserved as part of that effort."
DiOrio scores island win
Ronald DiOrio , the former president of the National Education Association/Rhode Island who was acquitted of pension fraud charges in 1999, last week won a seat on the Board of Selectmen in the Martha's Vineyard town of Oak Bluffs.
DiOrio, now co-owner of a crafts gallery and president of Habitat for Humanity of Martha's Vineyard, received 486 votes, topping three other candidates in Tuesday's election, according to the Martha's Vineyard Times.
The newspaper said DiOrio was the only candidate not born and raised in Oak Bluffs. He has owned property on the island since the 1970s and been a full-time resident since 1994, according to the newspaper.
The article quoted DiOrio as saying, "I think the message was clear throughout the campaign that I am a firm believer in doing both short- and long-term planning. And I think that resonated with the voters."
Leading up to the election, articles in the Martha's Vineyard Times and the Martha's Vineyard Gazette did not mention that DiOrio and the teachers union's former executive director were indicted in 1995. The two men were accused of misrepresenting DiOrio's employment status in 1988 and 1989 to enable DiOrio to begin collecting a $41,000 state pension in 1990.
In July 1999, then-Superior Court Judge John F. Sheehan said he had "grave suspicions" but pronounced DiOrio not guilty of pension fraud.
Soares to be honored
A testimonial dinner will be held Aug. 26 for David Soares , a Cape Verdean native and former Pawtucket resident who was elected district attorney in Albany County, N.Y., in 2004.
Soares became that region's first African-American district attorney by beating the incumbent, Paul Clyne, in a Democratic primary and then defeating a Republican candidate by nearly 16,000 votes.
In doing so, Soares shocked the political establishment that had backed Clyne, and he broke new ground by making reform of the draconian Rockefeller drug laws the centerpiece of his campaign.
"This was truly a momentous victory for David as a Cape Verdean and as a man of color," the dinner's organizing committee said in a news release. "In the entire United States, there are less than five district attorneys of African descent. Prior to David's phenomenal victory, no known Cape Verdean had ever been elected as a district attorney since the Cape Verdeans arrived on the shores of North America more than 200 years ago."
A Cape Verdean online portal, www.forcv.com, and Friends of David Soares are organizing the recognition dinner, which will take place at the Portuguese Social Club, 131 School St., Pawtucket.
The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner begins at 8. Organizers are asking people to make reservations and buy tickets by Aug. 20. Tickets are $30 for one or $50 for a couple. To buy tickets, send checks to Friends of David Soares at 6 Lake Drive, North Providence, RI 02904. For more information, call David Barros at (401) 339-7539.
|
|
World Casino Directory 
Gambling Forums 
