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WEST WARWICK - Rhode Islanders for Jobs and Tax Relief (RIJTR) has expressed the belief that opposition to the proposed casino in West Warwick is fading. Those who oppose the casino say their momentum is just starting.
Earlier this week, the Warwick City Council and the Coventry Town Council both failed to pass anti-casino resolutions.
"We couldn't be more pleased that as voters who crave more and better jobs and tax relief increasingly support the Narragansett Indian Casino, that political opposition to the project has begun to fade," Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said in a press release.
"I believe that it is a strong indication that the members of both of those governing bodies determined that this vote on Nov. 7 is up to the people," said Clare Eckert, communications director for RIJTR.
She said the group's goal has been to provide information so that the voters can make up their own minds.
"On Nov. 7, it's important to us that people vote yes on Question 1 so that 3,800 jobs can be created, we can implement the $144 in property tax relief, and we can build and invest in this economy over $1 billion with no tax incentives, to really be the engine behind economic development in the state," said Eckert. "The important thing is that we deliver the right information and work with the facts."
Thomas K. Jones, West Warwick Citizens Against the Casino vice-president, disagreed that the right information is being provided by RIJTR. He said when people receive information about the casino it is called the Narragansett Indian Casino with no mention of Harrah's Entertainment Inc.
"It's misleading the people throughout the state. Again Harrah's is using the Indians up front and taking a seat way back and everybody is brainwashed into thinking that it is a Narragansett Indian Casino," said Jones. "All the literature says Narragansett Indian Casino."
Jones said the literature states how much property tax relief there will be yet there is no final deal with the town.
"We do not even have the agreement as to what the involvement of the Narragansett Indians is with the Harrah's casino," said Jones.
Eckert said RIJTR wants to make sure it is out in the community and that is why it organized an effort to be at every polling place throughout the state during Tuesday's primary election. Eckert said the people at the polling places were paid staff along with some volunteers.
"People that vote on primary day are good voters. They go out and vote and we have realized that over the years, historically. Always our goal is to deliver information and that is what we did," she said. "We are so many weeks away from that vote and our goal is to deliver the information and be available and grow this campaign."
Lewis Pryeor, a candidate for the House of Representative Dist. 25 seat, was at a West Warwick polling place to vote. When he was done, he said, he got into a conversation with one of the RIJTR workers who is very active with the cause. The worker told Pryeor he was being paid $150 to be at the polling place with the information.
"When I met with him I found that he is very sincere and Chief Sachem is very sincere in believing that this is the best thing for the area. I believe that they are both good people and that they really do believe that this will benefit West Warwick and the Indian tribe," said Pryeor. "But when you see this and think $150 a person, and we see that the general assembly did not go out to bid on this issue, somebody is going to profit from it a lot more than either the town of West Warwick or the tribe. And somebody is going to make out a lot more that they are willing to give so much away."
Jones said members from his group were at the Greenbush Elementary School polling place along with the workers from RIJTR.
"The reception we received at Greenbush School was more than 4 to 1 against the casino. We were handing out our information that we got from Save Our State and they were handing out their brochures, too," he said.
West Warwick Town Clerk David Clayton said Tuesday that board of canvassers workers had marked lines at the 50-foot legal distance for campaigning at a polling place in an effort to minimize complaints about any groups that might be campaigning during the primary election.
Eckert said the workers at the polls received instructions before they went to the polls.
"This campaign is a grass-roots campaign. It really is from the people," said Eckert. "We didn't get any complaints."
She said the group's support is growing statewide.
"The last poll showed that we increased our percentage up to 49 percent," said Eckert.
Jones said he heard about the poll results but doesn't believe that is a reflection of a decrease in the opposition.
"The fact is the last poll shows people are 49 percent in favor, 41 percent against, and 8 percent undecided. They are spending $87,000 a day and yet we are in the mix of the race and we haven't started spending yet," he said.
SOS has received $500,000 each from Newport Grand and Lincoln Park along with other contributions from restaurants and the tourism industry, according to Jones.
"I have been advised today by Save Our State that our campaign kickoff is next Thursday. They rented a 4,000-square-foot suite in the AAA building on Route 117. I am very pleased at where the things are moving," said Jones.
Thomas announced the campaign for the casino is going on the road statewide with a bus tour beginning today and going through Oct. 21. A 40-foot graphically designed "Support the Narragansett Indian Casino - Vote Yes on Question 1" mobile bus will bring Chief Thomas and local community and business leaders to cities and towns across Rhode Island.
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