The Casino Lobby.
By Jim Conley • Feb 14th, 2008 • Email This Post to a Friend •
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I am not sure I heard this right, but during his budget presentation on Tuesday Brookline Town Administrator Richard Kelliher said that the local aid revenue (derived from the State) in his 2009 budget includes the proceeds from Governor Patrick’s plans to license casinos.
If the casinos fail to materialize, said Kelliher, we’ll be facing another hole of roughly $500 thousand. So, the plan is for our town administrators to lobby for passage of the casino licenses.
What the..?
First of all, I am a bit stunned to think that the town is booking income from casino revenue, given the probabilities of the Governor’s plan passing - not good. Second, we don’t pay our town administrators to lobby the Legislature - especially on behalf of casinos.
I hope a casino is never built in Massachusetts. Ever. They are a bloodsucking scourge on society. Is there any other business we would let operate where the probabilities of profiting are fixed against the majority of its consumers? And when it looks like a consumer might beat the house, the consumer is escorted from the premises. Is that what our town administrators are lobbying for?
No thanks.
Jim Conley is publisher of On Brookline.
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ROLLING THE DICE?
Craps? Snake-eyes? But maybe when construction starts on the St. Aidan’s project some arrowheads may mysteriously appear along with some other artifacts, crying out for a casino at that site. BINGO! Two problems solved. Who needs an override with miracles.