Public, Reps Discuss Plans for MetroWest Casino
Could a nearby casino complex impact Westborough?
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Editor's note: The construction of a casino in MetroWest has potential to impact surrounding communities. Westborough, at the crossroads of Routes 9, 495 and 90 is likely to see an increase in traffic. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Public discussions are underway.
Residents from the MetroWest area met at Adams Middle School in Holliston Thursday night to air concerns and have questions answered as the construction of large resort casinos in Massachusetts hurdles toward reality.
Holliston selectmen Chairman Jay Marsden urged area residents to avoid a mindset of uncompromising resistance toward a casino, saying that towns should be willing to work with developers and state officials.
Massachusetts lawmakers passed legislation in November allowing for construction of resort casinos in the state, leading to a proposal of such a facility on the border of Milford and Holliston.
"The idea is that we should put ourselves in a position where we would have a voice throughout the process," Marsden said.
A casino in the state will not open for 3 to 4 years, State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, said while outlining some of the steps Massachusetts lawmakers are taking to reduce damage to communities.
"We want to keep local businesses strong and viable," Spilka said.
Taxes on gambling revenue will add to a fund aimed at mitigating a casino's impact on the communities surrounding its host town, according to Spilka. The fund will help address issues such as increased traffic and crime that could come with a gambling facility.
During the question and answer portion of the meeting, area residents spoke out against the casino and asked how to stop it from being implemented.
John Pibeiro, a Winthrop resident, asked the meeting's attendees to sign a petition to repeal November's legislation that permits casino gambling in the state.
"Why would you ever want something that requires mitigation?" Pibeiro asked.
"If in two years our property value tanks, what are we supposed to do?" Steve Guerrera, a Holliston resident asked.
State Rep. Carolyn Dykema, D-Holliston, who represents a portion of Westborough, asked residents to stay on top of the issues and use their voices to influence debate.
"A good outcome of this meeting would be for you all to realize how important your voices are," Dykema said.
Paula Skog
4:37 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
How about one on the grounds of the Westborough State Hospital? Wouldn't that be fun?
Resident
2:39 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
With all of the shops bailing out of Westborough, and more rumored to be leaving, a casino on the Westborough State Hospital grounds may bring in the revenues this town will need to keep residential property taxes at bay. As for housing values, I'm not sure a casino would have impact like we saw from the big bank crisis we had in 08!
Andy Koenigsberg
9:27 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Oh ya, I am right there with you - build it with access from Lyman Street a road that cannot handle the traffic, from a very poorly designed intersection from Route 9, or from the Simarano exit on 495, which dumps on to 2 more roads with poor volume capability. Then there are the "historic" buildings on the site that cannot be torn down. Great site, great site.
Michael John McCann
12:43 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
They want the big ones here in Florida. I have been studying the math. I would like to report that they are actually in the red. For every dollar they bring in the cost will be 3 dollars loss to the surrounding areas. How and why? People eat there, sleep there, drink there and gamble there. They stop going to local places. They usually hire outside people. Only a very few already very rich people will make any money. Taxes are included in this math.
My opinion here and there is simple. I want slot machines in every restaurant, every bathroom, every business that you wait for a service, or none. Why should 2 or 3 companies own the rights and no one else. Have slots in funeral homes, hospitals, churches, or none. All colleges should have them. Sin every where or none. (did I say that).
Andy Koenigsberg
2:12 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
That proposal sounds like Vegas to me, and that is such a pleasant place to live (not). Casinos were a bad idea from the get-go. They will be a huge burden to any community they will be situated in.
Carol Waite
3:45 pm on Monday, January 30, 2012
I agree, never wanted casinos in our state to begin with. Look at Atlantic City they really helped there. I agree why do you want something that requires a fund for Mitigation. NO NO NO to Casino.