Keller @ Large: Casinos Will Also Destroy Jobs And Revenue
BOSTON (CBS) - One more day to go until Beacon Hill begins the public part of a process that seems destined to finally put Massachusetts into the casino business, and today, the Democrats who call the shots in the House are meeting to hammer out the final details -- behind closed doors, of course.
Listen to Jon's commentary:
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How else do you expect our elected officials to take care of messy business like this?
My goodness, if citizens were exposed to the full details of this too far in advance of this week's vote, they'd never let it happen!
And that just won't do, because, as Senate President Terry Murray admitted in a speech last week reported by the State House News Service, casinos pose a serious threat to existing businesses and cultural institutions.
They are so worried about entertainment venues at the new casinos putting our wealth of community performance centers out of business that they have written into the bill bureaucratic "protections" for local theaters, under which the casinos will peel off a few million to mollify the locals, and supposedly negotiate with them to make sure they don't siphon off too much business.
"The Gaming Commission will ensure a level playing field," Murray insists.
Madame President, with all due respect, whom do you think you're kidding?
Non-gambling entertainment was supposed to be a cornerstone of these alleged "resort casinos," and now you're going to limit the size of their venues, force them to subsidize competitors, and slap their wrists if they try too hard to make money?
That's music to the ears of the gang at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Twin River, etc.
The head of the Hanover Theater in Worcester tells the News Service proposed mitigation payments "might keep me in a job, but it won't keep people coming through the door."
And that says it all.
Yes, the casinos will create jobs and tax revenue.
But in the end, when the jobs and revenue they destroy are counted, will this gamble come up snake eyes?
You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.
