Flashback to Speaker DiMasi – Marriage equality, progressive leaning budgets – not necessarily in structure (taxation, etc) but in funding priorities and a big fat NO to “Casino Culture” for the Commonwealth. His reticence to acquiesce to the sharks circling the Commonwealth as the last virgin slot market got him a whacked and Bobby “Slots” DeLeo steps in. Governor Patrick was given the tip that to be elected Governor he needed to bring this to the fore after he got elected. His inaugural hosts were in the back-rooms dreaming of counting the “take” even while the parties shimmered! Remember the inaugural balls? Seems like a different lifetime. I digress.
Media and journalism are half-the-man they used to be…..literally and figuratively. One Boston Globe journalist told me in 2009 that they used to have about five reporters covering the casino/predatory gambling story but now (then….and it hasn’t gotten any better in the Biz) they had 1-2 reporters on it. MSM laid-down on the slots/casinos matter as they drank the “inevitability kool-aid.”
Casino Menino – arguably Boston’s most powerful mayor in recent times has served the city he loves like a work horse at Suffolk Downs. Always there, always plugging. As the sun is setting on his storied time as the CEO of the fairest and most distinguished of United States cities (must see Jimmy Tingle – we got it all here!), we see the mayor’s legacy eroding into that of being the guy who bull-dogged casinos into the heart of America’s history.
We ALL know that there would be no slots coming to the Commonwealth if Casino Menino, Bobby “slots” DeLeo, Therese and Deval hadn’t silenced almost all the opposition with the sheer power of their offices. Lots and lots of people are hired and paid by the Commonwealth. Lots and lots of businesses provide services for the Commonwealth. Lots and lots of citizens and officials want to please elected leaders….who have concentrated and significant powers. Too concentrated and too powerful for this kid who still believes democracy – even representative democracy – is a sacred form of government formed and sustained by self-rule.
The legislature under the direction of the bosses fell lock-step into line with casinos to the extent that they even crafted a devious way to manipulate referendum by allowing ward based voting for the largest cities in the Commonwealth (wink Boston.) Worcester wasn’t really on the map…..this whole exercise in shifting wealth has been for the boys at Suffolk Downs. With a handshake to the Springfield sharks and a token nod to Cedric (Cromwell) for a Native American tribe. And just to keep folks quiet, slots for tracks and a sliver of funding for a dozen other groups that needed hush money.
Notice, I said they silenced almost all the opposition? Not all.
The wonderful and amazing thing about this experiment we refer to as democracy is that there have always been and always will be people who stand up and speak their truth.
One man is standing up in Boston speaking “truth to power” and he has many supporters. That is Bill Walczak who gleaned some really positive words from Adrian Walker in today’s Globe which followed his scathing if not overdue criticism of the Casino Menino process. It’s true!
Walczak has drafted a Change.org petition to hold Boston leaders accountable for a community wide/city wide referendum on casinos.
A casino executive from Spectrum Gaming stated in testimony, “casinos change everything.” All voters should have a right to their ballot for issues that impact them.
Go to the petition and check it out here. And seriously, check out Walczak’s positions – this guy is bright.
Then, sign up to help get signatures to place the slots/casino matter to a vote on the 2014 ballot at Repeal The Casino Deal.
It’s time to elect ‘THINKERS’ to office instead of the mindless BobbleHeads who simple follow-the-leader or the lobbyists!
The ‘culture’ [or lack thereof] on Beacon Hill and around the Commonwealth needs to change!
How is it that anyone can support casinos?
Where do people think the “billions of dollars” of revenue they make come from? Casinos don’t just magically create money. It’s just a simple way to funnel money out of an economy: money that would have spent on other Massachusetts businesses is instead spent at the casino. Jobs are lost when that money dries up. This is not one of those complicated issues.
Seriously, who are the people who sit down to make policy and decide their best idea is to bring in a business that exports hundreds of millions of dollars out of our state every year?