At what point can we lose our ability to be shocked and surprised by the casino debate, shrouded in back room deals, specials interest giveways and revolving door between Patrick administration and casino/lobbyist industry?
The latest is the Governor’s Economic Development Chief , Greg Bialecki, who has just been outed by the Boston Globe, “Casino opponents blasts cozy relationship Between state officials and gaming industry.
His deep involvement in shilling for casinos, his lack of interest in any negative economic facts or independent assessments is in contradiction to his position of objective economic development advisor. Bialecki who as a public servant is required to supply an unbiased evaluation for the governor and legislature on the economic development merits of expanding gambling – own $17,000 of stock in casino companies who are interested in the legislation he is recommending. You can not serve to masters!
The Governor and Legislature have repeatedly rejected an independent cost/benefit analysis now find themselves relying heavily on the recommendations of an industry stock holder. Independent studies like the US Department of Commerce that estimates: for every $1 million diverted in Massachusetts casino spending, Massachusetts loses 8.2 jobs.
If you haven’t already become immune to shock by one revelation after another, call your legislator and then call the Governor’s office: 617.725.4005.
the changing tide in the comments following these articles?
Four and a half years ago when this became a big issue, if there was a an article about casinos, the commentors where all “Whoo hoo! Bring ’em on!” and gambling opponents were nothing but a bunch of buzz kills. It was all-casino all the time.
But in the last year the comments to these articles, and even op-eds, have really trended toward the negative, accusing Beacon Hill of corruption, patronage, deceit, special interest giveaways, back room deals, influence peddling, lack of due diligence and general stupidity.
Interesting.
…the point size in this diary is so tiny?
I did it, I would know how to undue.
The corruption, sleaze and scandals have started Gladys, and the future has become obvious, but nobody seems to know how to walk it back.
… meaning back in Middleboro in 2007, we became aware of how artificially rushed the casino process was, and soon realized that the reason for it was that if people really had time to really understand the impacts, they would never go for it. Less than a month after the town voted to approve an agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag, their Chairman Glenn Marshall was indicted. I wonder who’ll be first at the State level.
This reminds me of the infamous Gerard T. Indelicato.
The Massachusetts Teachers Association supported Michael Dukakis in his comeback against Ed King in 1982. After the Dukakis win in the election (which was correctly characterized in the press as a contest for “the soul of the Democratic party”), the immediate past president of the MTA, Carol Doherty, proposed a state-funded teacher center. The remarkable thing about this proposal was that the center would be designed and run by teachers for teachers — not by school superintendents or business executives or ed school functionaries.
This proposal, which, believe me, would have been a breath of fresh air and which would have consolidated teacher support for a progressive agenda in the Democratic party, was immediately shot down by Indelicato, who was the education adviser to Dukakis. Indelicato soon after became the president of Bridgewater State College and shortly after that went to jail on a slew of state and federal charges involving embezzlement, tax evasion, and forgery.
“A Patrick shill” (Director of Housing and Economic Development, Greg Bialecki) confirmed that his investment advisor in 2010 purchased $17,000 in stock in “casinos” ( a couple of national companies that “expressed an interest in building casinos in Massachusetts”, which he did not pick, and which he subsequently sold, and which represent a small percentage of his portfolio). This is “flat-out terrible”? Am I “immune to shock”?
Mercy! I believe I have the vapors!
I thought we were doing reality based commentary here on the BMG Front Page.
I’m not a big fan of gambling, but I’ll lay 2 to 1 that this revelation has zero impact on the future of casinos in Massachusetts.
Hmmm…
Duh…
Perhaps some reality-based perspective on Bialecki would explain what may appear to be unnecessary harshness regarding his actions. Some of my colleagues met with Bialecki about a month ago. They were very disappointed in what he had to say, or rather, the lack of what he had to say. Here is a letter one of them, John Dudley, wrote to the Governor regarding that meeting:
This is from another colleague at the meeting, Tom Larkin, president of United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts:
For the record, I was also invited to this meeting, but having met Bialecki in 2009, I already knew he had nothing to offer. Bialecki isn’t just a guy on the street, he’s our State’s Economic Development guy. I think we should all be concerned that evangelizes casino benefits yet draws a blank on impacts, all while knowingly holding onto stock from companies that want to do business in Mass.
for how much money? Was it $1000?
BTW this is not a bill about games of chance and wagering on sports, its about slot machines. Bringing in a predatory industry that requires the citizens of the Commonwealth lose billions in order for a few to rake in billions.
It is a direct conflict for public officials charged with providing for the public welfare to be promoting the opposite. To find, one after another of the casino shills with ties to the industry adds to the perception of exploitation for profit.
OK, my experience here is limited, but unless we’re talking about a blind trust, I thought that an advisor had to get acknowledgement from a client before pulling off any trade. At least that’s been the way I’ve seen it work.
Thank you Governor. Thank you Mr Speaker. They learned nothing from the PA experience, except that there are tremendous opportunities for profits if you know who the inside players are.
yet how certain he is of it when it comes to casinos, he recently justified giving special treatment to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to a delegation of legislators from the South Shore by saying:
Listen, I realize that the public doesn’t know very much about Indian gaming law or land in trust issues, but (insert Pee Wee Herman laugh) so does the Governor and Bialecki.
Meaning it’s a convenient excuse when trying to blame the urgent need for casinos on Indian Tribes, and for giving a certain tribe a competitive advantage.
Still, the statement is patently untrue. And for a whole lot of reasons.
Frankly, if some regular folks from the South Shore can wade through the manure of federal regulations to get to the truth, so can Bialecki and the other folks on Beacon Hill… unless for some reason they don’t want to.