I am posting the invitation below with the hope that some of you will join me in covering this event as citizen journalists. The pro gambling industry is also having an event the same day; I would like to get the word out about this press briefing as well as report on the content online in as many blogs and sites as possible.
Invitation follows:
Good evening all,
I hope you and your colleagues can join us in Boston for a media briefing and release of the Casino Math Workbook for Beacon Hill, Executive Summary on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 (details below).
Pro-predatory gambling representatives are holding a meeting on "responsible gambling" the same day, with the gambling industry and the requisite enablers as spokespersons. Finding methods to make legislators feel better about making bad decisions to legalize expanded predatory gambling, slots/casinos must be their misguided goal.
The NASW-MA and addiction specialists oppose expansion of predatory gambling in the Commonwealth. The solution for pathological gambling is abstinence and behavior change, not legalizing the electronic device (slots) that doubles rates of addiction.
Casino Facts (dot) Org and the Western MA Substance Abuse Providers Association (WMSAPA) recently signed onto USS Mass and they support the call for an independent cost-benefit analysis before legalizing any expanded predatory gambling. I have been asked to speak to WMSAPA at their March meeting. It will be a pleasure to see and work with some of my former colleagues on this issue of mutual concern.
Casino Math Class for Beacon Hill - Media Briefing
What: Media briefing hosted by United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts (www.uss-mass.org) to release an executive summary of a new report refuting the predatory, deceptive and flawed math behind the casino proposal.
Where: Statehouse Room B-1.
When: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 1 p.m.
Who: Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC, United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts (www.uss-mass.org)
Les Bernal, Stop Predatory Gambling (www.stoppredatorygambling.org)
Prof. Robert Goodman, Hampshire College, former director of the US Gambling Research Institute and author of "The Luck Business."
Laura Everett, associate director, Mass. Council of Churches
Contact: Kathleen Conley Norbut, M.Ed., LMHC
President
United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts (USS Mass)
PO Box 376
Palmer, MA 01069
ussmass@gmail.com
(413) 267-3869
I'm not being cute or trying to play on people's cynicism. I really have no idea what the answer is or how to go about finding it. Here's my question:
Is the ancestral land in SE Massachusetts on which the Mashpee Wampanoag are proposing to build a casino qualitatively different from the ancestral land (now water) in Nantucket Sound over which the same tribe is protesting construction of Cape Wind?
The North Andover Democratic Town Committee would like to invite you to a forum on Casino and Expanded Gaming.
The forum will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday (1/28) at North Andover's Stevens Memorial Library (345 Main Street).
Moderated by State Sen. Steven Baddour (D-Methuen), the forum will provide an opportunity for attendees to hear from opponents and supporters of allowing casinos in Massachusetts.
State Sen. Susan Tucker (D-Andover) will speak against casinos, while State Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein (D-Revere) will speak in support.
Each speaker will be given 15 minutes to state their position, followed by 30-45 minutes of the audience being able to ask questions.
This forum is free and open to all who are interested in learning more on this topic. Please visit www.NorthAndoverDems.org for more information.
(Quite the write-up! Hurray for citizen journalism. - promoted by David)
A Non-Lobbyist Spends a Day at the Races Observing the Spilka Hearings on Expanding Gambling in Massachusetts
On Friday, June 26th, less than a month after the State Democratic Party decided to oppose predatory gambling, a mere week after Massachusetts passed an ethics bill, and three days before a much anticipated informational hearing on expanded gambling, Senator Karen Spilka's (D - Ashland) office, finally announced the time, place and list of speakers for that hearing.
With all that time on my hands, I leisurely conducted some research on the 10 people hand-selected to speak and discovered that, for a hearing described as "informational" - the deck appeared pretty well stacked in favor of the 'gaming' industry.
And so I called Senator Spilka's office, as did virtually every other anti-predatory gambling activist in the State, to register my concern and express my displeasure with this stilted panel, and spoke with a nice young man who calmly explained to me that this hearing was purely to gather information about expanded 'gaming' for the senators on the Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Committee.
"But..." I replied, "wouldn't you agree that the senator should be gathering unbiased information from various sides of the debate? You know... not just the one?"
He repeated that the Senator was simply gathering information at this point.
And I repeated my previous statement.
And he repeated his.
So the two of us went 'round and 'round like that until it became clear that I should accept the fact that, in this instance, the commonly accepted practice of forming decisions based on the impartial and balanced testimony of a well-rounded panel of experts from all sides of a debate, was being momentarily suspended for reasons I needn't trouble myself with.
And they're off!
Before we all knew it, (which of course was the point) it was Monday morning.
As Governor Patrick tries to push the Senate to accept new and important ethics laws, we should pause and take a look at what happened in Pennsylvania, where a report by Common Cause in today's Philadelphia Inquirer shows that Pennsylvania politicians received $4.3 million in campaign contributions.
The top recipient was Democratic governor Ed Rendell with more than $1 million. The second largest recipient was former Senator Vincent Fumo, who is now in prison on 137 Federal charges of influence peddling and misuse of funds and staff for personal purposes. (Related to MA: Jack Abramoff and Glenn Marshall (of the Wampanoags) are also in prison for misusing casino funds to make political contributions.)
The $4.3 million is on top of more than $12 million from lawyers and lobbyists connected to the casino and gambling industry.
"This study helps explain the gaming industry's winning streak in Pennsylvania," said Barry Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania law that authorized 65,000 highly addictive slot machines was passed by a voice vote after midnight on the 4th of July several years ago.
(Ughghghg. Actually, maybe there's some hope buried in this story -- that folks generally won't throw their money away on slots when a recession hits. - promoted by Charley on the MTA)
The state leaders who keep thinking that they are are about to solve all the state's fiscal problems with casinos might want to take a look at today's story from a casino industry industry newsletter. Headlined "Rhode Island Casinos Facing Debt Endgame," which can be read in its entirety here, the story talks about the death-spiral that in which the casinos and state government are currently locked.
Buried under a mountain of debt, Rhode Island's struggling Twin River slot complex says it will file for bankruptcy at the end of June unless it can win sufficient financial concessions from its lenders and state officials. The 4,750 video slot complex, owned by a high-powered investment group that includes international gambling tycoon Sol Kerzner, appears to be running out of options after more than a year of high-stakes negotiations.
There are three points of special interest here.
First, those who think that slot machines will save our four dying racetracks should note that the investors are trying to kill off the tracks themselves.
"Twin River's owners are also trying to jettison dog racing, which has become a drain on its bottom line, despite reductions in the number of races it offers."
Second, the state has become completely addicted to these revenues, which means that everyone is about to lose out.
"Governor Donald Carcieri shot down Twin River's push to lower its tax rate to 25 percent, arguing the state could not afford a reduction in its third largest source of revenue."
Those of us who went to the convention seeking to raise the issue of predatory gambling were not sure whether to seek a resolution or a platform amendment (which requires 250 signatures). Not knowing how much people had thought about this issue, we decided on the resolution. However, we easily cleared 400 signatures. A LOT of Democrats --- from all parts of the party -- told us that they think that promoting addiction to raise revenue is a horrible idea. It isn't closing budget gaps in other states, and it won't here.
It is a tribute to the party that the resolution opposing slot machines and predatory gambling as contrary to our values as Democrats -- came up for a vote and WON.
This is a critically important step in a long process. For a long time, the many pro-casino lobbyists (some of them former Democratic operatives) and slot proponents have been trying to crush opposition by saying that slot machines in this state are "inevitable." It turns out that many people in the party feel otherwise.
We now need a full, fair debate about all the COSTS and benefits in the House and Senate. This is an issue of public health, public justice, and public ethics. In Pennsylvania they approved 65,000 slot machines on a voice vote at midnight on the Fourth of July . Let's make sure that in this ethically challenged legislature there aren't any sheninigans like that here. And the governor should be thinking about other options -- including a veto -- if the legislature overrides the convention vote.
In the meantime, congratulations to all those who worked hard -- against long odds -- to win the vote against addictive slot machines!
Per the SenPrez's office, the two amendments first up for debate this morning are:
#43, Bruce Tarr's proposal to allow slot machines at the racetracks. As far as I can tell, this is strictly a "racino" proposal, except that it would also allow slots at Logan airport [FAIL 6-31]; and
UPDATE: Boy, they have spent an enormous amount of time on #43, the racino/slot parlor proposal. A couple of hours already, and no end in sight. Surely there are other things to talk about -- it's not as though gambling won't get a fair hearing down the road.
FURTHER UPDATE: At last, the roll call, at 12:19 pm. So far, mostly "no" votes. I think I heard only four "yes" votes, though a few likely yes votes were out of the room. But it's not going to pass. Final tally: amendment #43 fails 6-31. Now onto the proposal to extend dog racing by 2 years.
FURTHER UPDATE: Roll call on the extension on the dog tracks. Not looking good ... Kennedy, Knapik, Menard, and Pacheco vote yes. Those are the only yes votes I've heard. Joyce, McGee, Morrissey and Hart have late-voted yes. Still not enough. Final: 8-29.
State Senate President Therese Murray said today that a bill allowing casinos in Massachusetts will be debated by both houses of the Legislature this fall as lawmakers intensify the push to expand gambling in the face of plunging tax revenues.
Murray pretended to pull the lever of a slot machine this morning when asked by a reporter about casinos, and even added an exclamatory "Ka-ching!"
Good work everyone. Now that you've fixed everything else, you can go home.
Update: More from David Guarino and AmberPaw. Your legislature: Ignoring problems that exist; creating new ones; offering phony solutions in the process. Awesome.
Les Bernal, head of StopPredatoryGambling.org and Sen. Susan Clark's former Chief of Staff, joined the LeftAhead crew today to talk about just why predatory gambling is both bad policy and extremely dangerous. More on the show here, or listen to it below.
United Press International, quoting an extensive story on the front page of today's Boston Globe, summarizes the reality behind Tim Cahill's -- and, it must be admitted, the governor's -- illusion that slot machines (whether in parlors or casinos) are an innocent form of fun.
Massachusetts considers video slot parlors
BOSTON, March 7 (UPI) -- Critics opposed to state-sanctioned gambling in Massachusetts say modern video slot machines are as addictive as crack cocaine.
Vido slot machines, with slick sound-and-light effects, let players win or lose a game much more quickly than the old one-armed bandits with spinning fruit and numbers, The Boston Globe reported Saturday.
The effect on the brain is the equivalent of an intravenous drip of an intoxicating drug, said Bob Breen, director of a hospital gambling treatment program. The machines are so addictive some players have been known to wear adult diapers so they can play without taking bathroom breaks.
Gambling in general causes the brain to release dopamine, a chemical that spurs the desire to repeat a pleasurable behavior.
State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill wants to license three slot parlors in Massachusetts. The gaming industry, in support of the plan, has said widespread use of video slots in other states has not led to increased addiction problems.
Of course, the final sentence should be fully trusted, since it is from the gam(bl)ing industry and since it ignores the simple math that if even if the percentage stays the same (3-5%) the absolute number skyrockets (in Massachusetts it could be as many as 300,000 people or more than twice the adult population of Worcester).
They must think we are stupid! Oh wait ... they do!
The people of Massachusetts are waking up to what a raw deal this is. Unfortunately our legislators are still breathing the same pro-slots air in the statehouse, so now would be a good time to call the governor, your Senator, and your rep to put a stop to this nonsense.
"Nobody's ever paid that much for a casino license," said Clyde Barrow, a casino specialist at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. "I can't see anybody putting up that kind of money to license a slot parlor. This is really an eye-popper for me."
The whole article is a litany of embarrassments for Cahill's misguided proposal to build quickly erected, warehouse-like structures to house a bunch of slot machines, an idea that the Globe rightly calls a "desperation bet." PA's slot licenses sold for 7% -- that's right, seven percent -- of what Cahill estimated. All of Cahill's numbers are based on pre-recession numbers that everyone in the industry says are now woefully outdated. And, in other news, federal law apparently bars his proposal to privatize the lottery. Awkward.
And this is the guy who wants to challenge Governor Patrick, either as a Democrat or as an independent? Not with half-baked ideas like this.
Here's a little update on the latest in casino world. In the big picture, we don't know much, because there's as yet no word as to whether, when, and to what extent the Governor will file a casino, slots, or other expanding gambling legislation this year. But there are some smaller-scale developments worth noting.
A couple of weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down an important decision that ended the Mashpee Wampanoags' hopes for building a casino in Middleborough on tribal land -- at least for now. Basically, the Court interpreted federal statutes to say that the government can only take land into trust for tribes that were already recognized in 1934. That of course does not include the recognized-in-2007 Mashpee Wampanoags. Therefore, the Mashpee Wampanoags are now in the same position as anyone else who wants to open a casino in Massachusetts: they are entirely subject to state regulation. However, the Court's decision is purely statutory, so if Congress chooses to amend the law, this roadblock for the tribe would be lifted.
In today's Globe, an anti-casino PR guy pitches a progressive income tax as the antidote to what ails the state, accurately pointing out that it's exactly what MA needs in order to be able to implement the state equivalent of the Obama tax plan. I'm all for it -- I've been pushing to start the constitutional amendment process for some time now. However, it's obviously not a short term solution, since even if the process got underway today, the earliest the required amendment could be on the ballot would be November of 2012, allowing a progressive income tax to take effect in 2013, with the state seeing the first fruits of it in 2014. We need to come up with solutions before that.
Finally, Ryan points us to an article suggesting that dog track workers aren't exactly lining up around the block for job retraining. They'd rather, well, gamble that the state will pass a racino bill that will save their jobs by turning the dog tracks into slots parlors ... or maybe even that the lege will decide to repeal the dog racing ban. Seems like a bad strategy -- about as sensible as doing your financial planning down at the lottery parlor. IMHO, the lege is not going to undo what the voters did, and a casino/racino bill will not get done in the 2009 session, if it gets done at all. Dog racing stops in January, 2010. So waiting around hoping against hope that the axe doesn't fall, despite its distinct downward trajectory, doesn't seem like a great idea to me. According to the article, the state is making retraining resources available:
Meanwhile, one state official said his offer to help the track was rebuked by its management. Ken Messina is the Massachusetts manager of Rapid Response, a federally-funded program in every state, which responds to companies and employees facing closings and layoffs. Messina said his team offered three months ago to set up shop at the dog track, hoping to educate employees about unemployment, health insurance and resume assistance.
"We were ready to go, and when we started talking to the representatives of the dog track, it was evident they were trying to see if there were any alternative things to keep the track open," Messina said.
Track owner George Carney could not be reached for comment....
Messina confirmed his agency has set aside money specifically earmarked to help displaced track employees. "We haven't spent that money," said Messina, who declined to disclose the amount.
Why wouldn't you take advantage of offers like that? Weird.
Now, obviously this is all part of a PR campaign, but let's forget that sort of context when we read the following quote from this article (read it!).
Amid hopes that slot machines or a delay in the racing ban could save their jobs, some track workers and state officials say that few of them have begun to look for a new job or seek training.
The article is a woe-is-me piece on a track worker who will eventually lose his track job. Now, I'm pretty far to the left if you were to place me on an ideological line, but not even I think government can help people who don't want to be helped. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink - after all.
But let's get back to the real world - and context. My suspicion is that this was a carefully selected case amongst the track workers - their Joe the Plumber - and whoever sent out the press release wants to make it appear as though these people need slot jobs. But they don't. George Carney, owner of the Raynham Track and Supreme Chancellor of Pushing Slots Into Massachusetts, just wants to make voters think that.
The fact of the matter is this state is providing funds for slot worker retraining, more than most people who lose jobs will get. Help is available from other sources, as well. If the tracks are telling them not to seek that help or accept it, because it'll risk slots, then shame on them. But we can't allow slots in this state because people who work at the race tracks are refusing to accept free or inexpensive retraining. Sorry.
Former Mass. Attorney General Scott Harshbarger has harshly criticized the prospect of bringing slot machines to the state's racetracks. In a statement released to Blue Mass. Group, Harshbarger said:
I personally view [racinos] as a more serious immediate threat than casinos, and as a "gateway drug," if you will, that lays the foundation and case for escalation -- and strengthens the Native American claim as well.
Harshbarger emphasized the particular harm that slots at the racetracks, as opposed to a destination casino, will almost certainly cause:
[I]t is particularly negative because it draws only on local discretionary income -- thereby hurting local businesses and other discretionary options -- as opposed to attracting any "destination resort" income from outside the state.
Harshbarger added that once slot machines are up and running in Massachusetts, it is only a matter of time before expanded gambling takes hold.
It allows the casino/slots armada to gear up again, mobilize (and pay the lobbyists) to run roughshod through the legislature -- and we better hope the ethics bills pass, or we will be awash in another corruption/lobbying scandal fiasco! ... [T]here is no possible "exit" or "sunset" strategy once we begin.
Harshbarger expressed his deep disappointment with Governor Patrick, whom he had strongly supported in the 2006 Governor's race:
In this context, the comments attributed to the Governor today are, for me, very disappointing. While I clearly disagree about the economic value of expanded gambling, particularly resort casinos and slot machines/racinos, today's comments, including "let the games begin," seem to me to be particularly jarring and, sadly, quite cynical! After their first meeting, in the midst of a depression, with a major state fiscal crisis on our hands, trying to preserve the safety net, and hoping for the public to support a federal stimulus package to rescue us, the governor and the new speaker are featured, in their first partnership, not announcing support for the ethics reform package, not criticizing Wall Street CEO bonus excesses, and not ensuring we will have effective oversight of any stimulus dollars that do come to Massachusetts -- but rather joining together to mobilize the casino and slot machine Armada as our financial rescue angel!
Is it really a major priority for our state leadership, in this crisis, to bail out race tracks and casino owners, and divert discretionary income of MA residents away from legitimate businesses, particularly small businesses, or to drain potential savings, into casinos and slot machines?
So, just to recap (this is now me talking, not Harshbarger):
Slot machines at racetracks are essentially a bailout for failing businesses, funded in the most unfair possible manner.
There is no guarantee that the bailout will actually work -- to the contrary, casinos around the country are suffering from the recession, just like every other business. But it is pretty much guaranteed that locals who haven't got much disposable income will pour some of it into the slots.
As a result of locals spending disposable income on slots, other local businesses will suffer, thereby probably increasing joblessness in the area.
Racinos would introduce Class III gaming to Massachusetts, thereby opening the door to the Wampanoags (or other tribes) to build a gigantic destination casino from which the state benefits not at all.
Great. And this is the solution to our problems because ...?
Like so many zombies, the casino issue has risen from the dead with a vengeance. And it's worse than ever -- Bob DeLeo is an unreconstructed fan of putting slots at the race tracks -- "racinos". And the governor says slots-n'-ponies will get thrown into the big horse-tradin' fun. You call that a "resort casino", governor?
Let's consider two reasons why slots at the track are a hideous idea.
Gambling to "extinction" is the whole point of slot machines. That means hooking people so hard on the machines that they spend every last penny they have on them. "Addictiveness" is a common way to describe a video game, and there's probably some real neurological truth to it. But no matter how hooked you get on Guitar Hero, your Wii doesn't continue to suck money from your pocket with every play.
Discussion of problem gambling typically focuses on individual gamblers and their "predisposition" to addiction. This focus elides the fact that some activities are more addictive than others. The aim of the gambling industry is to increase its bottom line, not to create addicts. But in effect, its efforts to make slot machines so effective at extracting money from people yields a product that, for all intents and purposes, approaches every player as a potential addict -- in other words, someone who won't stop playing until his or her means are depleted.
(Actually, I think she lets the gambling industry off way too easily -- Of course they want to create addicts!)
3-12 The Commission recommends that states should refuse to allow the introduction of casino-style gambling into pari-mutuel facilities for the primary purpose of saving a pari-mutuel facility that the market has determined no longer serves the community or for the purpose of competing with other forms of gambling.
Can there be any doubt whatsoever that propping up dying facilities is precisely why DeLeo wants the slots at the track?
It is very sad indeed that the governor, speaker, and Senate President seem to be choosing the most cynical, the most exploitative, corrupting, and counter-productive way to juke tax revenue. This is not what many of us signed up for.
While watching the news tonight, Governor Patrick was asked by a reporter, "Can you tell us what you and Speaker DeLeo discussed regarding casino gambling?" Governor Patrick retorted, "' I can, but I'm not gonna.'"
It made me like Governor Patrick a little more because it showed he has a sense of humor, something that is severely lacking in our public officals nowadays.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sincerely,
Wayne Wilson
Roslindale
(BMG has endorsed a "yes" vote on Question 3. - promoted by David)
Hello again BMG,
One of my favorite church folk once wrote "Plan as if there were no such thing as prayer. Pray as if there were no such thing as planning." This weekend, we've got the opportunity to pray and plan for an end to greyhound racing in Massachusetts. You are invited to bring your beloved pet to be blessed with greyhounds and other creatures great and small on Sunday October 5, at 10 am at St. Paul's Cathedral. St. Paul's is located at 138 Tremont Street, across from the Park Street T station (between Winter and Temple Streets).
Disclaimer: I work for the Massachusetts Council of Churches.
Continue on for more on why we're praying and planning to put an end to this cruel practice...
(An important post, both for the new information on what dog racing really entails, and for the discussion of the media's role in this debate. - promoted by David)
This morning, the Committee to Protect Dogs released a comprehensive report on commercial greyhound racing in Massachusetts. It contains new information and documents specific problems at local dog tracks, including:
· Thousands of greyhounds endure lives of confinement, kept for 20 or more hours each day in cages barely large enough to stand up or turn around in.
· According to state records more than 800 greyhounds have been injured since 2002, including dogs suffering broken legs, paralysis and even death from cardiac arrest on the track.
· Greyhound racing is a dying industry. Even local dog track owners acknowledge that their businesses are failing.
And so this is our challenge to Massachusetts dog track owners: join us in a fair debate on Question 3. We are committed to making our case based on provable facts about the tracks in our state. Also, we call on the media to hold both sides accountable for their public statements. Specifically, we ask that members of the media resist the temptation to publish a series of "he said - she said" stories and instead ask critical questions of both proponents and opponents.
Gamblers bet just $1.6 million on races at Wonderland last year, down from over $20 million in 2001. Betting on races at Raynham-Taunton has also fallen nearly 50 percent from 2001, down to $24 million last year. Tracks in New Hampshire and Rhode Island are showing similar declines.
No wonder Wonderland's been threatening to close if they don't get their way on Racinos - they're running a quick race toward bankruptcy. It always seemed as though the parking lot at Wonderland was pathetically empty - it's a "business" (not in the profitable sense) I happen to drive by a few times a week. Things were even worse than they seemed, which is saying a lot.
Now, that isn't to say the racing industry won't employ desperate measures to keep their outmoded, barbaric and not-even-profitable industry open in the Bay State - mainly, inflating their job numbers to make them seem like a staple industry that's necessary for the economy.
But let's make no mistake: with anemic "profits" (not in the profitable sense) like Wonderland, no one should feel guilty if we give it a push and a nudge to close. Consider it the charitable thing to do. The land will likely be sold and something else will be built in its place, something that will very likely be much better for the economy. Ladies and gentlemen, this is Capitalism taking its natural course - no need to prop up this industry if it can't hold its own (dead) weight.
