In case you missed it, the following comments were published by friend and Middleboro resident, Frank Dunphy. When I spoke to the Governor, I raised the issue of considering the source of the information when discussing Predatory Gambling.
.The Patriot Ledger
Posted May 19, 2009 @ 05:00 AM
MIDDLEBORO —
Senate President Therese Murray recently reiterated her pro-stance on expanded gambling, by throwing out the old “we need to re-coup the $900 million that’s going to Conn. and Rhode Island”.
This number was Gov. Deval Patrick’s last year, and has been used by every casino supporter and media outlet since.
These and similar numbers are from only one source: Clyde Barrows, director of policy analysis at UMass/Dartmouth. Mr. Barrows has been doing the work of the casino industry on the the taxpayer’s dime for quite some time.
After attending two of his presentations, I couldn’t help but wonder why was there no mention of the costs associated with expanded gambling.
With a little research I found that Mr. Barrows was hired last November by (Las Vegas based) Olympia Group to try and sell the idea of a casino in Oxford County, Maine (which was voted down).
In the fall of 2006 his group received $20,000 from the R.I. Building Trades Council, who backed an unsuccessful casino referendum there.
In 1999 it was the Visions Group, looking to build a casino in Salisbury.
Forget the numbers. Predatory gambling is not the answer to shore up deficits.
We should be looking to build our future on our strengths and not on our weaknesses.
FRANK DUNPHY
Director, Casino Facts Committee
Middleboro
Check out BMG for additional info.
1 comment:
I met Frank in a different town and he explained things clearly that made sense. He made a convert of me!
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