Folks – You soon will
get a report on the press conference (and the outline of the comments) this AM
in E. Boston –as a follow-up and building on the media coverage (see various
links David and Kathleen have distributed) of the past couple of days on Braude
and Fox 25, and the clips of the Governor’s “not in my backyard” response to a
casino in Richmond, and the press coverage of the “Emperor has no Clothes” MGC
hearings on Milford and the outrageous flouting of the law by Suffolk Downs.
But I wanted to offer
you my brief perspective on it so you understand why I firmly believe that, with
your continued hard work as citizen activists and leaders, and the continued
funding so many folks have been contributing (in whatever amounts they can
afford).
Organized by the
outstanding work of Melwood Global (Jon and Chris in attendance), there were at
least 5 cameras and several print and radio reporters –and they got a show!
Excellent comments by our citizen activist heroes, John Ribeiro and Celeste
Myers; a rousing, substantive set of powerful economic and community culture
arguments and sound bites from the Mayor of Somerville, Joe Curtatone (who
should go on the road for us now and throughout this battle), strong advocacy
for the potential (if we can be successful) for legislative repeal by Senator
Will Brownsberger, and the public health, economic fairness, and “we can do
better” examples from Bill Walczak, our Boston Mayoral hero. Plus effective Q
& A responses from all of the above, but especially John, Celeste and
Joe.
We are in a position,
albeit still the underdogs, for “David’ to be fully equipped with facts and
people power, and demonstrating that the more people know the less they support
this failed public policy initiative, to slay “Goliath,” as the “promises and
benefits” of casinos/slots in MA are exposed as more and more obviously
deceptive and elusive. Statewide candidates and existing elected leaders are
beginning to realize how strong and wide is the citizen base of support for
REPEAL, and beginning to figure out which way the wind is blowing in case it is
in their interest to follow and ride the wave!
This weekend is
critical. Thank you all will give of your time, energy, and money, to give the
people the chance to vote. Excelsior!
Scott Harshbarger
Subject Line: Momentum is building and we
need you now!
Dear Repeal The Casino Deal
supporters,
Our campaign to Repeal The Casino Deal has
seen a surge in donations, volunteers and support in the week since the voters
in East Boston and Palmer rejected casino proposals in their communities. The
voice of citizens at the ballot is reaffirms that we are on the path to
defeating the state’s reckless casino law. We need your help now to get the
signatures and funding necessary to get to the next step of placing the question
to REPEAL on the November 2014 ballot.
Today, Saturday and Sunday are the most
important days of our battle. We need you to collect signatures and donate any
amount you can afford for us to reach the goal. We are within reach and we need
to have a buffer to be sure the powerful casino interests do not come back at us
and try to defeat us with lawyers picking apart raw signatures. We know they
are relentless and casino crawl never, ever stops unless the law is repealed.
Go to
repealthecasinodeal.org to download petition papers and find out where you
can go to collect signatures, now. Call Brian Ashmankas, Signature Coordinator
with questions about where you can get signatures 617-701-7823. Donate.
There is no time to wait.
“Although we have won in East Boston, the
developers feel that they can circumvent the law and are proceeding as if they
have been given the go ahead to do so,” Celeste Myers co-chair of No Eastie
Casino said. “Even if they had not made the brazen steps to try to move ahead
with their mad scramble for Gaming Commission approval, despite the will of the
people and the democratic process, the law as written enables them to re-spin
the plan and bring it before voters again within six months. We need to save
other communities from this madness.”
Today, in East Boston a press conference
was held to show our momentum. Leaders across the state are joining our
grassroots group including our long-time champion former Attorney General Scott
Harshbarger, Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone and state Sen. William
Brownsberger, D-Belmont, joined former Boston mayoral candidate Bill Walczak in
urging their supporters and voters in their regions to join in the effort.
“We are so pleased with the momentum we’ve
seen but we also know the power of this entrenched, deep-pocketed industry,”
said John Ribeiro, chairman of Repeal The Casino Deal (RTCD.) “We have them on
the run but the money and greed that drive that industry will cause them to stop
at nothing until there are slot barns and casinos dotting the Massachusetts
landscape. That’s why our effort must continue.”
On
behalf of the entire RTCD statewide team, I sincerely thank you for the work you
have done and stepping-up for the final push.
John
John Ribeiro, Chair
Repeal The Casino Deal
(RTCD)
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