Pros and Cons for the Tiverton Casino - What Each Side Says
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Some in Tiverton are not too excited about a casino coming their way. While the Rhode Island budget may be hooked on the revenue, some in Tiverton -- a town of just 15,000 plus.
Tiverton is old - the community was in corporated in 1694 as part of Massachusetts, but now may be the biggest game changer for the community in its history is before the voters -- whether or not to allow a major casino to locate in the seaside town.
THIS SUNDAY, ABC6's "In the Arena" explores the issues tied the proposed Tiverton Casino. John Taylor of Twin River and Ed Roderick, Former Town Council President join host Joe Paolino, former State Representative Ray Rickman, and Josh Fenton CEO of GoLocal on the panel. The show airs on Sunday on ABC6 at 7:00 am and can be viewed on GoLocalProv.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRhode Islanders have seen millions of dollars of TV ads and digital ads on GoLocal promoting the proposed move and expansion of Newport Grand to Tiverton and an expansion to a full casino. In Tiverton, there is a group of residents who are opposed to the proposed move and expansion. According to them, the proposed move is a bad deal and it would ruin the small community.
"I think the Casino in Tiverton is nothing more than corporate greed to ruin the beauty and environment of the Town of Tiverton. Especially since it is being built on the bones and historical places of my ancestors the Pocasset Pokanoket Tribe, historically those are the hunting grounds, trails and burials of the Tribal Nation the Wattupa being close to the site originally inhabited by Pocasset's. The Corporation or the State has never reached out to us to save or even consider saving sacred areas on those grounds. So how will they treat the other residents of Tiverton. It is sad to see what this has become a gambling State when we have so many beautiful resources," said Daryl Black Eagle Jamieson Eagle. Clan Council Chief Pocasset Pokanoket.
For a casino initiative to become law it must pass statewide and the host community. Rhode Islanders will be voting on Question #1, but only Tiverton voters will be casting ballots on Question #8.
"We've spent only $700 and collected only a few hundred more (report to be filed this week). We do feel like momentum is building, particularly since we are still getting requests for signs. We also see that more of the locals supporting the casino -- politicians, town employees, school department employees, or and/or union members -- have a specific agenda," said Mike Silvia, Organizer, No Tiverton Casino. "Our only agenda is saving Tiverton from Twin River and the RI legislature. We realize the odds are daunting, but we will continue to share real data, the history of broken promises, and the path of destruction left by casinos in other communities between now and November 8."
After three of the State's Chamber of Commerce came out in support of the move to Tiverton and the expansion to a full gaming facility, John Taylor, Jr., chairman of the Twin River Management Group said, "We’re grateful for the support of these three leading chamber organizations which collectively, represent more than 3,000 businesses from all corners of the state. We’re excited about the possibility of 550 - 600 jobs at the proposed Tiverton casino as well as the additional gaming revenue – approximately $50 million - to the state which would be nearly double that of Newport Grand today. We think that’s good news for the state and we hope the voters on November 8 agree and vote yes to approve on Question 1 statewide and locally, yes to approve on Question 8.”
But while statewide business and labor rally for passage of the casino questions, other continue to rail against the expansion of the proposal.
{I feel that casinos are a false hope of support to the host community they are placed in. The quality of life in Tiverton will be destroyed for little pile of crumbs left over. Plain Ridge in Massachusetts was under target revenues for its first year and all the municipalities that neighbor the casino have reported an increase of criminal and suspicious activity in the vicinity of the casino. Unless 100 percent of all the casino's revenue comes from non-residents, it will defeat it's purpose to help the host community residents but at the same time the casino will kill all of the small local businesses in the host community. It's just a bad plan all around to save or support Tiverton in the long run, just take a look at the failure of redevelopment of the host community promised in Atlantic City that casinos were suppose to bring. I am voting no on 1," said Brian Hutchings a voter in Providence.
Others are raising economic concerns. "The Net Effect: Local businesses invariably suffer, as resources are diverted out of the local market. Add to this the subsidization of Twin River's dining and entertainment facilities by its highly profitable monopoly (never mind State of Rhode Island "advertising" subsidies) and you have a recipe for continued economic chaos," said Pat Ford, head of RI's Libertarian Party.
"I have been and always will be against casinos wherever they are. The Rhode Island General Assembly has an addiction to casino gambling. I want to see clean industry here in this state. Companies Like GE, PayPal, Fidelity. I would like for this State to also be able to tap into the multimillion cyber security industry and become the Silicon Valley of cyber security. This will provide great paying jobs to the residents here that are struggling to stay afloat," said Anthony Spiratos, former Republican political candidate for RI Senate.
GoLocal takes a look at the claims of the anti-casino group and asked Twin River’s team to respond to the argument put forth by No Tiverton Casino.
READ BELOW the Pros and Cons
Related Slideshow: Pros and Cons for the Tiverton Casino - 2016
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