Letter: Casinos not a legitimate
long-term solution to budget problems
February 24, 2010
Dear Honorable Senators Spilka and Petruccelli, and Representatives
Dempsey and Scibak:
I strongly urge your opposition to expanded gambling (i.e. casino
development) legislation for our Commonwealth. While I recognize the
state’s need to close its budget gap and urgency to create jobs for
residents, it is well documented that casinos are not a legitimate
means of raising long-term revenue for a state nor its communities.
In addition, the real-dollar costs of social ills brought by casino
developments are substantial and greatly understated by casino
proponents.
For each one of the "thousands of jobs” casino developers and
lobbyists promise, it is highly probable that at least one
additional Massachusetts resident (and family) will be impacted, in
a negative fashion, by the presence of casino gambling in
Massachusetts. This is simply not "moving foward." A safe bet: each
vote for casino gambling in our state (and your community) is a vote
for increased levels of: various types of crime; addiction (drugs,
alcohol, gambling); domestic abuse; divorce; child abuse, neglect,
depression, and suicide; adult depression and suicide; bankruptcy
and home foreclosure; cannibalistic impacts on small businesses; and
more. All the facts, figures, and stories you need to make a
responsible decision for your community can be found here:
www.uss-mass.org.
Again, I urge your vote against expanded gambling in Massachusetts,
which would be a short-sighted fix and sure course for future
troubles. Please, trust instead in the intelligence and innovation
of our Commonwealth to resolve our financial woes in a more
enlightened manner. A majority of the states in our union have gone
the route of expanded gambling, and while Massachusetts has not, we
are still the envy of most. Help perserve the high quality of life
and sense of propriety which the state of Massachusetts has always
carried forward.
Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
John Dudley
26 Beacon Street, Apt. 3
Chelsea, MA 02150
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