Casino (Boston, Worcester, Springfield: unemployment, neighborhoods, schools)

[bolehboleh]

I'm surprised there aren't more people talking about casinos in Massachusetts. I believe that it is one of the biggest things to happen to Mass in a while. I'm certainly not under the illusion that suddendly our unemployment woes will disapear, but the state will be more fun!

Instead of debating whether or not we should have casinos (since they're going to happen anyways), why don't we discuss the locations of the casinos? Where should they go? What cities? What towns?

As a Cambridge resident, I want to see at least one of them on the T. Realistically, there could be a casino AND the slot parlor in Revere, at Suffolk Downs and Wonderland respectively. I also think that the area by Alewife would be pretty good because there IS land and it's accessable by both T and auto.

I'm also a fan of putting the casinos in places that will truly benefit from them. I don't think putting them in small towns and ruining farmland (like they did in CT) will benefit anyone. Put one in downtown Worcester, Springfield or Fall River. It could make their downtowns more vibrant and fun. In much the same way that suburban shopping malls took visitors out of the cities, this could help them come back.

What do you think?

[bolehboleh]

After thinking about it a bit more, outside of Boston, I think that Springfield would be the perfect place to put a Casino. With the Mass Pike and 91 AND the eventual completion of the New Haven to Springield rail, it could draw visitors from both Mass and CT. Mass people can get their easily on the Pike but it would be more convinient for many CT people. If you life in Hartford, it's a frustrating ride on RT 2 and then backroads to get to Mohegan and Foxwoods. For people who live in the New Haven or Bridgeports areas, it's about an hour on 95 and 395. It would take the same amount of time to get to Springfield by car and if trains service brings visitors right to the door, it may be a better option.

[bolehboleh]

24 views and not one response...I guess there isn't anyone as excited about casinos as I am...

[in_newengland]

I'm not excited about it but I think they should put one in Palmer. It has its own exit off the MassPike, it's a real run down place with lots of unemployed people. People from Springfield could get there easily to work there. Plus-it's payback time--those little towns out there have been floundering for years--it's all been downhill since the state made Quabbin so that Boston could have more water. Those towns got cut off from civilization by Quabbin. People in those little towns could get jobs at a casino in Palmer.
You'd get people from CT and MA. Probably a casino around Boston to stop the tourists from complaining that there's no casino. A third one maybe around Fall River.

[thenewtexan]

What about New Bedford or Fall River? Lots of NYorkers travel through there on their way to The Cape. Not far from Boston, Providence, etc. Lots of unemployment. The question is...is there room? I like the idea of Palmer, too. It's close enough to Sturbridge at Mass Pike/84 area. The obstacle there is I'm not sure if the people would want the character of their small town to change with all the traffic.

[lukyelle]

I thought the site was going to be Middleboro...? Or at least that was the talk in 2008 or so.

[KellyCrash]

There was talk of a casino in my town of Charlton. The Mass Pike goes right through town, but there is no exit here. I read that they'd build an exit right into the casino. I'm not even sure how I feel about it.. I guess it could be summed up that if it happens great, what does that mean for me? Better schools? less taxes? Possible jobs for the community? great. No casino? Oh well. Not against it. Not excited for it. Doubtful one would ever come here anyways.

[HenryAlan]

I'm not too excited about it, because I rarely gamble, and for me, part of the fun in a casino is that it is a destination (eg Las Vegas) rather than something I just do for routine entertainment. At any rate, we are going to get 3 full casinos and one slots parlor, so here's where I'd put them:

Casinos:
South Boston Seaport
Palmer
New Bedford

Slots parlor:
Revere

[bolehboleh]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

I'm not excited about it but I think they should put one in Palmer. It has its own exit off the MassPike, it's a real run down place with lots of unemployed people. People from Springfield could get there easily to work there. Plus-it's payback time--those little towns out there have been floundering for years--it's all been downhill since the state made Quabbin so that Boston could have more water. Those towns got cut off from civilization by Quabbin. People in those little towns could get jobs at a casino in Palmer.
You'd get people from CT and MA. Probably a casino around Boston to stop the tourists from complaining that there's no casino. A third one maybe around Fall River.

You can't blame the floundering of small towns simply on the Quabbin project from 80 years ago. It's a national and worldwide phenomenon. I guess I'm just against the idea of having casinos in small towns because it may hurt what little downtowns they DO have.

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

What about New Bedford or Fall River? Lots of NYorkers travel through there on their way to The Cape. Not far from Boston, Providence, etc. Lots of unemployment. The question is...is there room? I like the idea of Palmer, too. It's close enough to Sturbridge at Mass Pike/84 area. The obstacle there is I'm not sure if the people would want the character of their small town to change with all the traffic.

You make a good point about NB and FR. If I had a choice I'd put it in Fall River as you can more easily attract the Providence crowd. Also, NB has a nice downtown and I'd hate to see it destroyed.

Originally Posted by KellyCrash

There was talk of a casino in my town of Charlton. The Mass Pike goes right through town, but there is no exit here. I read that they'd build an exit right into the casino. I'm not even sure how I feel about it.. I guess it could be summed up that if it happens great, what does that mean for me? Better schools? less taxes? Possible jobs for the community? great. No casino? Oh well. Not against it. Not excited for it. Doubtful one would ever come here anyways.

That's like three bills ago

Originally Posted by HenryAlan

I'm not too excited about it, because I rarely gamble, and for me, part of the fun in a casino is that it is a destination (eg Las Vegas) rather than something I just do for routine entertainment. At any rate, we are going to get 3 full casinos and one slots parlor, so here's where I'd put them:

Casinos:
South Boston Seaport
Palmer
New Bedford

Slots parlor:
Revere

I didn't even think of the seaport. Actually that could be a good place. Since they'll be open 24 hours (but only sell alcohol 8am-2am) it could be a good location for some after hours clubs. (unfortunately they won't serve alcohol but at least they could be a place to "dance it off." We need more than just "Rise."

[western mass and love it]

If the casino does go into Palmer and they put it where it was proposed to go it will be right adjacent to downtown Palmer. It would probably spur some growth in d'town Palmer and really boost it's economy. (btw Palmer is no more rundown than many smaller eastern mass towns, it actually is a pretty decent place to live with many nice neighborhoods and parks.)