Nearby towns raise doubts on proposal
LAKEVILLE -- As Middleborough nears its vote on a multimillion-dollar casino deal with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, officials in communities across Southeastern Massachusetts expressed their concerns last night over the presence of such an operation.
Most representatives said that they would rather not see a casino open in the area, but that if the casino is built, they want their communities to be protected from the impact.
A group of representatives from 15 towns met last night with two major planning agencies in Lakeville, where they formed a regional committee to address casino issues and crafted a preliminary battle plan to address mutual concerns.
Their concerns included increased traffic on secondary roads, higher public-safety demands, the need for more school services, a rise in affordable housing, more crime, loss of rural character, and too much demand on the aquifer.
The group plans to meet again in two weeks to consider a draft document outlining their shared issues. They will decide what to do with the document at a subsequent session.
Also attending the 90-minute meeting in an advisory capacity were members of the Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District and the Old Colony Planning Council.
Representatives John Quinn, Stephen Canessa, and Thomas Calter each assured the group that a vote planned Saturday by Middleborough residents on the proposed casino deal is simply the first step in a long process to have casino gambling approved in Massachusetts. The Legislature has defeated bids for similar gambling proposals in the past, they said.
"It's very, very premature to think this is a done deal," Quinn said.
Calter added that state representatives may play a significant role in the casino project, making sure all necessary information on the casino issue, along with all the possible impacts, is properly vetted.
"I think the role we need to play is to be an advocate for process," said Calter. "There's got to be a flow of information, even if this means slowing it down at the legislative level. . . . I have heard many of you using the word tsunami. It will not be a tsunami. It can't be."
While the meeting remained cordial -- Adam Bond and Patrick Rogers, both Middleborough selectmen, attended -- Selectman John Bruno of Halifax was quick to express his opposition to a casino after Bond addressed the group.
"I appreciate Mr. Bond's attempt to help his community, but I also appreciate that selling your soul for money is never a good idea," Bruno said. "This does not belong in Southeastern Massachusetts."
Governor Deval Patrick is set to be briefed later this week on the merits of expanding legalized gambling in the state. He plans to decide before the end of the summer whether to support gambling expansion.
Meanwhile, local clergy have begun to lodge their opposition to casino gambling. The Middleborough-Lakeville Clergy Association yesterday sent a letter to Patrick opposing any expansion of gambling.
Christine Wallgren can be reached at CLWallgren@aol.com. 