There was a fantastic opinion piece in Monday’s Boston Globe written by George Bachrach, president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts and Philip Warburg, president of the Conservation Law Foundation.
They wrote an article about the huge carbon footprint left by Rural Casinos which addresses some of the real environmental impacts regarding casino traffic as opposed to the joke of a report submitted by CRAC.
The idea of placing a mega resort casino in Middleboro is an environmental nightmare…..adding three commercial casinos on top that equates to an environmental catastrophe. I figure since I criticized CRAC for their one page no-traffic impact report, it would be nice to acknowledge the issue from another professional viewpoint. Now granted it is a viewpoint that really focuses on the Governor’s plan, but it discusses rural casino environmental footprints…..and I would think Middleboro falls into the rural category. Besides, a casino is a casino....whether it's a Tribal casino on sovereign land or a commercial casino run by the State, it's still going to have a negative impact on our lives.
From where I am standing, if a casino in Middleboro is a really bad idea, then a casino in any rural area of this State is also a really bad idea, and this article clearly states why. Come on folks, we can’t seriously be against a casino in Middleboro, but be okay with a casino somewhere else….can we? That is just plain hypocritical. I know I certainly wouldn’t wish this nightmare and potential catastrophe on anyone, which is why the Governor’s rejection of the Mashpee Wampanoag Land into Trust Application is such a double edged sword to me, and why I think that the three casino proposal for Massachusetts is also an irresponsible and shortsighted plan.
As pointed out in this article, the Governor seems to be blinded by the glare of sleek hotel towers rising out of verdant New England countryside and forgetting his administration's recently proclaimed commitment to take the road less traveled by -- you know…..the one that will "lead Massachusetts toward urgently needed reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions that are hurtling New England and the world toward climate catastrophe". I really like this part....
Foxwoods, by it’s own estimate, draws more than 40,000 visitors each day, with many, if not most arriving by car. We can only expect the same, or worse, if the Governor’s dream of three resort casinos sited on the open countryside comes true…
The fact is, the Governor is pushing and bullying for casinos in Massachusetts in the same fashion as the Mashpee Wampanoag casino investors have been doing for the casino in Middleboro. It makes me wonder...what is in it for him? The bottom line is, if the legislature of our wonderful State allows class III gambling whether it be slots at the racetracks or full blown casino resorts, then we can expect not only at least one Indian casino here, we can expect at least three more casinos scattered throughout the State – all of which will attract a boat load of people racking up tons of highway miles, giving the unwelcome boost of automobile generated greenhouse gas emissions. So much for that “fresh air” we enjoy so much as a part of our quality life…..and so much for this State’s Green Initiative. It amazes me that the Governor is so willing to turn his back on such an important and responsible program. Where smart growth is concerned, touting “green” building as mitigation for negative environmental impacts whether it be for an Indian casino or a commercial casino is, in my opinion, a bit ridiculous. As pointed out in this article, the endless stream of cars reaching far into the countryside will ensure that even a "green" casino has a very dirty environmental footprint.
If we don't legalize class III gambling here, we will never see an Indian Resort Casino built in this State....ever! We don't need to worry about the Mashpee Wampanoag casino or feel the pressure to "beat them to the punch" for a piece of the pie....there will be no pie....and we certainly won't feel the need to force them into a commercial license. If we don't legalize it....they won't build it...period!
We cannot argue that casinos won’t have a humongous dirty environmental footprint in our region….in our State – they will -- in the form of greenhouse gases, tons and tons of garbage, hazardous waste, dirty water, dirty air…..let's face it...our State isn't that big! Heck, I'm not really sure how we could support or sustain all these casinos. Other States that rely on casino revenue are facing serious budget issues similar to our own -- and they already have casinos and those casinos are there to stay...forever and ever and ever. Seriously, how many more casinos do we actually need in the Northeast? New York casinos are suffering because Pennsylvania opened casinos...Connecticut casinos are suffering because Rhode Island opened casinos....Rhode Island casinos are just plain suffering...so where does it end? I say it ends right here... at the Massachusetts State line. We don't need casinos in this this State! It continues to amaze me that the Governor thinks that we do and that he is determined to convince everyone else that we need them too. Our Governor has put blinders on and cannot see the road less traveled by…the one that makes all the difference…the one that will lead toward local, regional and global environmental responsibility and accountability while supporting and promoting real industy with real benefits. I certainly hope that our Legislature can see the forest for the trees and realize that along with all the other negative impacts that come with a casino – the steady destruction of our “rural” areas – of our homes and our quality of life for the purpose of gambling goes against everything this State is trying to achieve through it’s green initiative.
As Bellicose Bumpkin very poignantly questioned in one of his recent blogs, when does "environmentally sensitive" become worth a damn?
- be the change you want to see in the world -
5 comments:
Great article! Great comments! Thanks.
In the Whittlesey agreement that Middleboro paid $200K for and didn't use, green technologies were required. In the final agreement, green technologies were demoted to "where economically feasible". Same with using local vendors - only where economically feasible.
Any bets that the HVAC systems won't be supplied by the innovative, clean manufacturer in New England - but instead by the cheapest supplier.
These failings in the Middleboro agreement is where the rubber meets the road. Good intentions aren't worth the paper they're written on. Especially when that paper won't even pay the town enough money to cover costs.
Green construction?.... Yeah right
We were particularly impressed by the issues raised in the Globe editorial.
As a state, we have bigger problems to address and the Governor was just plain wrong on so many levels to introduce this failed plan.
How come he didn't raise it during his campaign? Makes one wonder.
Because he knew he wouldn't be elected?
Connecticut's other casino, Mohegan Sun is powered by two UTC Power Fuel Cells manufactured locally. The tribe has made a huge commitment to environmental stewardship by establishing an aggressive recycling program and land conservation committments throughout Southern, CT. I agree that casino density is not good but if it's going to happen, you should mandate that any new casino be built to LEED Silver standards. Not that it has to be LEED, just meet the standard.
Thank you for your advice...I am quite aware of how the monstrosities in CT are built. It still doesn't address or mitigate the greenhouse gasses from traffic, nor any of the other countless environmental issues we face in MA. Connecticut is not Massachusetts -- we have much more traffic and a denser population.. any casino here, built to "green" standards or not, does not address the devistating impacts to our rural environments or our quality of life. Bottom line...if you don't build them, there are no impacts.
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