The head of the Mohegan gaming authority says the $400,000 fee can be paid in the future.
PALMER -- The chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority told local business owners Wednesday that Mohegan Sun is committed and ready to offer what he calls the strongest casino project in the region.
"We are here. We've been here three-and-a-half years, and we are part of the community," said Mitchell Etess, Mohegan's chief executive. "We can present the case why Palmer clearly is the best choice."
Later that night, Quaboag Valley Against Casinos hosted an anti-casino forum at Palmer High School featuring Leslie Bernal, executive director of Stop Predatory Gambling; Robert Goodman, author of "The Luck Business" and John P. Epstein, a Holyoke anti-casino activist. Approximately 30 people attended.
'In order for this government program to work, citizens need to lose," Bernal said. "Why would the government of Palmer . . . create addicts?"
Goodman, also a professor emeritus of environmental design at Hampshire College, discussed the future of the casino industry, and said once Massachusetts opens its casinos, neighboring states, such as New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York, will ramp up their casino efforts, escalating "casino wars" and bringing revenues down in the process.
Epstein questioned who would be against a casino if they are told that one would bring in jobs and lower taxes. But that's not the entire story, he said.
"Everybody in this room tonight, and all your friends and all your neighbors, are going to need to make a significant effort to convey the rest of the story. The
biggest thing I learned when working to defeat the incumbent pro-casino mayor (Elaine Pluta), the more people learned about the damage the casino brings to the host community, the more people were opposed to it. Report after report shows casinos negatively affect host communities," Epstein said.
The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has long proposed a casino off Thorndike Street, Route 32, near the existing interchange for the Massachusetts Turnpike. Mohegan also operates a casino in Connecticut; 10 days ago, the Mohegan Sun casino laid off more than 300 employees at its Uncasville, Conn., operation and replaced its chief executive officer.
Mitchell EtessEtess discussed the casino plans in Palmer and timetable during a meeting with business and community leaders. The luncheon meeting was hosted by the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce at the Pathfinder Regional Vocational-Technical High School.
This occurs as at least three operators have proposed casinos in Springfield.
Etess, during a question and answer period, said Mohegan has chosen not to yet pay the state’s $400,000 non-refundable application fee because the company’s commitment is clear and the fee will be paid when it submits its Phase 1 application, scheduled by the state to occur between Oct. 15 to Jan. 5.
“It didn’t seem necessary to pay it early,” Etess said.
Mohegan has been actively lobbying for a Palmer site for more than three years, and is already negotiating a host community agreement with Palmer. Mohegan has made clear that it plans to partner with another entity on the project, but has provided no other details.
Etess said it is hard for him to believe there is a “fix in,” for a Springfield casino, and said he believes the Palmer site will drive the most revenue to the commonwealth and the entire Western Massachusetts region, as well as the Worcester area.
“We really believe we can be the region’s casino,” Etess said.
Etess later said he thinks people from Vermont and New Hampshire would be more likely to visit a Palmer casino than a Springfield casino.
Kristopher Ventura, a local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise owner, asked about the construction timetable. He was told that the final part of the application will be due on Dec. 31, 2013 with licenses awarded by March 1, 2014. If Mohegan is successful in winning a license, it will take the company 18 to 24 months to build the resort casino.
“As a business owner whose business is dependent on traffic and population, I’m 100 percent for it. It’s exciting,” Ventura said.
Richard Rondeau, owner of Rondeau’s Dairy Bar, said he thinks a casino would bring an “economical benefit to the town if everything is the way they say it’s going to be.”
Rondeau specifically cited Mohegan’s comments that they would hire locally and buy locally.
Also in attendance was state Rep. Angelo J. Puppolo Jr., D-Springfield, who said he has long supported the “concept of a suburban casino in the woods.” Puppolo said he was there on a “fact-finding mission.”
The Mohegan project has unique advantages in providing a rural setting, having a philosophy of buying local, would generate more revenue, and has established relationships with tourist attractions such as the Basketball Hall of Fame, the Big E, and Six Flags, Etess said. Furthermore, Mohegan is the only player looking to open a gambling facility in Western Massachusetts that has experience in New England, Etess said.
In addition, he touted the Mohegan project as offering “a tremendous amount” of construction and permanent jobs locally and regionally, and “amazing economic development” opportunities.
Susan V. Trudeau, owner of Colonel Mustard Presents, a dinner theater in Ware, asked about recent layoffs Mohegan made in Connecticut, where approximately 300 people lost their jobs.
“The reality is gaming is dependent on disposable income,” Etess said.
Etess noted that the Connecticut casino was affected by the opening of a new casino in New York. Etess said “adjustments” can become necessary in response to economic challenges such as faced in the state of Connecticut.
In Springfield, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and his top advisors are hoping that the city can enter into community agreements with one or more casino company by April 26, and that a ballot vote can occur by June.
Companies interested in locating a casino in Springfield have until Thursday to submit their qualifications and their initial project plans. The city plans to pre-qualify companies after reviewing their proposals, and then seeking in-depth proposals from each qualifying company.
Companies known to have an interest in a Springfield casino include: MGM Resorts International, proposing a casino in the South End; Ameristar Casinos, planning a site at the former Westinghouse property in East Springfield; and Penn National, proposing a casino that would include The Republican Main Street building and Peter Pan Bus Lines. In addition, Seminole Hard Rock Entertainment is listed as a possible developer at an undisclosed downtown location.
Property in Westfield has also been mentioned as a potential site for a resort casiono.
Mohegan officials have stated they have the financial means to proceed with the project in Palmer.
In Springfield, most residents who gathered for a small South End neighborhood meeting on Wednesday said it makes sense to have a citywide vote on casino gambling, rather than limit it to just the ward vote where casino projects are proposed.
“It seems logical, a citywide vote,” resident Rose Costa said. “It will impact the entire city.”
Just 11 residents and three city councilors attended the nighttime meeting at the Gentile Apartments on Williams Street, with the low attendance blamed on competing events including a debate at nearby Symphony Hall between U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren.
Ten of 11 residents, in a hand vote, said they favored a citywide vote. One of the proposed casinos in Springfield is being proposed in the South End by MGM Resorts International.
The council must decide if there will be a citywide vote or ward vote, after conducting meetings in various neighborhoods.
Staff writer Lori Stabile contributed to this report.