(no subject)

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

While this isn't in Davis Square, it might affect traffic somewhat.

Wynn Resorts Casino approved in Everett.

Boston Globe article

Comments

[ron_newman]

This makes a pedestrian/bike connection across the Mystic River, from the new Assembly Square Orange Line station, absolutely essential. Does Somerville still have any leverage to insist on this? It is the only way to promote the use of public transportation instead of private car to reach the casino site.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I don't know if the mayor and BOA, who seem to be very opposed to even the idea of casinos, would support any projects to make it easier for people to get to the Everett casino.

From http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2012/11/curtatone_somerville_casino_ov.html:

He (Mayor Curtatone) also said if any new ramps to I-93 in Somerville were proposed as part of a potential casino development in Everett, he would oppose that, too.

Most of the traffic to the casino would be going through Sullivan square and the Everett death circle, so there is no incentive for the mayor to act.

[ron_newman]

The city does have an interest in improving bike and pedestrian connectivity, as well as in promoting use of the new Assembly Square station. And plenty of Somerville residents drive through Sullivan Square (just 3 blocks from the Somerville line), so mitigation of traffic there is essential.

With a bridge over the Mystic River, people would not need to drive to the casino at all; they could take the Orange Line.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

The mayor is morally opposed to casinos and so it seems to me that he would have no desire to make it easier for people to get to one.

This is what he said on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jcurtatone/posts/385236014935973?comment_id=1925400&offset=0&total_comments=15): "A glitzy casino isn't worth the rise in crime, the broken lives and the boarded up storefronts it creates." If he thinks casinos cause a rise in crime and cause storefronts to close, why on earth would he link his sparkling assembly square project with a casino?

We'll have to wait and see what he says, but based on the fact that he isn't even willing to build a new I-93 ramp if it was paid for by Wynn, I don't have much hope.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

the broken lives and the boarded up storefronts

He doesn't need to be so melodramatic.

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Those are things that actually happen.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

I sent the mayor a message on Facebook asking him about this and he replied - I'm going to assume he is OK with me posting this here since I asked him a question as a constituent:

Honestly, I've got more questions than answers when it comes to that potential project. First off, would casino patrons really use the T? They won't be able to ride it late at night and how much business do they project during daytime/rush hour? I suspect public transit for a casino would be a case of, if you build it, they will not come. It certainly never seemed to do much for Suffolk Downs or the Wonderland dog racing track.

Most of all, what's the larger transportation picture here? It's crazy that a license has been decided upon before we have that answer. There's even talk that the building design will change radically. I can say this, I'd need to see compelling reasons why a pedestrian bridge is needed before I could support one and I wouldn't want public funds paying for it.

[ron_newman]

Has the mayor forgotten that the T now runs late on Friday and Saturday nights?

The bridge wouldn't just benefit the casino -- it would also be a way to get to the Target/Costco shopping center in Everett. And it would tie Somerville into the Northern Strand (Bike to the Sea) trail, which starts in Everett and will soon go all the way to Lynn.

Edited to add: and that trail would then bring Everett and Malden residents into Assembly Row to eat, shop, and be entertained. That's got to be good for Somerville.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been to a casino, Ron? "late night" on the T does not equate with "late night" at a casino, and even if it did, that'd only be two days a week. I agree with the mayor and with Ian (who is pro-casino) that the gamblers are not terribly likely to use the T.

[ron_newman]

I've been to Las Vegas casinos, but that was back in the 1980s when I lived in LA.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

$1.6 billion, holy fuck. That's $43,000 for everyone in Everett... They're estimating $267 million in tax revenue; I don't know tax rates on gambling, presumably they anticipate taking it at least $500 million gross, maybe much more. That'd be $500 for everyone in the inner Boston area... or $76 for everyone in MA. I assume they know their business plans, but it still seems incredible.

Also, 3000 slot machines. Presumably they hope to have them all in use at times. So that's the equivalent of 8% of the population of Everett coming in to play slot machines.


As for transport, the article gif says "shuttles to and from public transportation." Also docks and a water taxi.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

I luv casino's but honestly I feel the environment has changed for them- and my spidey sense is telling me what they are trying to do here in MA just won't work

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

It is really important to come to polls to pass question 3 this November to repeal the casinos.

We haven't had a casino discussion on DSLJ, but the issues are:
Insane traffic, especially for Somerville
A zero sum game, the additional revenue is just taken from local business, you are not going to see wealthy chinese going to everett to gamble like it was Monte Carlo, state tax revenue won't benefit
Drain of revenue from lottery, which funds government
Destruction of individual and family wealth from people with gambling issues. I'm normally for individual choice, but some people can't control themselves.
Increased substance abuse and criminal activity nearby

Probably a number of other issues.

See also links posted on STEP list recently:
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/08/a-good-way-to-wreck-a-local-economy-build-casinos/375691/
http://the2x2project.org/gambling-public-health/

[smammy]

I'm normally for individual choice, but some people can't control themselves.

Oh boy…

[keithn.livejournal.com]

The traffic won't be a major issue for Somerville. All of the traffic will be on Route 99. Sullivan Square will see a lot of traffic, which could back up traffic getting on and off I-93 at exit 26, but Wynn has to pay for improvements to fix it, and there will be huge fines if they don't.

It's not a zero sum game for two reasons:
-Right now, MA casino gamblers are taking their money to Connecticut. That's money that is leaving the state that will stay here when we have casinos.
-Gamblers from NH, VT, and ME will now come to MA casinos instead of driving through to Connecticut. That's money that will be coming in to the state that is not right now.

Your lottery point is interesting for a different reason than the one you mentioned. People can and do already gamble with keno and scratch tickets. The MA state lottery brought in $713 for every man, woman, and child in the state. Of course we know that most of its revenue comes from a very small part of the population - in Chelsea they spend $1179 for every man, woman, and child, and even in Chelsea you know it's only a small portion of the population buying 90% of the tickets. So people are already able to gamble, already have gambling problems, but you seem to be OK with it in the case of the lottery, so it makes the next argument - about concern for gambling problems caused by casinos - look disingenuous.

People who are able to enjoy casinos responsibly should not be punished because a small portion of the population can't control themselves. The same is true of alcohol and marijuana, in my opinion. I don't think it's a radical notion. The abolitionist movement is dead in America. You say you are "normally" for individual choice - but clearly you are not. What is "normally?"

[somerfriend.livejournal.com]

Sullivan Square is technically not part of Somerville, especially if you live in Davis, but those of us in east Somerville are very much affected by it.

I would urge you to read the links I provided and do a search for other articles on the topic. Your an intelligent logical person and I think a journalist can convince you better than I can.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I support people's right to destroy themselves if they so choose and of course there are plenty of options for it even without the casino, so I'm not sure that will really change much, but I *am* concerned about the effect on the local economy. Yes, tax numbers are bandied about, but there's a big difference between theory and practice. I'd like to see examples of actual places where the local economy has benefited in the long run from a casino like this.

[teko.livejournal.com]

It was noted on NPR that a major sticking point of the Wynn plan was the insane traffic congestion through Sullivan Square that will occur; Wynn promised to reconstruct the traffic circle and patterns to improve it. I guess their original proposal was lacking in details, so the final agreement has this stipulation: Wynn has to fix the traffic flow and estimate the number of cars that'll go through that square daily once the casino opens, and for every car per day over their estimate, they'll be hit with a $2,000 fine, with a $20 million PER DAY cap. So they've got a bit of incentive to fix the traffic in Everett, I'd say.

[ron_newman]

Building a pedestrian bridge from Assembly Square is by far the best way to "fix the traffic" -- it brings the Orange Line to the casino's front door, eliminating the need for most car trips entirely.

If Wynn will commit to building this, I'll vote for the casino in November. Otherwise, I'll vote for repeal.

friendly moderator note

[ron_newman]

Could you please edit this post to include a Subject line? That will make it easier to find in the future. Thanks.