Mohegan Sun Plans New Resort Casino -- Courant.com

The Mohegan Sun casino has joined with two development firms to plan the expansion of its gambling empire to a spot in western Massachusetts just over the state line.

[kennie]

Good idea!

[Joseph Smith]

Mitch, keep it up! Nothing wrong with having a casino in your town as the jobs and revenue outweigh anything else.

[Scott Tourville]

I think it would be awesome if we got a casino. Why not? What else does Palmer have to offer? This would be a great addition and would create more jobs and bring more money into the town!! Do it!

[Shawn]

I'm about to close on a house in Palmer. Does anyone know exactly where the proposed site of the casino is? Thanks!

[Denise Lutkus]

I DO NOT recommend a casino in Palmer, Massachusetts, or anywhere near. There is no need
for such nonsense.

[Bronzy]

We hear on the news the big numbers the Indians are going to pay Ma. for putting up Casinos around the State. What is the State's intentions as to how the money will be spent ? When the Ma. Pike was built along time ago , The State said all the tolls collected would be used to fix all the bridges and Highways in Ma. from the revenue. Ma. has not fixed anything in this State with Toll Fee Money from the Ma. Pike. Would putting up Casino's lower everyone's Property Tax? Automobile Excise Tax?, Maybe get rid of the State Tax on Goods ? We have already as Tax Payer's , dumped billions into the Big Dig, which is slowly falling apart and will be obsolete when it is finished. What other Big plans has the State got for us Taxpayers if Casinos are built around the State ?

[Kitten]

I lived in Palmer --It's about time they get something going .The town needs it . Good luck to you all. you won't have to go toFoxwoods for exitement anymore.

[bones]

the casinos are a good deal for the towns as long as the roads can support the traffic. the downfalls are predictable. locals with gambling problems losing their paychecks every friday, kids being left in cars for long stretches of time and so on. the upside is jobs. i would not put any faith in government doing anything beneficial with the new revenues though. when was the last time the government gave you anything but new taxs? if ct. is any example, trust no one...

[bones]

wonder where rockfall ct. is...hmmm

[miki]

i bet that half of you viewers didnt even go to the meeting. + i was on tv in the meeting

[Marie Duprey]

Just what the area needs...another casino for all hard working people to try to "hit the big one" while loosing their hard earned money. Are you sure that the tribe REALLY has Palmer in good hands - I think it will the tribe will have Palmer in the palm of their hands. The jobs are most likely to be minimum wages...if you're lucky, you'll get benefits (if you are lucky) I live in Connecticut and have known folks to almost lose their homes/cars and marriages due to gambling. All it takes is one "big hit" and you're hooked!

[you just might want]

to do a little investigating to figure out who will own your town after a casino takes over.

Take a look at other states and other small towns that have welcomed casinos.

They don't pay their own way.

Mohegan Sun pays their host community, Montville, CT,$500,000 per year. No wonder they're so profitable!

What can you pay for in terms of town services for $500K?

Mohegan Sun ONLY pays CT for slots, not for any other part of their business.

75% of the jobs created are low wage-you can't live on the income with 2 adults working full time.

Those low wage jobs drive down wages paid by other businesses.

Those low wage jobs force workers to live in substandard housing. Take a look at what Mohegan Sun has done in Montville.

There is a 25% turnover in employeess that means you'll pick up the tab for their health insurance.

Take a look at how Mohegan Sun opposed unions.

Go to Mohegan Sun and look around. They recruited foreign labor that means special teachers need to be hired for the public school system.

That's gonna cost what?

Talk to residents of the town-not the Tribe because this is all well paid public relations.

Isn't there a problem with water in Palmer? Who's gonna pay for that? What's that gonna cost?$50 million? Are Massachusetts taxpayers gonna pay for that?

Are Massachusetts taxpayers gonna pay to build new roads?

When Palmer needs more police and fire and ambulance to deal with accidents and DUI collisions, what will Palmer get? Promises from the state or from the casino?

When crime increases because of gambling addiction, who will pay for it? Taxpayers?

Open your eyes, smell the coffee.

If roads were paved with casino gold, Michigan would be floating in $$$.

Or Louisiana.

Or New Jersey where real estate taxes in some towns are $20K per year.

Or California with Indian casinos galore and the state is a mess.

Let's not make the same mistake just because other states have done it.

Ask the questions and do the research.

Slot machines are not the solution-unless you own the casino.