Casinos in Massachusetts? What will happen?

Can this happen to us?
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20140831_Atlantic_City_facing_unprecedented_economic_collapse.html

Poll shows Mass. voters still support casinos as reported on June 19, 2014 in the Boston Globe. Staff writer David Scharfenberg reports.

Poll shows Mass. voters still support casinos as reported on June 19, 2014 in the Boston Globe.  Staff writer David Scharfenberg reports.

Massachusetts voters still support Las Vegas-style gaming in the state, even as they’ve soured on the commission charged with selecting casino operators, according to a new Boston Globe poll.

Fifty-two percent of respondents say they would vote to keep the state’s casino law in place if the question lands on the ballot this fall, while just 41 percent would repeal it.

More is here:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/06/19/poll-shows-mass-voters-still-support-casinos/gahmXcnoURzKUpaTdC1umO/story.html

Boston Globe Reports Unity in Fight Against Casino

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/08/23/christian-right-and-political-left-unite-opposing-casino-gambling-mass/S7EDfsD4SToJjQQFqAsTlN/story.html

As reported from the Boston Globe:

Politics famously makes strange bedfellows, but this odd coupling is as strange as it gets: On the issue of casino gambling, the liberal left and the Christian right share common ground, united in hoping to keep the gambling industry out of Massachusetts.
“For all the polarization that goes on in Massachusetts, this is a momentous opportunity for us to come together on a common cause,” said Kris Mineau, president emeritus of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which is associated with Focus on the Family, the socially conservative organization founded by evangelical Christian author James Dobson.
Casino gambling, Mineau said, is “a regressive tax on the poor,” attracting gamblers who cannot afford to lose what money they have. The Massachusetts Family Institute “will be working to get out the vote in November,” in favor of repeal, he said.
It is a rare case in which Mineau sounds a lot like Ben Wright, director of Progressive Massachusetts, a left-leaning statewide grass-roots organization.
“A progressive economy does not put in big businesses that suck money out of the small businesses,” said Wright. “We’re obviously very supportive of the repeal.”

Casino gambling ‘cuts across all the traditional divisions. . . . It crosses the political and ideological spectrum.’

Political scientist Clyde Barrow 

Polling in Massachusetts has long found that people who identify themselves as “very liberal” or “very conservative” are a significant part of the political base of the anticasino movement, said casino specialist Clyde Barrow, chairman of the political science department at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, and formerly of the University of Massachusetts system.
Casino gambling, considered both as an economic and a social issue, “cuts across all the traditional divisions,” said Barrow. “It’s not a Republican or Democrat issue or a liberal-conservative issue. It crosses the political and ideological spectrum.”
John Ribeiro, chairman of the statewide campaign to repeal the casino law, said his group has received donations from liberals and religious conservatives, though he has not yet noticed coordination between the political opposites.
Question 3 would ban casinos from Massachusetts, reversing a law approved by state lawmakers three years ago that authorized up to three resort-style casinos, one each in three regions of the state, and one slot machine parlor.
The state gambling commission awarded the slot parlor license to a Penn National Gaming project in Plainville and has promised the Western Massachusetts resort license to MGM Resorts, which has proposed a casino in Springfield. The commission plans to grant the Greater Boston license next month, while the Southeastern Massachusetts license is on a later timetable.
Penn and MGM spent millions fighting each other in Springfield, and tens of millions against each other in a referendum battle in Maryland two years ago. But, for now, the rivals are in unlikely alliance, as members of a political coalition defending the 2011 casino law. The coalition includes other entities that are not natural political allies, such as business-backed chambers of commerce and labor unions, “all coming together to support gaming because of the real jobs and real benefits that come with it,” said Justine Griffin, a spokeswoman for the coalition defending the casino law.
A Boston Globe poll this week found that 50 percent of likely voters support keeping the casino law, while 41 percent want to repeal it. The figures have been consistent across the past several weekly polls.
The repeal campaign is quietly underway, with both sides focusing at the moment on building networks of supporters for street-level campaigning and get-out-the-vote activities.
Casino opponents, who expect to be widely outspent by the gambling companies in the campaign, will lean heavily this fall on the influence of clergy who oppose casinos, said Ribeiro.
Religious leaders played a prominent role in several municipal referendums on casinos last year and were especially active in East Boston, where opponents defeated a $1 billion casino proposal.
“They are a natural ally of ours,” Ribeiro said. “We are looking for them to help activate their members for the fight.”
Bishop Douglas John Fisher, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts and a strong supporter of casino repeal, said he will encourage clergy in the diocese’s 65 parishes to speak about the casino repeal from the pulpit and to host community forums on the issue.
Fisher’s crisp political message is an economic argument against casinos, cast in the language of faith: “Jesus comes to bring good news to the poor. Casinos are bad for the poor. We follow Jesus.”
The anticasino campaign can expect some more help in the next two to three weeks, when the state’s top Roman Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, are expected to weigh in on the repeal campaign through the Massachusetts Catholic Conference, the church’s public policy office. James F. Driscoll, director of the conference, said in an e-mail that he expects the state’s bishops will endorse the repeal.
The Rev. Richard McGowan, a Boston College casino specialist, said gambling itself is not a sin under Catholic teaching, though the state’s bishops have historically opposed casinos which they believe would hurt the poor.

Slump Batters Foxwoods Resort Casino

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. (AP) — The tribe that owns the country’s largest resort casino is showing new signs of strain under the weight of its billion-dollar debt, saying it has had to review its options with senior lenders as a slump batters the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation has reportedly been selling off land near its reservation in southeastern Connecticut. And in a report this week, credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s lowered its rating for the tribe and said the chances of a debt default appear to be growing.

The tribe has entered discussions with senior lenders over what it calls “failure to comply with certain financial covenants.”

The tribe says the underlying business remains strong at Foxwoods and the recent struggles don’t affect the casino’s projected liquidity.

WWLP 22 News reports:   http://wwlp.com/2014/08/23/foxwoods-owners-straining-under-heavy-debt/

Charlie Baker: If repeal effort is successful, I'll file legislation to put Springfield casino back on the map

If the effort to repeal the casino effort passes in November, and Republican Charlie Baker also becomes governor, he will work legislatively to authorize the already Springfield-approved MGM Resorts International project in the city's South End.  

http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/08/charlie_baker_mgm_springfield.html

State Rep. Joseph Wagner says a Springfield casino still possible if voters reject state law

State Rep. Joseph Wagner says a Springfield casino still possible if voters reject state law

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2014/08/state_rep_joseph_wagner_says_a.html#incart_river

Massachuetts politicians saying repeal of gaming law may not mean demise of MGM Springfield casino project

Massachusetts politicians saying repeal of gaming law may not mean demise of MGM Springfield casino project. 

  http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/08/repeal_the_casino_deal_activis.html#incart_m-rpt-1

NEXT STEP: The Casino War

Thank you to all who attended Thursday night's celebration dinner at Red Roze Pizza (Aug 7 @ 7PM).  We had a great time and a good gathering of proactive supporters.  It was really good to see.

We now move forward with our team of all volunteers for this awareness campaign.  (Not be confused with a fundraiser).    Our goal is to open the door of information to registered Massachusetts voters to the information that show the damaging effects of casino gaming in the state.   We have the opportunity to vote casinos away from Massachusetts in November.

By early October, this will finally be a true hot topic in the public's eye as summer vacations will be over, kids are back in school, and the vote is about a month away.  You'll start to see more frequent news activity as MGM and Repeal the Casino Deal put more dollars into battle.  Our efforts will focus on communication by way of podcasts, videos, social media, texting, emailing, and face-2-face.  We've just met a few thousand already and we are poised to multiply our efforts.     

It is fortunate that other fundraising efforts are doing the good work with rally efforts, planted lawn signs, aggressive mailings, and paid advertising.     While that effort continues, our non-fundraising team will focus on connecting with people that on one knows exist.    Those are the silent registered voters who aren't sure if they want to vote.   Our educational efforts will help build that confidence.

An impact has been made already with just over a couple thousand.   Our job is to open the door to the truth so that an accurate educated decision can be made by the voter before going to the pole.

CONTENT:

The audio album begins playing at 30 seconds. 

http://yourlisten.com/Ewenprime/massachusetts-extinction-by-casino.   

The lecture documentary movie is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

 
The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LI5466K/

The blog is here: http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/

The Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/projectfurious2014

THANK YOU for supporting and particpation

Thank you all who came to the dinner on August 7th to show support and participation in this all volunteer awareness campaign in preparation of the ballot question # 3 vote on Casinos in Massachusetts.    

For those  who were not able to attend, the presentation is here:   
http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/2014/08/news-for-tonight-presentation-by.html

The audio album begins playing at the 30 second mark.  http://yourlisten.com/Ewenprime/massachusetts-extinction-by-casino.   

The lecture documentary movie is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

 
The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LI5466K/

NEWS for TONIGHT: Presentation by Project Furious at Red Rose Pizza in Springfield

On pages 14 and 15, the book “Armageddon by Casino” had announced a meeting at Red Rose Pizza in Springfield on August 7 at 7:00 PM.      Today is August 7^th, so in the spirit of commitment demonstrating organization, structure, and forward thinking, here we are on this bright sunny day getting ready to enjoy pizza this evening.

Prior to the Summer of 2012, the organization Citizens Against Casino Gambling created a fundraising effort to educate Springfield Residents of the dangers of Casino Gambling.    In July of 2012, Springfield, Massachusetts voted to allow the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act into law by a slight margin which paved the path to allow MGM to be granted a license in Massachusetts.    In response and several days after that vote, appeals paperwork was brought up to the State Supreme Court.  Those that brought the required signatures the state Supreme Court were politicians, lawyers, and high level business leaders who helped form a company called “Repeal The Casino Deal”   On June 24, 2014, the court announced that a statewide vote for the repeal the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act would be a ballot question in the November 4^th 2014 election.   

On this same day of the Massachusetts state Supreme Court announcement, and while the sun was still high in the sky, Project Furious 2014, an awareness campaign was launched.    A second chance to beat the casino in Massachusetts was given.   Another opportunity to make sure things are done right this time was given.   This time it wouldn’t be lost.   The fight would begin.     On July 24, 2014, Project Furious announced “The proverbial shot across the legislative bow of Massachusetts has been fired in celebration of the November Casino vote on November 4th.  The media has already received the battle cry from Project Furious.

The sun was still high in the sky on June 24th when the blog and Facebook page for Project Furious 2014 was created and announced to the media.     A promise for delivery in August for a book, movie, and audio album was made.    Along with three radio show and multiple blog entries, the book, lecture documentary, and digital audio album were released in July 28 days ahead of schedule.   The book is called “Armageddon by Casino” is on Amazon.com.    The lecture documentary on YouTube.com is “Apocalypse by Casino” and the album “Mass(achusetts) Extinction by Casino” is on YourListen.com

On pages 14 and 15, of the book “Armageddon by Casino” it reports of its own book release party on Thursday, August 7^th 2014 at 7:00 PM at Red Rose Pizza in Springfield.    It’s unusual that the coordination and timing of a book can be produced and released and accurately report on a future event.    That shows the structured organization and commitment of Project Furious 2014.      By way of Twitter and Email, Governor of Massachusetts, the Mayor of Springfield, and local media have all been invited to be part of the public announcement dinner at Red Rose Pizza in Springfield August 7^th.      Prior to August 7^th, one of the leaders of “Repeal the Casino Deal” have also been invited by phone through a positive cooperative phone discussion.

Project Furious 2014 is not a fundraising effort.   Some people may believe they gambled their money and lost when donating to “Citizens Against Casino Gambling” following the vote on July 16, 2012.   To create a partnership Project Furious called, emailed, and sent a letter by post office with no response.  Their website is still active with a Donate button linked to payment to the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts through PayPal.    They accept money, but will not be open to discussion directly when reached through different avenues.

 

An email and phone call to “Repeal the Casino Deal” were both returned.    A good telephone conversation with a Western Massachusetts leader from the organization demonstrated agreement on all casino related issues.   The conversation had the energy of professionalism, cooperation, agreement, and unity.    Project Furious 2014 has committed to attending their late August conference with business leaders to be held in Western Massachusetts.    A lawn sign has also been ordered from the organization.    Due to a scheduling conflict, they are unable to be represented at the event on August 7^th at Red Rose Pizza, however applaud in the agreement and cooperation of both organizations.

MGM has purchased two buildings in Springfield and is poised to pour a significant amount of money into advertising campaigns.      As with many political campaigns, fighting power is shown in the number of dollars.    If the battle is to be fought with money as the ammunition, then a lot of money would be needed to fight someone with a lot of it.   MGM has demonstrated confidence by purchasing two buildings as a show of commitment.   Their intentions is to stay in Springfield and they have already shown it with money.    

A radical approach to succeed in this political battle is to fight in a corridor of influence that does not use money.      This corridor of influence is one that would not have been thought of by MGM because it does not use money as a platform for persuasion.    Granted lawn signs, mailed letters, and advertising costs money, but that is along a corridor of influence that MGM knows and expects.      The fight needs to also happen in an arena that they wouldn’t expect and don’t understand.    The avenue is through people they don’t know exist.    The voters who are silent in their opinion and restrict their traceable donating dollars are out there.     One of the ways they can be found is by reaching out to their mobile devices in their hand through social media, email, and text messaging.  Digital products like books, albums, and movies are also reached out to them.     The book “Armageddon by Casino” was FREE on Amazon over a five day period and now being released in two versions including a 99 cent ebook.  The book is also in paperback.     The movie and album are FREE on YouTube.com and YourListen.com respectively.    People don’t need to pay anything to understand what they need to know prior to the November 4^th vote.

Project Furious 2014 is solely an awareness campaign and not huge dollar basket building fundraiser.    The tactic of the organization is to build awareness by way of email blasts, blog posts, published book, lecture documentary movies, audio albums, text messaging, and social media.   The social media platforms are Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and LinkedIn.    Having reached the small number of a few thousand, it is a good start prior to the political war that is poised to start in the late autumn prior to the November 4^th election.   A greater campaign is just on the horizon.    

As part of the awareness campaign a slogan was presented as saying “Share if You Care”.   Now the summer season getting closer to the end and the battle in the fall is about to begin.    The slogan has been replaced with “Don’t Make Me Say I Told You So”.      The facts about the dangers of casino gambling is being sprayed all over the region by Project Furious 2014.    With the right support, the awareness effort can beat the financial armory of MGM with their anticipated advertising campaign.

Project Furious 2014 is underway with a reach that has already met thousands as of August 7th.    It’s a small number to start with compared to the assault that is planned for the near future.    The few thousand is based on the processing power of one person.  Now imagine if there was more than one person who have the same tenacious energy to ensure we as a community don’t make the same mistake as we did in June 16, 2012.     Voters need to get out in full numbers and not be reliant on someone else to do the voting for them.   This reliance is what bit us in 2012.     This mistake can’t happen again.   Remember, the new slogan for Project Furious 2014 is “Don’t Make Me Say I Told You So”.

The most effective help people can give is to share the blog and encourage to vote on November 4^th.  http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/     Use any effective means through texting, email, and social media.   One person so far is a good start.   The next step is more volunteers who care about their community who will help with this effort.  All the resources have been provided and a lot more is to come.    Remember the slogan, “Don’t Make Me Say I Told You So”.

THE VOTE:

On November 4th, ballot question # 3 will have to options.  YES and NO.    

·         A YES VOTE would prohibit casinos, any gaming establishment with slot machines, and wagering on simulcast greyhound races.

·         A NO VOTE would make no change in the current laws regarding gaming.

So this means that a YES vote means NO Casino.  Remember that.  Voting YES means No to casinos in Massachusetts.

CONTENT:

The audio album begins playing at 30 seconds. 

http://yourlisten.com/Ewenprime/massachusetts-extinction-by-casino.   

The lecture documentary movie is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

 
The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LI5466K/

The blog is here: http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/

The Facebook page is here: https://www.facebook.com/projectfurious2014

Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 PM, Red Rose Pizza (FREE Pizza)

On Thursday, August 7 at 7:00 PM, many supporters of Project Furious 2014 directed by David Ewen (touring professor from Forest Academy) will be enjoying FREE pizza at Red Rose Pizza on Main Street in Springfield, Massachusetts.   

 

During the evening dinner, David will talk about the success of Project Furious 2014 and the aggressive plans through October up until the November 2014 event.  He will talk about the approach of this awareness campaign and the difference that makes it so successful.  Information will be given out during the dinner.  

The old slogan of Project Furious was "Share if you care".  The new slogan is "Don't make me say I told you so".     The damaging effects of casino is being explained in a book, movie, audio album, blog, and three podcasts.  (see all below)  

The audio album begins playing at 30 seconds.  http://yourlisten.com/Ewenprime/massachusetts-extinction-by-casino.  

The lecture documentary movie is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

The book (paperback & ebook)  is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LI5466K/

The blog is here: http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/

The podcasts (radio shows) are on the Tune-In app by searching "Your World Discovered"

Join David on Thursday, by calling (413) 237-0809.

MGM Buys Buildings in Springfield, Massachusetts

The Associated Press has reported that MGM Resorts International has closed on a real estate deal and taken ownership of the former Zanettie School and the Springfield State Armory building.   A complete story is here from WWLP, Channel 22 News.   http://wwlp.com/2014/08/01/mgm-finalizes-purchase-of-2-springfield-properties/ 

Project Furious 2014 has explained why MGM in Springfield would be a catastrophe   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

The old slogan of Project Furious was "Share if you care".  The new slogan is "Don't make me say I told you so".     The damaging effects of casino is being explained in a book, movie, audio album, blog, and three podcasts.    The latest release is the audio album "Mass(achusetts) Extinction by Casino"

"Mass(achusetts) Extinction by Casino" is the FREE audio album from the movie "Apocalypse by Casino" which is an adaptation of the book "Armageddon by Casino" .   All of this is part of the awareness campaign called Project Furious 2014 that is preparing for Ballot Question # 3 of the November 4th vote.  We have the opportunity to repeal the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act that allowed MGM to be licensed for casino gaming in Springfield, Massachusetts.   Others are ready to follow in the Boston area depending on the outcome of the November 4th vote.    Project Furious is not a fund raising effort with a "donate here" button on a website.   Our blog and free media products is an awareness campaign.   We don't believe anyone has to pay to know the truth about the damaging effects of casinos.

The audio album begins playing at 30 seconds.  http://yourlisten.com/Ewenprime/massachusetts-extinction-by-casino.   

The lecture documentary movie is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCfuMGCYorM

 
The book is here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LI5466K/

The blog is here: http://projectfurious2014.blogspot.com/

To celebrate great progress of Project Furious 2014, you are all invited for FREE pizza at Red Rose Pizza on Main Street on Thursday, August 7 at 7PM.   Just look for me, the handsome bald guy.