Worcester Council Approves Talks With Slots Developer

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After hearing public comment for more than two hours Tuesday night, the Worcester City Council voted 9-2 to recommend that the city manager enter into negotiations with developers who aim to build a slots parlor in the city.

Councilor-At-Large Konstantina Lukes and District 4 Councilor Sarai Rivera voted against doing so.

Lukes, who has been outspoken about her opposition to the slots proposal, said the facility would divert people's money away from the state lottery and local towns and cities towards Chicago, where developer Rush Street Gaming is based.

Rivera said she appreciates democracy and allowing citizens to vote, but that her vote was "about 'no' to a mitigation process for something that's unjust."

The remaining councilors said they wanted to give citizens a chance to decide whether slots are right for the city. Many stressed that a full proposal has not been laid out yet, and they would like to know the details before a decision is made.

"I don't have all the information that we need and I think it's incredibly important that people are informed on both sides," said Councilor-At-Large Kathleen Toomey, who said she plans to visit Rush's casino in Philadelphia. "I will do my homework too," she said.

Last night's vote gave City Manager Michael O'Brien the go-ahead to negotiate a host city agreement with Mass Gaming & Entertainment (MGE), a subsidiary of Rush. Once an agreement is reached, the councilors would need to approve in order for it to head to a city-wide referendum.

Vocal opponents

More than two dozen people spoke out Tuesday night, some passionately, asking the city council to stop the process before an agreement is articulated.

Richard Kennedy, president and CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, read a statement from the chamber's public policy committee, saying the project doesn't fit into the city's model for strategic economic development and will not create spinoff business for local companies as the developers have stated.

"We believe it will not have a positive effect on the business community," Kennedy said.

Sen. Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) appeared before the council saying she voted for the expanded gaming legislation in 2011, but opposes slot parlors. She said a resort casino can make a community a destination for travelers who spend a couple days in town.

"The plan before Worcester is quite the opposite," Chandler said, calling it an "anti-destination facility."

She said the benefit is different for urban casinos than those in rural areas and that rural gaming facilities tend to bring visitors from other regions, but that Worcester's slots parlor would mainly attract locals, taking business away from other businesses.

"This is a plan we do not need. Worcester deserves better," she said.

Edward Moynihan, co-chair of Vote No Slots, asked the council to consider limiting the amount MGE can spend on the referendum to $10,000, concerned that residents will face an onslaught of advertising from the developer in a "slick campaign" leading up to the vote.

"We are not billionaires," he said of his group, "but we are committed and we are concerned."

Many speakers expressed interest in turning the 14-acre Wyman-Gordon property outside Kelley Square into a sports facility. Others stressed that the area is in need of a pharmacy, bank and grocery store.

Needed Jobs

Steve Quist, who started the pro-slots Facebook page Vote 4 Worcester When You Vote 4 Slots, was one of three who spoke in favor of letting the talks move forward.

He said working with MGE will "send a loud and clear message to developers that Worcester is open for business."

To those who suggested using the site for something else, Quist noted that nothing has been done with the site for decades, calling it "a vacant dirt pile."

Much of the criticism from residents had to do with skepticism over the quality of the 600 estimated jobs the development would bring. However, Juan Gomez, a former city councilor who is now president and CEO of social services group Centro Las Americas, spoke passionately about the need for jobs, saying that if they pay $20,000 per year, "they're better than the jobs that many people I see have today. They have no job."

"I'd rather they take those jobs than be dependent on the city," he said.

Mayor Joseph Petty requested several reports from O'Brien that he'd like within 30 days, based off concerns voiced last night, including legal issues that may arise, what impacts Rush Street has had on the community's its casinos are in and how public health and jobs may be affected.

Neil Bluhm of Rush Street is expected to lay out further plans for the proposed $240 million slots and hotel development at tonight's joint meeting of the economic development and public safety committees at 7 p.m. at City Hall.