New England Public Radio

West Springfield Voters to Hard Rock: ‘We Don’t Want You.’

Voters in West Springfield soundly defeated a proposal for a casino on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition. Tuesday’s referendum on the host community agreement between the town and Hard Rock Gaming failed by a 10-percent margin.

At a gathering across the street from the resort-casino’s proposed site, stunned supporters watched as the results came in quickly. Tim Maland heads Hard Rock’s New England operation.

“We talked to lots of people,” Maland told reporters. “We worked hard. We tried our best. We thought we were honest, open, above-board, transparent, communicated our message very well, I thought. And we’ve been told by the residents, ‘We don’t want you.'”

A mile down the street, casino opponents rejoiced in their victory. One supporter shouted “David has beaten Goliath,” referring to the grassroots effort, which prevailed despite relatively little funding. Nathan Bech led the group No Casino West Springfield.

“A lot of people did a lot of work and just really got the word out, got the message out that, ‘Hey, don’t believe this propaganda. Don’t believe what this billion dollar corporation is trying to push down your throat.’ We got the truth out there. We explained the facts about the damage that a casino does,” Bech said.

The results caused an emotional response from West Springfield residents on both sides of the issue. Ted Hebert said a casino was not a good fit for the town.

“We need jobs of integrity,” Hebert said. “We don’t need casinos that have no windows, no clocks and they pump in oxygen to keep you alive. We care about our local community. We care about our jobs, and that is why the citizens of West Springfield did what they did.”

“This is a foolish decision and I think the town’s going to regret it for a many, many years. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said resident Tom Caruso, gathering with supporters at Hard Rock’s results-watching party. “Was it perfect? No. But nothing is perfect. Where are you going to get this many jobs in such a short time in such a concentrated area? It’s not going to happen.”

The third and final Western Massachusetts casino referendum is scheduled in Palmer for November 5th.

Earlier this year, Springfield voters approved a deal between the city and MGM.

Some Promised Hard Rock Donations Yet to Arrive in West Springfield

Hard Rock has greatly outspent opponents of its West Springfield casino proposal ahead of Tuesday’s referendum. That’s according to recently filed campaign finance reports.

Opponents list expenses and debts at less than $2,000. Hard Rock itself reports spending a little under $800,000, on things like advertising, office supplies, lawyers.

Separate from that, people with a stake in Hard Rock’s project pledged $125,000 this summer to the West Springfield Public Library, and listed donations totaling that amount on election disclosure forms.

The director of the library’s donation fund, Matt Blumenfeld, says $50,000 of that has arrived. Not yet in hand: $25,000 from Hard Rock’s construction partner, Suffolk Construction, or $50,000 promised by James F. Allen, the president of Hard Rock International.

Blumenfeld says he is 100 percent confident the gifts will come in, regardless of whether a West Springfield casino gets approved.

A spokesperson for Hard Rock, Jill Chandler, said in an email on Monday, “We are not sure when the pledges will be fulfilled.”

West Springfield Residents Prepare for Casino Vote: ‘It Would Be a Big Difference’

Residents of West Springfield, Massachusetts, will vote Tuesday on whether Hard Rock International will take the next step with its proposed $800 million casino.

Wentworth Estates is a 15-acre condominium complex adjacent to some of the most heavily traveled roads in the city. It’s off Memorial Drive at the edge of the Big E . With the fair not yet underway, it’s relatively quiet. And that’s how Christine Smola likes it.

“It would be a big difference,” Smola says. “I think it would bring a lot more traffic and probably a lot more fighting. I mean I’m not downing it. It would probably be fun because we have nothing to do around here.”

Across the street, resident Gladys Henry, knows exactly what she wants

“Say yes for the casino!” Henry says. “You know, Hard Rock!”

Henry is wearing a bright blue “Say Yes” T-shirt she picked up at a job fair hosted last month by Hard Rock. She says a casino will be good for West Springfield’s economy, and for her property value.

“It will do good for my apartment – my building that me and my husband bought it. I could sell it or I could rent it out,” Henry says.

Henry says a casino would also provide jobs for her kids, who are in their twenties, and live in the area.

If a majority of West Springfield voters agree with her, it’s still up to state officials to pick which western Massachusetts community gets a casino license.

Special Elections, Casino Votes Across Massachusetts Tuesday

Some voters in Massachusetts go to the polls Tuesday for special elections and gambling referendums.

Across the state, there are three special elections for Massachusetts House seats, including one in Worcester’s 16th District. The winner will fill the seat long held by John Fresolo, who resigned during an ethics committee investigation this spring.

The Democratic nominee is Dan Donahue, an aide to Worcester’s mayor. The Republican is Carol Claros, a nurse working at a Massachusetts prison.

Voters in West Springfield head to the polls, as well, to vote on Hard Rock’s proposal to build a casino there. Support in the referendum doesn’t guarantee a casino in West Springfield; the final decision lies with state gaming officials.

Another gambling proposal goes before some voters in Eastern Massachusetts Tuesday, to add slot machines to the Plainridge racecourse. Polls close at 8 p.m.

Worth the Wait? Palmer Cuts a Deal with Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Sun and the town of Palmer say they have a deal. They’re vying for the single casino license slated for Western Massachusetts.

Officials in Springfield locked up an agreement with MGM in May. West Springfield and Hard Rock reached a deal in July. And after weeks of haggling, Mohegan Sun and Palmer town manager Charlie Blanchard get their turn this Thursday.

“We’re ready to put our signatures on it and then present it to the Palmer Town Council for ratification,” Blanchard says.

If all goes as planned, residents of Palmer will vote on the deal in November or early December.

Agreements like this tend to include millions in payments and investment from the casino for its host community and surrounding towns. But Blanchard refused to release numbers yet.

“I don’t know what people’s expectations are, but I think we’ve fairly addressed the issues that require mitigation that were identified in the various studies that were completed,” he says.

On the same day as this news from a competitor, Hard Rock had an announcement of its own. The company says that earlier this year West Springfield voters disapproved of a casino in the town by a double-digit margin. (It declined to provide specific numbers from that first poll.) It now claims support from 50 percent of those surveyed.

Actual ballots are cast on the West Springfield proposal on September 10th.

Lost in the Mail? NAACP says Hard Rock Ignored Meeting Requests

The leader of the Greater Springfield NAACP says the group has reached out over and over again to Hard Rock Casino, but never heard back. 

The Rev. Talbert Swan II says this past year his group has called, emailed and sent letters to Hard Rock asking for a meeting.

“And we can’t get a response from them. I think it’s irresponsible for an organization like Hard Rock to ignore an organization like the NAACP,” Swan says.

Swan says he wants to talk to Hard Rock about what  its plan to build a casino in West Springfield, Massachusetts, would mean for people of color seeking jobs or contracts. He says he’s met with the two other companies bidding for a Western Massachusetts casino license: Mohegon Sun, which wants a casino in Palmer, and MGM, which proposed one for Springfield.

Swan’s group has said it favors MGMs plan, but the reverend denies that has anything to do with these public comments. He sent a letter Thursday to West Springfield Mayor Greg Neffinger, asking for his “intervention to facilitate a meeting.”

As for Hard Rock’s response, the company’s Tim Maland says he is surprised. He says no one on his team knew the NAACP chapter  was looking for a meeting. 

“Hard Rock welcomes to opportunity to meet with the NAACP, and has reached out to the reverend to set up such a meeting,” Maland says.

Hard Rock casino’s proposal goes before West Springfield voters on September 10th.