To the Editor:
I am voting NO, thus YES on casinos; why? Set aside the rhetoric on both sides, and think. Are casinos the savior: no. Bars and inner city restaurants will lose out. But, Springfield gains a new set of buildings; we get to promote other venues as the Basketball Hall of Fame, the museums, Dr. Seuss, Indian Motorcycles, etc. We get to promote the region.
If the question goes down are we subject to lawsuits in the billions? This is one discussion I have not heard. They invested heavily on a promissory that we may reneg upon after enticing them to invest.
I agree, and have said for some time that the market is saturated and that entertainment will drive their success or not. People coming to be entertained will be the asset.
This is a means, and not an end. Along with other down improvements and a new train connector, we have the opportunity to make West Mass., the hub of New England. We will have to be marketers of our other assets to use this to our advantage. So think before you vote yes to not have casinos.
Brian Hoose
Westfield Ward 3 City Councilor
