Fool’s gold can’t buy prosperity: lessons from the casino debate

By Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone

(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries of The Somerville News belong solely to the authors of those commentaries and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville News, its staff or publishers.)

Last week, WBUR reporter Martha Bebinger asked me to comment on whether instate casinos might help the commonwealth recapture state tax revenues that, courtesy of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, currently go to Connecticut.  I told her that Massachusetts municipal officials were extremely concerned about whether casino revenues might end up being used for purposes other than local aid. I said that we were also worried that the state’s casino-related revenues might not be as great as advertised – and I reminded her that casinos bring significant social costs to the communities that host them. (Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun in Connecticut were developed at a good distance from major urban areas.)

Some of my remarks ended up in her story, which did a good job of explaining how casinos in Massachusetts might undercut what is already a mature and stagnating state lottery – a crucial source of local aid. But she didn’t pick up on what I had to say about the mistake of focusing on gambling revenue as a way out of fiscal crisis. I told her that Massachusetts shouldn’t get distracted by the false glitter of gambling-generated tax revenue. In the long run, it’s nothing more than Fool’s Gold.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that we abolish the lottery, or that putting slot machines at existing racetracks isn’t a practical and incremental way to help an existing Massachusetts industry. The real problem here is the potential for the legislature, the business community and the rest of us to grow addicted to quick fixes that never quite pay off in economic growth, in improved quality of life or the kind of stable, sustainable, opportunity-rich communities we want to provide to future generations.

If we want to achieve long-term economic and social health, it’s clear that Massachusetts needs to reexamine how it pays for the essential services and infrastructure that spur economic development and that provide a desirable (and affordable) quality of life. Gov. Deval Patrick understands that need better than anyone, which is why so many local officials have joined the governor in pushing for full passage of the Municipal Partnership Act, which provides a toolkit of local option cost-saving and revenue-enhancing measures that will begin to restore a measure of fiscal stability and self-determination to cities and towns.

As welcome as it would be, however, the Municipal Partnership Act is only a beginning. State aid to cities and towns remains well below FY 2002 levels – let alone the historic highs of the late 1990s. Even if the act survives in its entirety, its passage won’t assure that the state will be able to make necessary investments in services and infrastructure at the local level.

As matters currently stand, the cost of local services continues to fall ever more heavily on payers of residential property taxes – the most regressive form of taxation. More and more local communities are turning to Prop 2½ overrides or, even worse, making deep cuts in schools, public safety, public works – the very programs that make communities desirable places to raise a family or build a business.

Here in Somerville, we share Gov. Patrick’s view that you can’t simply cut your way to success. We know that the best road to sustainable growth and a better quality of life isn’t through more gambling (and a race to the bottom in public services and infrastructure) but through transit-driven, environmentally sound commercial development encouraged by education and innovation. We know that what we need is a workforce whose skills can support the industries of the future, whether they turn out to be “cleantech” (alternative energy, materials, and manufacturing processes), biotech, nanotech, or some combination of all three.

We know that House Speaker Sal DiMasi is dead wrong when he suggests that cities and towns need to cut their spending even further: Somerville spends less per capita on municipal government than any city with a population of 30,000 or more, yet we’ve managed to expand local services, hire more police officers and firefighters and improve our schools.

We also know that State Treasurer Tim Cahill, who believes that Massachusetts must embrace casino gambling because the lottery has reached its limit as a revenue source, is mistaken in arguing that casino gambling should become a mainstay of state revenues.

Somerville knows that you can’t get rich on Fool’s Gold. By making the most of its transit-generated opportunities – at Davis Square (Red Line), at Assembly Square (Orange Line) and at Union Square and beyond (Green Line); by investing in good schools, in a cleaner environment and in the health and wellbeing of our citizens; and by setting the standard for lean, efficient, transparent, customer-oriented government, Somerville offers a model for long-term, sustainable growth.

And you can take that to the bank.

Comments

[The]

Their is nothing in it for him? or you just waiting for an over you can't refuse?

[Outraged citizen]

It's hard to believe that politicians can only come up with lame proposals that overall have a negative impact on communities: Note, not even communities they have to live in!
Let me clarify. People who work in the biomedical field, for example, have to come up with innovative and creative ways to solve problems on a daily basis. If they cannot do that they are gone. Why is that politicians are not required do the same in their own field? That's what they are paid to do. Why do we need to pay a Tim Cahill to propose the same old crap? These folks are paid to come up with and help implement better ideas than casino gambling.
Well, the answer has probably to do with competence and hiring practices in MA in the first place. So, get these people fired, they are not up to the job. We are in MA, not in Alabama.

[The Patriot]

When was the last time you ran for office, outraged citizen? With virtually no candidates running for office, it hard to complain when there's no one to listen.

[somerspeak]

Casino revenues = Fools Gold?

Kinda like Curtatones parking ticket revenues here in Somerville.

Cheap easy money.

[Cheap easy money]

Even cheaper for Somerville to take the drugs seized during police operations and sell them back at a huge profit. Why not that?

[ABC]

I was just wondering do they drug test the Mayor and Alderman like every other city employee???????????????If not I think it would be a good idea to start!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steroid man]

Does Joe use steroids? His jackets always fit him in a funny, Hulkish-like way. I be he does.

[Hulk Hogan]

you mean "Mr. Syracuse"