Residents rally for casino

REVERE – Voters crowded among red, white and blue balloons, enlarged historical photographs of a busy Revere Beach, political signs and tables covered with donated local food to rally supporters two days before the city votes whether to approve a proposed casino.”Get out and stand up for all of us in this room and across this city,” Revere Mayor Dan Rizzo said Sunday to about 400 people packed into the Joseph L. Mottolo VFW Post. “This will be one of the best things that’s happened in this city for generations and probably for generations to come.”Also on Sunday, about 200 people marched to Revere City Hall to protest the casino plans, led by members of some local churches and their clergy. Opponents have argued that a casino will bring crime and that the economic benefits will be far outweighed by social problems, such as addiction.Revere voters head to the polls Tuesday to decide whether to approve of a $1.3-billion proposal by Mohegan Sun to operate a casino at Suffolk Downs. Just three months ago, the project appeared dead, after a proposal for a combined racetrack and casino on the Boston-Revere border was rejected by voters in East Boston, where the track is located. Revere voters overwhelmingly approved of the plan, however. If voters say yes on Tuesday, the casino would be allowed on land in Revere.Rizzo noted Sunday he couldn’t recall a project in city history that had the support of the mayor’s office, the city council, police and fire chiefs, the school committee and other city officials. Under the latest proposal crafted by Suffolk Downs, Mohegan Sun and officials of the City of Revere, Mohegan Sun will operate the casino as a separate entity in Revere while Suffolk Downs has pledged to maintain racing for at least 15 years.The proposal, if approved Tuesday, will compete with a Wynn Resorts proposal in Everett for the sole resort casino license in Eastern Massachusetts.Officials and citizens at Sunday’s rally urged attendees to work hard in the final stretch.Rizzo emphasized the economic benefits outlined in the host agreement of the proposal: 4,000 permanent jobs, including 800 to 1,000 jobs saved at Suffolk Downs; 2,500 construction jobs; a $33-million up-front payment to the city plus a $2-million renovation to Harry Della Russo Stadium and a $1 million new youth center; $40 million in annual payments; $10 million in spending at local businesses; and $45 million in local transportation improvements.Rizzo won cheers when he said the money would annually be devoted to local schools, toward property-tax relief and to ease water-and-sewer rates.If voters approve the proposal Tuesday, he vowed to meet Wednesday with Superintendent of Schools Paul Dakin to sign a statement of interest for a new high school.Mitch Etess, chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun, said the casino proposal would make Revere “once again ? become a world-class destination,” and that the agreement between the city and casino operator was unprecedented in the gaming industry.Revere Chamber of Commerce President Bob Upton asked residents to remember when “Suffolk Downs was booming, Wonderland was booming?” and urged residents to think of the local benefits.”It’s not about the $10 million in local spending, 4,000 jobs, 2,500 construction jobs, it’s about the people for the jobs,” Upton said.Louis Ciarlone, president of IBEW Local 123 of Suffolk Downs, also urged residents to show their hometown pride. He acknowledged that there was “very little chance” that Suffolk Downs would stay open without the casino and portrayed those in opposition to the casino as outsiders.”The same people are aligned with our opposition (who) closed down Wonderland,” he said.Ciarlone also insisted, mentioning he was a Catholic, that there was “no sin in gaming or having a gambling establishment,” alluding to opposition to the casino from a group of local clergy. Ciarlone also praised local churches that did not take a position on the issue.Local residents in attendance e