Casino opponents vow to keep fighting after referendum passes

REVERE – Revere residents voted 7,195-4,177 Tuesday night in favor of a plan to build a casino at Suffolk Downs racetrack, but gambling opponents vowed to keep up their fight through May, when the state Gaming Commission is scheduled to award casino licenses.The pre-election battle leading up to Tuesday’s vote pitted track executives and their Mohegan Sun partners against opponents, including local clergy. But once the votes were cast, residents in some city neighborhoods approved the casino plan by more than a 2 to 1 margin, including Ward 1 and 2 residents living near Suffolk Downs.The 63 percent to 37 percent victory saw 11,379 residents – 44.3 percent of the city’s registered voters, according to city election statistics – show up at the polls.”Certainly, the city of Revere has given overwhelming support. It’s very positive – people were definitely engaged,” said Mohegan Sun Project Manager Peter Schultz.By contrast, 11,083 residents – about 43 percent – went to the polls last November and voted 6,567-4,232 to approve the casino in a referendum vote that saw East Boston residents reject Suffolk’s plans.Mayor Daniel Rizzo led the charge in support of the Suffolk-Mohegan plan, announcing at the year’s start how a host agreement signed with the casino partners guarantees that “at least 20 percent of the estimated 4,000 jobs” forecast for a Suffolk casino will be “designated to Revere residents.””Today Revere said yes to Mohegan Sun. Today Revere said yes to jobs,” the Associated Press quoted Rizzo as saying Tuesday night.Host agreement details announced last Dec. 23 by Mohegan Sun include a commitment by casino operators to pay the city $25 million to $30 million a year during the first four years of a Suffolk casino’s operations.A 2011 state law gives the commission authority to award up to three casino licenses and Suffolk-Mohegan hope to outpace Everett casino proponent Steve Wynn and his $1.6 billion gambling complex plan.Host agreement details for a Suffolk casino outlines millions of dollars to be spent on Revere schools, public safety and playing fields, but casino opponent Joseph Catricala said a Revere gambling complex means higher taxes, traffic and low-paying jobs. He worries about a steady flow of casino patrons entering and leaving Revere.”Having two schools (Beachmont and Garfield) within 1,000 feet of a casino is scary. What is someone who has lost all their money after drinking all day capable of?” Catricala asked.The “Don’t Gamble Revere” supporter and casino opposition allies, including members of Friends of Revere, gathered Tuesday night in First Congregational Church of Revere where they chalked up voting results phoned in by fellow opponents stationed at polling places.Pastor Tim Bogertman said clergy representing different faiths in Revere joined forces to oppose the Suffolk-Mohegan proposal.”We see disintegration of wonderful things. This will bring Revere down,” he said.Catricala said opponents will look for opportunities to oppose the Suffolk-Mohegan proposal at upcoming Gaming Commission hearings.”The battle is lost but the war is not over,” he said.