Save Our State, the lead group opposing the proposed West Warwick casino, has been decrying the project for months, saying it would harm Rhode Island taxpayers and small businesses.
But advocates of the casino say that Save Our State’s campaign may be designed to protect a much smaller demographic – specifically, a part-owner of Lincoln Park and a network of insiders with an interest in the proposal’s failure.
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At a news conference last Monday – eight days before tomorrow’s vote to alter the state constitution to make way for a casino owned by Harrah’s Entertainment in a partnership with the Narragansett Indian Tribe – casino supporters railed against Save Our State.
They said the group is in part an orchestrated effort to protect Len Wolman, the developer of Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut and a member of the investor group that purchased Lincoln Park last year.
The attack, which was decried by Save Our State Executive Director Tim Costa as a “desperation tactic,” underscored the direction in which casino advocates have attempted to steer the debate – into a campaign of the “haves” versus the “have-nots.”
Rhode Islanders for Jobs and Tax Relief, the Harrah’s-funded organization that advocates the referendum’s approval, has been attempting to portray the anti-casino contingent as a coalition of wealthy decision-makers – including Gov. Donald L. Carcieri, the Connecticut casinos and local chambers of commerce – who are out of touch with the working class.
The group promises Rhode Islanders 3,800 permanent jobs and more than $140 million in property tax relief.
“What it comes down to,” said spokeswoman Claire Eckert, “is that there is a group of people – SOS leadership – who are willing to allow new revenue, new businesses and new economic development for Connecticut, but not for Rhode Island.”
Save Our State’s Costa called the assertion “ridiculous,” adding that while the group does draw some support from individuals such as Wolman – Lincoln Park has contributed $750,000 to the anti-casino effort so far – support for SOS also comes from groups such as the Rhode Island Council of Churches and reaches across party lines.
The group has opposed the project in part because of the impact it would have on Lincoln Park and Newport Grand, the state’s two existing gambling parlors, which now contribute large sums to the state’s coffers.
But its other arguments against the project focus on problem gambling, the impact of a casino on surrounding communities, and the lack of transparency regarding the negotiating process, should the project be approved by voters.
Also, the idea that Harrah’s – the largest gaming operation in the world – could be portrayed as the underdog is absurd, Costa said.
“They are not doing it for the State of Rhode Island,” Costa said. “They’re doing it to make an already wealthy Las Vegas-based gambling outfit even wealthier.”
Brown University political science Professor Darrell M. West said Harrah’s get-out-the-vote efforts have targeted urban communities, young people and poor people.
Despite the group’s efforts, West said that – with virtually all polls showing that the casino amendment will fail tomorrow by large margins – the vote is not likely to be split along class lines.
“Lots of have-nots think the casino is wrong for Rhode Island and will not produce the jobs and tax relief that has been promised,” he said.
Harrah’s has racked up support from a number of “have-nots” across the state, however, including the Narragansett Indian Tribe, which is the only entity named in tomorrow’s ballot question. Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas, the Narragansetts’ elected leader, has said that Harrah’s would allow his tribe to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
George Nee, secretary treasurer of the AFL-CIO, said his organization endorsed the proposal because of its potential to create good-paying jobs with good benefits. The 3,800 jobs promised by Harrah’s and other casino proponents would be unionized, and the company itself has a record of offering good health-insurance coverage.
He calls Save Our State “Save Our Slots,” in a reference to the anti-casino argument that the state must protect the revenue coming into the video lottery terminals at Lincoln Park and Newport Grand.
“They’re saying, ‘We’ve got ours, we don’t anyone else to get anything,’ ” Nee said.
