Three years late and $7M short
Senator Marc Pacheco came to the Middleboro Board of Selectmen meeting on 3/8/2010 to answer charges that his legislation was intentionally leaving Middleboro out of the running for a casino. Pacheco went so far as to say that anyone who says such a thing is lying.
Strong words.
Here are my issues with Pacheco. He was a total no-show during Casino Summer ’07. Many of us called, emailed, and sent letters and got nothing but canned responses when what we needed was leadership. His appearance now seems like an election year attempt to do damage control. He still has not clearly stated his position on a Middleboro sovereign indian casino – which makes me think he’s against it.
Pacheco is unapologetically pro-gambling – which is fine. At one point he stated that expanded gambling in Massachusetts would produce $1B a year in revenue. A wild number that far exceeds even what Governor Patrick was floating in 2008 for his three casino plan. Patrick’s numbers were heavily criticized as being overly optimistic – by a factor of two according to an MTA study.
If Pacheco came to Middleboro and said, “I’m pro-gambling and fully support a sovereign indian casino in for these reasons …..” I wouldn’t like it but I’d respect it. Rep. Tom Calter came here – stood in front of both CFO and the Middleboro BOS and stated his position relative to a sovereign indian Middleboro casino in clear and direct terms. That makes me want to vote for Calter whereas Pacheco’s appearance accomplished the opposite. Sure if he’s going up against a teabagger, this lifelong liberal Democrat will probably vote for him. But I may cross party lines for the first time since the horrible Gingrich years if there is a reasonable opponent. That could all change if he addresses this question in unequivocal terms: Do you support a sovereign indian casino in Middleboro?
My last issue, or at least the last one I feel like mentioning is his verbosity. He was here to say – “My legislation does NOT omit Middleboro from possible casino locations despite what some people and some newspapers have said”. He took almost 40 minutes to say something that could have been said in less than 5. I seriously doubt anyone is going to get through all 4 videos due to the unengaging and repetitive monologue Pacheco subjected the BOS to. I know that sounds mean but it’s true. I have a newfound respect for the BOS’s patience and above all their ability to stay awake after seeing this.
And my real last issue was his answer to a question by resident Mike Solimini. Solomini asked why states with a lot of casinos like Nevada and Florida have higher foreclosure rates than Massachusetts. Pacheco answered “They would have a higher foreclosure rate for they’re much larger”. Clearly he was confusing “rate” with “quantity”. This was a simple, clearly stated question that Pacheco failed to understand and answer. Boo hiss. At 3:30 of part four is a question about donations from gambling interests from Allin Frawley followed by Solimini’s question.
Mr. Pacheco – you should do a podcast with me. It would really up your Internet street cred and give you an unscripted forum to show your stuff and address this issue directly.
Pacheco at BOS – Part 1
Pacheco at BOS – Part 2
Pacheco at BOS – Part 3
Pacheco at BOS – Part 4
Themocracy
Podcast with this guy would slow down the internet
@nocasino
I think, nocasino, that you have a late blooming comedic talent that has come out in recent years.
Mark,
Senator Pacheco’s answer to my question, regarding foreclosure rates was pretty much wrong.
NV’s population is much smaller 2.6M than MA at 6.6M. So his comment about NV being larger is the reason for the hight foreclosure rate is wrong.
Secondly I asked about the percentage comparision, but he seemed to miss that.
RI is yet another state that has legalized gambling…..so we do not have to looko to far to see how gambling has hurt RI. Yet Mr. Pacheco still touts counting license plates in Foxwoods.
Anything is possible when you make up your own numbers. The idea of bringing casinos and slots is flawed only be the lobbiest numbers. From $800k to over $2M in dollars spent trying to bring gambling into MA.
Folks where do you think these lobbiest monies get spent?
Pacheco is a boob in the palm of the predatory gambling industry. He’s the archangel of slots at the track, but fails to learn from either Twin River in RI or Hollywood Slots in Maine. Read that tale of woe right here. His endless pontifications are hiding his ineptitude and bad math.
And you’re right, where WAS he back in 2007. Where were any of them? As I recall, it took the entire population of Carver showing up at his door to get his apathetic behind to Middleboro for that meeting.
When I watch some of these reps from other towns around the State, and how much more responsive they are to their constituents instead of gambling or other special interests, it makes me cringe in embarrassment. And then it makes me angry. Pacheco, Menard, Flynn among others. Most of our South Shore reps get an F-. Vote em out Bumpkin. Vote ‘em out.