IBEW Local 123 (Boston) president says slot machines are needed at Suffolk Downs

REVERE
Officials making new bid for slots
But the next step is up for debate

By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff | January 9, 2005

With the new year comes renewed efforts to bring video slot machines to Revere's racetracks -- and a new conflict among local politicians about how best to achieve this long-sought goal, which supporters argue would increase local tax revenue and preserve local jobs.

Revere state Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein has proposed a bill for the new legislative session that calls for host municipalities to receive a minimum of 2 percent of net gaming revenues and bordering communities to receive 0.5 percent.

While previous slot machine bills have not fared well, the last attempt failed by only 16 votes in the House. Since then, the Legislature has seen high turnover and the election of a new, less conservative speaker, giving Reinstein and other supporters hope that the new version of the bill may be successful this year.

But Ward 4 City Councilor George Rotondo of Revere, who also supports slot machines, has a proposal of his own. He will ask the council tomorrow night to approve a public hearing on a nonbinding referendum that would ask residents in November whether they want slots at Wonderland Dog Track and Suffolk Downs.

Rotondo, who said slot machines at the racetrack in Lincoln, R.I., generated $33.5 million last year, said he is confident Revere residents will support the issue, but wants to make sure their voices are heard.

''Everybody that I talk to is looking for great relief [financially]. . . . We don't have the commercial rate of an Everett or Chelsea or Malden," Rotondo said.

But Rotondo argued that slot machine gambling affects too many people for it to be decided solely on the state level.

''The issue here is that there's no local input," he said. ''What are the pros and cons here?"

Reinstein argued that a November referendum could potentially complicate the state debate, prompting lawmakers to defer to local voters rather than proceeding with a vote this spring, as she had hoped.

''Someone in the state will say, 'Oh, my God, look at this. Let's wait for the referendum in November,' " Reinstein said. ''That could slow the process and slow us down from additional revenue. We're on a fast track. These tracks are not doing very well -- we're talking about people losing jobs."

Reinstein said she expressed her concerns to Rotondo over the timing of his motion.

''In several conversations with him, I've said if this does pass, we'll discuss any concerns residents may have," Reinstein said. ''People want to see money come to the community. This could pay for more police and fire. I'm not someone who thinks people don't have a say. This is a state process, with public hearing and commentary."

Louis Ciarlone, president and business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 123, which represents 240 union employees at Suffolk Downs, said there is a strong desire among Revere residents for slot machine gambling and that a nonbinding referendum is unnecessary.

''As a host community, [Revere] would get quite a share from gaming revenue. That revenue is badly needed in Revere," said Ciarlone, a Revere resident who said his property taxes increased nearly $800 this year. ''I think there's no question in my mind that the city of Revere would favor this."

Ciarlone said a referendum should wait until after state legislators decide on slot machine gambling. That is the approach taken in another gaming bill, filed by New Bedford state Representative Robert M. Koczera, which says that no application for slot machines will be granted to a community unless there's a local referendum by the host community. Reinstein's bill has a similar provision.

''The provisions in the present bills provide for host community approval before building slot machines. That's what would make the approval binding," Ciarlone said. ''There's a good chance gaming may come to fruition this particular year."

Also preferring the wait-and-see approach is Mayor Thomas G. Ambrosino. ''It would seem to me we ought to wait for what the legislators do. . . . If it's going to be meaningless, let's not engage in it. I'm not overly optimistic that there's going to be a gaming bill passed, but if imminent, we could revisit the issue," said Ambrosino, who believes the expansion of gaming would benefit Revere.

Ward 2 Councilor Ira Novoselsky said he had yet to see Rotondo's motion, but said residents should have a say on anything implemented in the city. A nonbinding referendum, Novoselsky said, would not take place until November, at which time, ''I would hope the state would have approved [a gaming bill]."

But if plans for a November referendum could actually slow down the state process, Novoselsky said he would not be in favor of it.

Katheleen Conti can be reached at kconti@globe.com
© Copyright 2005 Globe Newspaper Company.