Left In Lowell

Yesterday, the lower body of the Massachusetts state legislature passed the casino gambling bill. Yesterday, we took a step closer to allowing predatory gambling in our state, affecting thousands of families that otherwise would have not been torn apart by gambling addiction. It is a well-documented outcome that within a 50 mile radius of slot parlors and casinos, you increase the level of addiction. Proximity to slots means new addicts.

There has not been a true cost-benefit study, nor will there be. The proponents constantly cite job numbers and state revenues, stats which come direct from the casino lobbyists and their paid consultants. We have never heard of the estimated costs associated with predatory gambling in our backyard - such as mitigating increased crime rates (and there will be increased crime, and from the unlikeliest of people). Affecting public institutions, churches, nonprofits, and small businesses especially.

In CT, a state-commissioned study showed that the rate of embezzlement has gone up 10 times the national average there.

Among other associated costs (such as the millions needed to create an oversight agency), is the loss of state revenues from other sources which are taxed, as some people spend their discretionary monies on slots and gambling instead of other goods and services. There’s only so many ways to slice the pie. You can’t create more pie matter out of thin air.

The costs only go up over time. A decade from now, the number of addicts who commit crimes to support their habit, tear their families apart, and/or require addiction services from the state will only go up. Businesses in the vicinity of a casino may well not be able to compete and shut down. Cultural institutions closest to CT already have a hard time attracting the best acts to their stages, and this will also spread and worsen. This won’t happen all in the first year the casinos begin operating. But over the next two decades we’ll see increased effects from the life-sucking casinos and slot parlors.

Casino proponents say that you get increased tourism when you open a casino. This is only true if every state doesn’t already have one. We will not pull people from NV, or CT, or PA, or RI, or anywhere where else gambling is already accessible, with our shiny new casinos. This is a false hope and gets more false with every new state that adds casinos. We’d be better off focusing on our historic and cultural offerings to attract more visitors.

They say we’ll be adding jobs. But that is finite, the jobs are mostly low-paying, and the numbers they cite are usually overblown.

Think about your disposable income. You might go out to eat, buy a new couch, or go the the movies. Each one of these things supports a whole host of services and goods (farmers, small business owners, chefs, fabric companies, woodworkers, gaffers, costume designers, camera operators). Now, decide whether or not you can afford to buy a couch, or lose a thousand at a casino. What does the casino income support? A few paltry (mostly low paying) service jobs locally, a trickle to the state, and the rest pulled out of the state but not to support other producers - no, the bulk of the money goes straight to the pockets of the casino profiteers. Casinos are empty calories, like the guy who consumes a 2-liter bottle of Coke a day, is 50 lbs overweight, and wondering why.

Never mind the questionable morality and sustainability of the state being in the position of needing to create more gambling addicts to raise funds for schools. Studies show that at least 50% of the profits a casino makes are from the problem gamblers. That means 50% of the state revenues we get from casinos is sucked from people who cannot help gambling and will do so until they destroy their own lives and the lives of others. And slots, in particular, are rigged to make them particularly addictive (similar to adding chemicals to cigarettes to increase their addictiveness).

Casinos are going bankrupt and losing money in many states. States with casinos have huge budget problems as those revenues go into the tank, whereas Mass, with its infrastructure and high-level industry investments (such as in green and biotech) has seen amazing job and economic growth compared to other states. And we want to tie our future to those same gambling stars? Connecticut just raised sales and use taxes this summer to patch their big budget deficit. Oh yes, those casinos saved CT from economic ruin. (That’s sarcasm. Revenues for CT’s casinos are dropping alarmingly.)

So in sweeps DeLeo and his race track slot parlor mentality. And he begs, borrows, and twists arms to get enough votes to pass a bill includes a racino (an element that sank the last gambling bill in the Senate). But this time, closed door compromises between the Senate president, House Speaker, and Governor Patrick all but ensure there’s no hope now in the Senate, unless we see an upset.

Of course, we expect such short-sighted voting from some of our elected officials, such as Rep Tom Golden and Dave Nangle, as they have a history of such. However, my biggest disappointment is reserved for those who at least ought to know better about rosy projections that never have panned out in the past in other states. Who are smart and should be keenly interested in an independent, thorough evaluation before we commit an irreversible act to allow predatory gambling.

Politicians like Governor Deval Patrick, who I know is way smarter than this.

Progressive state reps that I have long supported, like Representative Jen Benson, who was a Yes vote on this bill.

And other progressives around the state, like Rep. Lori Ehrlich of Marblehead.

I call on our new state Senator Eileen Donoghue to vote NO on this casino bill. Donoghue, who is Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, pointed out on Facebook, the other day, a Sun article outlining some meager possible protections for cultural institutions.

I hope this does not mean she is already a “Yes” vote. Senator Donoghue, you are not only Chair of that committee, but you are also on the committees for Community Development and Small Businesses, and Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. I entreat you to look at the casinos bill with your small business, cultural institution, and constituent eyes. Question what you have been told about the revenues for the state and the jobs numbers - look at what is happening to casino states all over the country right now. Understand that allowing casinos comes at a huge cost - not only to our citizens and our economic development, but to our politics, which will be further spoiled by the corruption that comes with the casino lobby parking itself permanently in our state.

Do you want to be noted in history as a person who enabled our state go from the strong economic engine that we are, which invests in its own people and businesses, to a state with many of the serious problems of others, states who thought they could make a quick and easy buck…by gambling? It doesn’t work for the poor schlub who thinks buying a lottery ticket every week is a good retirement plan, and it won’t work for Massachusetts, either.

Governor Deval Patrick was on last night’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He got a chance to brag about our state (like I love to do!), and of course, to hawk his new book, A Reason to Believe: Lessons from an Improbable Life.

(A silly reference to the minor league baseball system.)

The Patrick administration is announcing that, for the first time in this state’s history, a state bond program is rated at triple A.

Governor Deval Patrick, Treasurer Timothy Cahill and Legislative leaders today announced that the Commonwealth’s Accelerated Bridge Program bonds have been awarded the highest possible credit rating by two major rating agencies. Both Moody’s (Aaa) and Standard & Poor’s (AAA) assigned the Program’s triple-A credit ratings.

Over the life of the Accelerated Bridge Program, the triple-A ratings will save the Commonwealth an estimated $60 million in interest costs, and allow the state to continue to make critical investments in infrastructure at a lower cost to taxpayers.

“It is welcome news today that these rating agencies have assigned the Accelerated Bridge Program bonds the highest possible credit rating,” said Governor Patrick. “This is further proof that our strategy for finding new efficiencies in state government and investing in our broken infrastructure at record levels is paying
off. We will continue to manage state finances in a fiscally responsible way, as we have throughout these challenging times, in order to maintain our rating and our ability to make these much-needed investments.”

It’s really a shame that the election is over. I’d love to see Charlie Baker twisting himself in knots trying to spin this as a negative.

Thanks to the Governor for saving the Commonwealth a lot of money, and for beginning the process of fixing our long-neglected infrastructure. Not only is this of benefit to our economy because these bridges are essential to the movement of people and goods, but it is also important for public safety, and for keeping our Commonwealth’s good construction jobs. Win-win all around!

“Patrick Roars to 2nd Term” reads the top headline on boston.com right now.

Patrick’s margin of victory was unmistakable tonight. Considering the problems we face and the tendency of voters to take out anxiety and anger out on the incumbents, deserving or not, beating Baker by around 7 points is a roar, and a resounding endorsement to start his second term.

Considering the mixed results nationwide, I am more convinced than ever that we chose the right state in which to settle. I think our future here is very bright - I only hope we can buck the national trends of obstruction and willful ignorance and economic self-destruction, in our small corner of the world. With four more years, we can really showcase a strong Progressive Experiment and pit it against the regression of the Republicans elsewhere.

Congratulations, Governor Patrick!

You know what to do today. Go exercise your democratic rights. (Update - find out where you vote and see a ballot preview here!)

Having been so busy lately (teaching, business, etc) I haven’t had much time to post about this election. But suffice to say, I am an enthusiastic NO on all three ballot questions. If any of these pass, we will see a regression in our state, and you will not like the results.

Regarding question one (return of the alcohol exemption) and question three (rollback of the sales tax to 3%), the last thing we need to do in the middle of a time of reduced revenues due to economic woes nationwide is to reduce revenues further by gutting taxes. Yes, math still works the way you were taught in school.

Look, no one loves paying taxes. Everyone would love to have that that $1.25 back on your $20 purchase. However, is that worth seeing more teachers laid off, fewer police, and longer lines at the RMV? We’ve cut the fat, folks, long ago. In fact, Patrick has done a lot to reform the state government - including state transportation department consolidation, which Republican governors have been talking about for years and never accomplished. We’ve started cutting the bone during this recession. Further reducing revenues is suicidal. Forget all the progress we’ve made on jobs, green initiatives, and our kids’ education if we have to cut more essential programs.

With regards to the alcohol tax rollback: don’t listen to the alcohol lobby that you are being “double taxed” on alcohol. What a lot of freaking whining! The excise tax is on volume and is so minuscule, it’s hardly even noticeable - if the excise tax were repealed, prices would hardly change at all. Most other states have a sales tax that applies to alcohol, alongside an excise tax. What the longstanding tax exemption on alcohol was, was a gift and a giveaway. Alcohol is not an essential purchase, so why the hell was it exempt? It should be subject to the same tax that is on all other nonessential goods.

On the sales tax reduction - really, you’re going to save about $3 on a $100 purchase. And remember, sales tax is not applied to most essentials in MA - clothing (unless you buy expensive Gucci) or groceries, for a start. A huge chunk of our discretionary spending budget comes from the sales tax. Is that worth seeing hundreds of teachers laid off? Or unsafe streets? The sales tax cut would be worth a loss of $20 million dollars to Lowell alone, if the cut were applied in full to local aid and Chapter 70 monies from the state. How many city services and school programs do you think $20 million would cut? And since it looks impossible, politically, for Congress to pass another stimulus bill next year, we will be losing the ARRA funding, which has been floating much of our state deficit from reduced tax receipts - our state would be further devastated by the loss of over half the sales tax.

On question 2, the elimination of comprehensive permitting to build affordable housing, also has a regressive result. Of course, many people are frustrated with this law and how it is applied in our communities. However, the repeal of it will have a devastating effect on families who need affordable housing. I don’t have to tell you we have some damned expensive housing costs here in MA. It’s a side effect of our leading-the-nation prosperity. The more people in the middle class and up can afford, the more expensive housing is. The more dense the jobs and opportunity, the more the demand for housing. For those who are in jobs that do not have the same level of opportunity, or for those who are underemployed, disabled, or retired with no savings, the availability of affordable housing is paramount to their survival.

Affecting how difficult is it to build affordable housing in Massachusetts means keeping some families out of the prosperity. That’s not what our state is all about. Maybe the law needs reform (and maybe it doesn’t), but eliminating it is no way to do it. It will only hurt some of our most vulnerable citizens. We’re better than that.

So, I will vote no to all three of the ballot questions. I wish we didn’t have to keep having the same damn debate over revenues and taxes - it’s exhausting to constantly have to defend what is undesirable by any human being. Where’s our ballot question enacting positive initiatives?? But as Governor Patrick has always said, we have to decide what we want government to do, and then decide how to pay for it. Ignoring the reality (and basic math) of the situation to vote for something that feels good now but will hurt us in the long run is just stupid.

OK I’m a dumbass. The email SAID tomorrow, apparently I read it wrong, or too fast. Sorry about that! The Gov will be here TOMORROW (Monday) at 2pm. But that doesn’t excuse you from GOTV today. Do it before trick or treating tonight!

Just got word from our regional organizer that the Governor will be stopping in Lowell on his bus tour of the state. From his email:

The Governor is in the midst of a bus tour, that has been taking him across the state for one last contact with voters before Election Day. He will be coming by the Appleton Mills which is located at 219 Jackson st on Monday. If you are interested (and I hope you are!) please plan on arriving at 2pm, the Governor will be pulling up shortly thereafter.

You can help with GOTV by contacting the following people:
704 Middlesex Street, I-Hwei Warner, iwarner@devalpatrick.com
17 Kirk Street, Dan Lenos, dan@nikitsongas.com
73 East Merrimack Street, Melissa Roberts, donoghueforsenate@gmail.com

BMG has a full post on this, but I wanted to make a comment or two.

The memo found by an AP reporter is summed up thusly:

Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Baker wrote a memo labeling Big Dig spending “simply amazing,” warning that it would force “draconian” cuts to other road and bridge projects - and recommending they be taken only after his boss was re-elected in 1998.

So the smartest man in government played politics with the Big Dig, despite his claim that everything was hunky dory under his tenure as state budget guru? Shocked, I’m shocked.

Now, it is commendable that he would take a realistic look at the costs, since that was his job - but to suggest hiding it until after reelection (while understandable from a political point of view) is to not serve the public interests.

And the little-known fact is - fact, folks, yes - that the final price tag for the Big Dig was known about a decade before the number went public. The state knew that number, and they kept it hidden in fear of the political consequences. (The biggest problem was that since the project went on over such a long period, costs rose quite a lot - and of course, scope creep was another big factor.)

So really, it’s shocking for Baker to “discover” about the costs of the ‘Dig late in his tenure as Secretary of Administration and Finance, it really makes me wonder about the Republican executive branch’s handling of the whole project (Weld, then Cellucci). Who the hell in the executive branch was monitoring the thing??

And then, instead of leveling with people when the federal government threatened to, then cut off funding for the project, that it would be a burden to the state infrastructure budget, Baker and the Republicans came up with a crazy funding scheme that kicked the can down the road and nearly soaked the budget under Patrick’s tenure (luckily, Patrick was there to steer the “swaptions” ship to a better port.) They also hid the debt, in a manner of speaking, by burdening the Pike and the MBTA, among other agencies, with substantive portions of that debt - all while forcing the MBTA into “forward funding,” which set the MBTA budget in stone (instead of reimbursement for net cost of service, beyond revenues). This in turn has made it necessary for the MBTA to substantially raise fares, and the Pike to raise tolls.

Spot a pattern here? Baker wants you to believe that he was the smartest man in government back in the day, and that he would be again if elected. But all I see is politically-motivated coverups, schemes to put off the pain of debt, and mismanagement and subterfuge. I have not yet met a Republican businessman politician who doesn’t claim to be the guy who will be smart about managing the state but yet whose record says the exact opposite.

Democrats are better for business, better for our economy, better managers of taxpayer money, and at the same time more dedicated to providing a fair playing field for people and businesses to reach their potential, whether that’s strong education funding (first in the nation!), good public universities, ending homelessness while at the same time spending less, or reforming the state pension system, transportation system, or streamlining the permitting process for businesses - hands down, on all fronts, we deserve government under Deval Patrick…not tricks, lies, subterfuge and undue pain and suffering for our citizens from Republican slash and burn politics.

Via Charley (BMG) on Facebook (heavens, do we have to source Facebook now?), this link to a Boston Herald article on Patrick’s visit to the paper’s editorial board (bold mine):

There is a kind of unflappable reasonableness about Deval Patrick. The insurgent liberal who ran a brilliant grassroots campaign four years ago is now the incumbent who’s come to understand that the “merit” and “logic” of an issue is very often not enough to push it through the legislative meat grinder.

What Deval Patrick has come to learn in his first four years on Beacon Hill is that slogans and promises inevitably give way to building coalitions and seeking compromises.

I really can’t put it much better than that description of “unflappable reasonableness” written by Peter Gelzinis. It’s that unflappable reasonableness that lead me to support him in 2006, and that I continue to support. I find it ironic that in an age where partisans overuse the tired meme that “government is too partisan” and state that the people are tired of the bickering, here we have a reasoned, smart, quiet person just simply governing, but no one notices. Certainly, not the media, who would rather the strife. And so people don’t really get to have a sense of that reasonableness, unless they attend an event and get a chance to actually hear Deval Patrick in person.

The article mentions that Patrick isn’t much in the way of tooting his own horn, an essential part of politics. (Generally, it’s avoid taking responsibility for bad things and take responsibility for the good ones.) With this Governor, you just get a guy who wants things done. He’ll take the fanfare if you offer it, but generally, just wants to see that the state is better off when he leaves it, than when he went in.

And it is. Despite the downturn not of his making, this state is poised to lead the country on several economic and social fronts. We’re in the process of ending homelessness due to his support of the Housing First initiative. We’re educating our kids in the best schools in the country. And we’re bringing back jobs faster than any but one state in the union. Folks, that’s our choice in November. To go forward with the trends started under Patrick-Murray, or go backward to the old tired Republican playbooks (you know, the ones that slashed school funding, lost us some population, and reduced our economic might).

It’s time to give credit where it’s due - and, to guard the change.

News today is that Massachusetts unemployment dropped again - to 8.8%, with another 4,000 new private sector jobs. The growth is less than the gangbuster spring we saw, but with the national average heading up from 9.5% in July to 9.6% in August (particularly, from the Census shedding their workers and government cuts federal, state and local), Massachusetts is looking particularly strong comparatively.

To be honest, though things are not peachy just yet, I wouldn’t want to be Charlie Baker (or Tim Cahill) trying to tell everyone that things are going downhill - since all the numbers indicate that in MA, they aren’t. The fact is, our problems were far shallower than they had any right to be, that Massachusetts under Patrick has reversed its population decline, and our recovery is faster and sooner than the rest of the country. That’s no accident, but a result of careful, responsible, and progressive policies put in place largely by this Governor.

So, let’s finish what we started. Come really to work this Saturday at 11am at Tsongas HQ, where the Governor will attend a unity rally and then kick off a canvass.

Update: And, in a nice change of pace, as reported by johnk on BMG, the July numbers for jobs in MA were actually upwardly revised. Yes, upwardly. John also says,

To get a sense of the accomplishment for the 64,300 job gains in 2010, Massachusetts ranks 3rd in the country in the rate of job growth.

Yeah baby. Progressive policies WORK!

And prepare to work!

Governor Patrick will be here Saturday, Sept 18th for a unity rally with all our Democratic candidates. It will take place at 11 AM at the Tsongas campaign HQ, 17 Kirk St downtown.

Patrick will rally the troops ahead of a canvass scheduled for after the unity event, so, time to get fired up, ready to go! This thing is not going to win itself!