Hickey, Other Locals Testify at Senate Hearing on Gaming
Salem's town manager spoke on behalf of the selectmen.
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Salem Town Manager Keith Hickey waited patiently for his turn to speak during a lengthy hearing at the Statehouse Tuesday, but his testimony was worth the wait for those favoring a casino at Rockingham Park.
Hickey, who spoke in front of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, represented the Salem Board of Selectmen and their unanimous position of support for Senate Bill 152.
Committee member and state Sen. Jim Rausch (R-Derry) asked Hickey to give a pulse on the Salem Police Department and its opinion of a gaming facility.
Hickey replied that Salem Police Chief Paul Donovan is on board.
"The Salem Police Chief, who is also the president of the police chiefs association, individually supports expanded gambling," Hickey said.
Earlier in the meeting, the organization as a collective group spoke out against SB152.
As for other officers at the SPD, Hickey said he has not heard an official position from the union representing the police officers.
Hickey also mentioned the importance of the non-binding gaming referendum that residents will vote for on March 12.
Several others from the Salem area joined Hickey at the hearing, and all of them testified in support of gaming legislation.
Donna Morris of the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce read a short letter announcing her organization's backing of the bill.
Director of Salem Senior Services Patti Drelick talked about all of the benefits provided to the town through charity gaming.
"Without the ability to be part of the charitable gaming at Rockingham Park, I'm not quite sure we'd be able to bring what we have done to the seniors of our community," she said.
In 2012 alone, a total of $1,980,000 was raised through charitable gaming, Drelick said.
"Please keep the rose-colored glasses on and appreciate what (gaming) will do not only for our whole community but for the state as well," she added.
Local businessman Howie Glynn also made points similar to Drelick, saying that games of chance have benefited various areas of Salem.
"If we stand by and do nothing, our charitable gaming revenues will dry up," he said.
Reggie
5:56 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Prediction. 70% vote PRO GAMBLING on March 12th.
Love NH
1:37 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Prediction. 70% of Salem's Reps vote against Gambling regardless of the outcome of the citizens vote.
Mica Johansen
6:02 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
If gambling in Salem doesn't happen this session, Salem and the state needs to do everything possible do get this area developed as a downtown area.
F Jackie Marlow
6:56 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Salem and the state are trying to do the one thing that will work there. If there was another solution it would have been done long ago. What else would a developer do with that site, another mall, low rent housing, plant corn? There has to be a venue that not only brings people to the site, but is economically viable. No developer is going to dump a pile of money in to a "downtown" area that has no income possiblility or attraction.
At this point it appears as the Governor, the senate, some of the house,Salem government and a fair amount of the residents are in favor of this. What needs to happen next is that the state reps, who by defininition represent the residents of Salem, have to vote in favor and work to get their colleagues in line on this. Otherwise, they should be run out of town.
Jeff Hatch
9:53 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Let me say up front that I wouldn't mind having the casino here in Salem. But I must point out how much this issue has changed over the past few years. When this first started it was about bringing in slots which in turn would up the purses so Rockingham could bring back live racing. The current bill includes table games, slots... sounds like we're now talking about a full casino operation and the talk about live racing has stopped. So is it really about saving Rockingham Park as a racing institution or is it just about saving it's name? Hopefully someone in the know will read this and provide us with some insight.
Scott-NH
12:13 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It's been my impression all along that the people wanting to buy Rockingham want to model the facility after their Meadows Gaming & Racino in W. Penn. It has slots, gaming tables, a live horse racing track along with a few restaurants, a bowling alley and a food court.
One thing the Meadows is not, is a "high end" casino/racino. Since the people intending on buying The Rock haven't laid out a detailed rendering of their goals, there are questions, I agree. If we are getting a Meadows model, it won't be able to compete with the Wynn or MGM type casino's that are trying to establish in MA, the Meadows is a much lower quality venue.
If we are getting something high end and still keeping the racing alive, then it's the best of all worlds, but a mediocre casino w/ live racing won't benefit us in the long run and I, as a voter like the idea of a casino coming to Salem, but I don't want to vote on a referendum approving one if I don't have the knowledge of what I am getting.
Riley Reid
3:43 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Not one Salem State Rep spoke in favor of this.
Bob Elliott
10:48 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Riley, the Finance Committee had a private meeting with the Governor on this issue when she presented her budget last week. Marilinda and I are on that committee. Five of the nine Salem reps. favor gambling. Rep.s Sytek, Bic, and the Garcia's oppose it. Our positions are well known by all, and Love is wrong in saying 70% of us oppose it. The truth is about 55% of us approve of it.
Riley Reid
2:41 pm on Thursday, February 21, 2013
Salem voters should rally and call for Rep (doubling dipping still teaching and collecting a retirement) Sytek, Bic and the (we love Bill O'Brien) Garcia sisters to STEP DOWN NOW! They are not representing Salem
Anthony Arnold
12:47 pm on Sunday, February 24, 2013
Based on the article and what the Town Manager mentioned is it a surprise that the Salem PD and the PD Unions would not be on board with gambling in Salem. It’s a no brainer gambling would increase police details and require more officers. The real question is what would it do to the quality of life in Salem? Yes it would generate more money for the town but it would also cost the town more to run. It would increase traffic to Salem in addition to the weekend rush from MA to buy tax free goods, Beer and Cigarettes. South Broadway is vacant and would stay that way because all traffic would go to Exit 1. So the only question is would the quality of life in Salem be better for all residents or just the PD, FD, DPW workers and the town managers annual salary.