With the latest polls showing more voters favor supporting Massachusetts’ casino law than repealing it, New England Public Radio asked people in downtown Springfield how they will vote.
Springfield resident Eric Headley intends to vote no on Question 3, saying he is not convinced a casino would increase negative activity, such as crime, in the city.
“The negativity is here right now without the casinos. And there should be a decrease in the negativity if those people that are causing the negativity have some employment. The chances are they’ll be doing something different than the negativity they’re doing. There’s no jobs right now,” says Headley.
But Holyoke resident Mel Smith calls the jobs argument false and will vote to repeal the casino law. He says a number of communities around the country, including Atlantic City, put their hopes in casinos and found them not to be the solution.
“Unfortunately this is the only idea that many of our city officials and leaders come up with for revenue development and community development. It’s a very sad thing,” Smith said.
Voters will decide whether casinos will be part of the Bay State economy or not.
