For a company cynics assert is just here for show, MGM Resorts is spending mightily to build public support for a proposed $675 million waterfront resort for the East End, a neighborhood in need of an economic jolt. An MGM mail piece hit city mail boxes during the week as various casino constituencies slot positioning in the current session of the General Assembly that must approve any casino expansion for Connecticut.
The proposal requires state legislative support because of a gaming monopoly the state granted Connecticut’s two tribal nations in exchange for 25 percent of the slot take, a number MGM officials assert is dwindling with a promise of more revenue to the state including an up-front $50 million licensing fee upon a green light. MGM has given state officials swimming in red ink something to think about as legislators seek new revenues streams. MGM pegs its revenue flow to the state at more than $300 million annually.
Protecting its casino turf, the two tribal nations that operate Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun have joined forces to remind state legislators new gaming without them violates the state gaming compact and with it the current, yet dwindling, slot revenue flow. Protecting its Connecticut market against MGM’s nearly $ billion Springfield, Mass. gaming facility under construction, the tribal nations were awarded by the state a site in East Windsor to build a casino on non-tribal land. The East Windsor deal has been slowed, however, by sign-off inaction from the federal regulatory Department of Interior.
So MGM says this and the tribal nations say that while state legislators weigh the most advantageous economic impact.
Meanwhile, part of the equation is making sure there’s buy-in by Bridgeport residents. Polling shows city residents’ overwhelming support for MGM’s proposal. Gaming bills for an open, competitive process will be debated by the General Assembly. The process would likely include a non-binding referendum by residents of the host city.
The city is back to the future with this gaming issue. In 1995 the State Senate rejected a proposal for a Bridgeport gaming enterprise led by the Mashantucket Pequot Nation that operates Foxwoods. What’s different this time? Connecticut state budget is drowning in red ink.
Last September MGM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren, a Bridgeport native, shared details of a $675 million waterfront resort for the East End creating thousands of construction and permanent jobs, a guarantee $8 million annually to the city as the host community in addition to millions more from real estate and personal property and building permits. MGM Resorts International is partnering with the RCI Group, developers of Steelpointe Harbor, to build a casino on the old Carpenter Technology site on Seaview Avenue. The proposal seeks no public subsidy.
MGM Bridgeport calls for 2,000 slot machines, 160 table games, a 700-seat theater, a 300-room hotel, retail and multiple dining options.
MGM official Uri Clinton says if the proposal is approved it will take 30 months to complete the project. “It’s funded and shovel-ready,” he said. MGM officials add that Bridgeport’s proximity to Fairfield County and New York markets make it the most attractive location in Connecticut.
Meanwhile, the positioning continues between MGM and the tribal nations.
Could a marriage be made between the gaming giants?
As Yogi often said: ” it’s Déjà Vu All Over Again!”
It’s time for Bridgeport to see a fork in the road and take it.
http://articles.courant.com/1995-01-16/news/9501160024_1_slot-machines-mashantucket-pequot-new-casinos/2
Uri Clinton and the other Judas goats are misleading the residents of the East Side. This not going to happen.
its few and far between that a company wants to invest 700million into a crumbling inner city, but still some people cant stop complaining
No matter what happens here no business is going to benefit the Stratford Avenue corridor as it is right now. There is nothing to offer anyone,but trouble or worse.
The new building going up across from Bass Pro is going to be a restaurant,bar marina,two apartments above and 100 boat slips. Two more are scheduled to be built,what exactly I do not know.
There is no reason for any patron who visits there to venture below I-95 and no further down East Main Street than to the on ramp to I-95.
While I dont think, feel or believe that this Casino will be built by either the Tribal Nation’s or MGM the jobs are much needed. I think Bridgeport residents will be shortchanged by Joe Ganim because he needed an ally in his run for governor so he outsourced the job’s program and training program through New Haven for Toni Harp’s assistance. Why in Hell should Bridgeport residents have to go to New Haven to apply and train for a position in their city?
Mayor Joe Ganim you need to be ashamed of yourself for selling out the city and resident’s that you proclaimed to love for your pie in sky run for governor. While I’ve only been here since 1968 can someone enlighten me on what New Haven has done for Bridgeport in those 50 years other than giving me my lovely wife of 27 years? At this point it really doesn’t matter if the casino comes because Mayor Ganim has assured that Bridgeport residents will get handed the shitty end of the stick. Thanks Mayor Ganim.
I am in agreement with you on that point, Donald. Most of the casino labor pool is going to come from the New Haven area. Unless Jim Mirren is serious about helping his hometown. If he is MGM would open a recruiting office in downtown Bridgeport.
Don, Stringfellow has it right when he said,
“No matter what happens here no business is going to benefit the Stratford Avenue corridor and the new building going up across from Bass Pro is going to be a restaurant, bar marina, two apartments above and 100 boat slips. Two more are scheduled to be built, what exactly I do not know.”
“There is no reason for any patron who visits there to venture below I-95 and no further down East Main Street than to the on ramp to I-95.” None of this will do anything for downtown Bridgeport. Bridgeport got played by New Haven by having the job’s program and training program in New Haven. I’ve always said that New Haven mayor, Toni Harp should be the Democrat candidate for governor but she doesn’t want to run. If it was up to the voters to choose between Ganim and Harp there’s no doubt that Harp would win.
While my preference for an economic-revitalization trajectory for Bridgeport would be via advanced manufacturing — using our “natural” resources and getting back to our prosperity roots, in that regard — the only source of “wherewithal” in our struggle against the Gold Coast economic oppression that denies Bridgeport virtually any local jobs/job development/tax-base options, is gambling money. Gambling money is abundant, powerful, single-minded and impervious to elitist preferences/influences in a way, and to a degree, capable of countering the callous indifference and greed of the Gold Coast/suburban elitists that have used economic leverage/POLITICAL CORRUPTION (at high levels) to maintain Bridgeport, and other urban areas, as socioeconomically-distressed “servants quarters” toward the maintenance of their segregated, elitist lifestyles…
Gambling interests will use their money and focus to break the Gold Coast economic blockade of Bridgeport. A Bridgeport casino — or two, or three — will bring business and residential tax relief, jobs, capital, and political-economic power/leverage to Bridgeport in a way that will allow the rebuilding of a robust, diversified, prosperity-creating economy to Bridgeport. Casino-gambling might be viewed as an “evil” and socioeconomic negative for Bridgeport by some, but the unemployment, oppressive taxation, and related crime and misery that define the current state of our city represent a much larger, much more real evil, that can only grow in damaging intensity in the face of our continued political/economic helplessness and oppression.
War is evil — but it is sometimes necessary when facing destructive oppressors… Bridgeport is at economic war with Connecticut’s elitists, and our only available “saving” weapon is the “nuclear” casino bomb… We have no choice but to use it if we are to survive to see a better day in our city…
And, in order to create the necessary political leverage in Hartford and DC to create some casino “boot straps” for Bridgeport, we need allies and have to share in the casino wealth in some manner with cities, such as New Haven, in order to bring such allies into our fold as we wage political war…
So; in the context detailed above, I couldn’t be a stronger casino proponent… First casinos, then factories!!
(When do the buses leave for the Hartford and DC pro-casino rallies?!)
So Jeff you’re saying that this unholy alliance between Bridgeport and New Haven would have been done whether or not Mayor Ganim was running for Governor or not and the reliance upon Bridgeport residents to travel to New Haven is in the city’s best interest?
I trust that you are keenly aware that his new security person as well as his campaign manager are both New Haven residents? You are to sharp to buy into this BS, but like you I do favor a city Casino.
I am not going to comment pro or con on the casino. I would like to recommend however to our state and local legislator that any education funds negotiated be given directly to the educational institutions rather than going into the general fund. (Remember how well that worked out with the lottery?).
Furthermore, this can be a shortcut by the state to fix the ECS formula by divvying up an additional portion of gaming revenues between the localities, with preferences given first to Bridgeport. We will, after all, be hosting and subject to, additional traffic and the resulting increased burden on our infrastructure. Any remaining earmarks could go to other underfunded districts.
I also ask that the city council, when creating the host community agreement, to ask for extra $$$ to be given directly to Bridgeport public schools via our foundation and not have it pass through the city budget. This would lessen the chance of the city trying to play shell games with the money and use it to meet it’s ECS requirement.
Just one guys thoughts.
I will be going to springfield in 2 months for their casino up north. In 1 year I will be returning to help train the people for the Bridgeport casino. This all presupposes the corrupt politicians in this state don’t get as much from the two tribes as they normally get.
Donald: Just because New Haven gets some training facilities and training jobs related to BRIDGEPORT-CASINO staffing doesn’t mean the casino will be staffed by predominantly New Haven residents… This training facilities “bone” for New Haven backing Bridgeport in its casino bid is not that much, in an of itself. Bridgeport, in return for political support, must share some of the benefits with its allies; that is only reasonable/logical. Presumably, we will get the lion’s share (by far) of the tax-base, local support-business opportunities (tourist-related, etc.), local-capital expansion, and direct employment benefits. There has been no indication otherwise… To say, without any supportive evidence, at this point in time, that we have “been sold-out” in regard to the casino, just because a political ally has been promised some modest benefits by way of a casino-supportive role (as opposed to our lucrative, “host” role), just doesn’t conform to logic…
Allies must share in the benefits of the alliance in some measure, or the alliance can’t stand… New Haven is a natural, logical, political ally in the Bridgeport-led quest for Bridgeport redemption and municipal equity in Connecticut. In this regard, in the context of the truly “unholy” Gold Coast-Hartford Axis alliance, New Haven’s cooperation with Bridgeport in the Bridgeport-led struggle for urban/distressed-municipality redemption in Connecticut, is key to the winning of that struggle (against the Gold Coast Elitist-Hartford Axis)…
For New Haven and Bridgeport to have close relations and exchange some city-government talent is not a bad thing, either — so long as the most important roles are not exchanged or surrendered, as was the case with Stamford-elected-official David Kooris serving as economic development director for Bridgeport under the Finch Administration (especially in the context of the waging by Stamford of the decades-long, undeclared, “colonialist” economic war against Bridgeport…)
So, Donald, I think that you’re being a bit reactionary about the casino-issue/Bridgeport-New Haven alliance in this early stage of the game… It is the absence of urban/municipal alliances in this state — a state DIVIDED in nearly 150 ways (if the Gold Coast+Hartford-Area Alliance alliance is excluded from a starting number of 169) — that has allowed our cities, and essentially the entire state, to continue downward in the economic depths of depression even as essentially all of the rest of the country prospers…
Not necessarily. Little Joe has a habit of selling out on his supporters.
Just say Yes!
Say yes to the dress, Steven…
Bridgeport Kid – you are a disturbed creep. Do not ever respond to any of my posts please. You prove yourself ver nd over again to be a degenerate. Please for Lennie’s sake. I am not interested in beig part of this one sided party and I relly find it painful to respond to hateful, miserable, negative individual. Your attempt to suck the life out of me is in vain. This will be forever my last response to one of your asshole comments. The last time. Lennie can do with you what he wants but I’d prefer you stop stalking me , it creeps me out. You have embarrassed yourself enough. I am publicly king for you to stop provoking me. Lennie is clearly
incapable of doing this and I have become way to bored to be part of this hateful show. You say yes to the dress. I say have another drink and enjoy yourself, not at my expense. Deric Brown, Please just make believe I am not commenting on this blog. Try your best. If you don’t tell anyone I have a wooden DXXK , I won’t tell anyone you have splinters in your mouth.
king– asking relly—really
If you don’t like being called on your bullshit there’s a simple lotion: DO NOT POSTIN A PUBLIC FORUM, period. 99.44% of the time you’re asking for it, Steven. Take a pill and get over yourself.
Asking for it? Not one of my comments is provoking you to insult me. Keep telling yourself that. The truth is, you make yourself look like an ass. By responding to you I make myself look like an ass.
That oesn’t explain the name calling and derogatory comments you have used in the past, words that were provoked by my not holding the same opinion as you about what is best for Bridgeport. Remember that, Stevie? You called me a scumbag among other epithets because I believe the people of the city of Bridgeport deserve clean air and clean water before a casino. But nooooooooooooo, you think a casino on the waterfront is more important than environmental concerns. After all, the abandoned industrial properties leaking toxic chemicals into the groundwater are located in residential neighborhoods full of renters that don’t oay taxes. In your estimation they deserve to live in a toxic environment because they have the unmitigated gall to live on disability psyments and EBT benifits in Section 8 housing while you have
to pay taxes on your house. Thst’s your thinking. Your ords don’t lie. You are as easy to read as a comic book. Your prejudices and economic bigotry Is as plain as day. there’s no denying it. You don’t like poor people, the disabled or anyone else tht needs the other leg up.
You are a socioeconomic bigot, Steven. What’s worse, you are shameless about it.
Derik , You need to respect other peoples opinions. Anything I have said to you was provoked by you. If you have OCD and will always repond to me based on everything I have ever said than I will again ask you to please just let it go and stop being obsessive. Clearly, we see life through completely different eyes. Lets agree to disagree and let’s agree that you do not respect my opinions and we are both guests on Lennie Grimaldi’s blog.
You ought to stick with the Old Testament. “Fountainhead” just ain’t working for you.
?
Jeff while I agree with most of what you’re saying I don’t think you can’t truly believe that, ” New Haven is a natural, logical, political ally in the Bridgeport-led quest for Bridgeport redemption and municipal equity in Connecticut.” You talk as if New Haven has Bridgeport’s best interest in mind as opposed to doing what’s in the best interest of New Haven.
Jeff, let me break this down in an easily understood format, certainly Bridgeport residents could drive to New Haven to apply and to get training for these jobs. Certainly Bridgeport residents can take the train or the bus to New Haven to apply and train for these jobs. But why should Bridgeport resident’s have a harder time applying and training for a job in Bridgeport than a New Haven resident has for a job in Bridgeport. That sounds like that Gold Coast logic that I’ve heard you berate where Bridgeport resident’s are treated like 2nd class citizens for the benefit of another area or city. Isn’t that a difference without a distinction.
I think that all the supporters of this casino, of which I am one, should know that MGM charges money for the training. If MGM wants the park city, one stipulation should be FREE TRAINING SCHOOL. If you doubt this, go to mccti.org. This gives the price breakdown.
Charlie, according to MGM official Uri Clinton that’s not the case for the Bridgeport project. There is no cost for training. It will be at MGM’s expense.
That is good but that commitment should be in writing. The two Indian tribes don’t have sick days. If they want in they should commit in writing to not penalize for getting sick. Professional politicians never think of this
It’s all about the votes. A lot of moving parts that will require much horse trading to get to the finish line.
To the Rock Throwers, the Naysayers and the Doubting Thomases!
The only true way to know if and when the MGM Casino is coming to Bridgeport.
Is when, the most Reverend Carl McCluster opens his (Holier Than Thou Casino Dealers Training School) in the basement of Shiloh Baptist Church.
When asked if there is any room for the Casino Dealers and the PSEG Apprentices McCluster said “ Will fit them all in”!
What will the students recieve upon successful completion of McCluster’s course, a cheap plastic crucifix to hang from the rear view mirror?
Yes,
Right up there with a pair of Fuzzy Dice!
If we want more and better jobs, the more sound approach is for the city and state to reduce government expenses and taxes so there will be more incentives for businesses to invest! The idea of a casino is a distraction for State and local officials to continue their bad habits and fail to apply the due diligence and discipline that we need !!
So what city and state expense do you want to cut?
There you go again…
At the municipal level, there need to be proper audits with focus on union contracts, contracts for services, City Attorney budget, patronage jobs, the mayor bridging his employment and city council stipends for starters. The City Council needs its own legal counsel and the mayor shouldn’t be allowed to preside over City Council meetings. These are some suggestions to improve governance, reduce spending and inspiring confidence for businesses to invest!
What do you mean “proper audits with focus on union contracts?” There is a collective bargaining process between the City and the union and the City Council votes on. Now what about the State, you said nothing about?
Ron, on the state budget, there are at least 25% of those incarcerated in state prisons who are fully innocent of what they are charged or convicted. Eliminating those from the prison population could reduce the budget of the Dept. of Corrections by $250 million.
So what do you propose to do in eliminating those from the prison? Ideas and concepts is one thing but to get something passed is another thing.
Ron, for one thing, I have been proposing for over a decade judicial reform. Much of the problem of a bloated prison population begins with the courts and the systematic preferences and biases there. Also, regarding revision of union contracts, while there may be collective bargaining and City Council approval (at the municipal level), in Bridgeport the single-party Democrat system coupled with a City Council which is not properly separate from the Executive Branch tends to Democrat officials who are unusually tied politically to the unions to favor unions and fear potential union backlash against reality treatment. For this, a political bubble has developed which is working against the broader public interests. This needs attention, not a bandaid or a distraction!
Ethan,
The 25% you speak of are are held in pretrial detention. More than a few of them are considered flight risks because of the severity of the crimes they are charged with. Then there are the defendants charged with nonviolent crimes, the poor shmucks that can’t raise the 10% required to bond out even for bail set as low as $500.00. The problem is not the DOC, it is the bail bonds system in the state of Connecticut. Nonviolent offenders should be released PTA, not bound over in a community correctionl center.
Get your facts straight.
Donald:
That might have been sufficient, but the complete response is as follows:
Donald: Surely you know the definitions of “alliance” and “pragmatic.” Try to imagine this present economic development scenario under another administration (of your choosing) at such time as you would have become a Bridgeport resident and voter…
And Ethan: Look at what tax-giveaway incentives have done to Bridgeport in recent years. They have brought only heavily-subsidized (by Bridgeport!), work-force housing for Stamford, such that Bridgeport has developed potentially- valuable tax-base location for tax-less development that will cost Bridgeport taxpayers heavily for decades per new infrastructure and services that these developments require… (A great deal for Stamford/the ‘burbs!). Otherwise, such giveaways — that Bridgeport obviously can ill-afford — have brought only (essentially jobless), tax-abated retail (on waterfront land!) that will ultimately require many $million$ in new infrastructure and services that, per special-taxation agreements, will preclude any tax benefits from ever reaching the taxpayers of Bridgeport (and indeed, will preclude the recovery of the taxpayer investment that allowed the development…).
So Ethan; you recommend that Bridgeport invest more taxpayer money to lose more taxpayer money!
Bridgeport needs a cash-rich, self-funding, city-courting investor that will pay big taxes and fund major infrastructure and service improvements up-front — while bringing serious jobs, ancillary development/jobs, and capital to Bridgeport that will leverage further development. Only a casino/gambling interests meet this description… Otherwise, only the state and federal government can help us (actually, only the feds — since Connecticut is essentially bankrupt and indisputably dysfunctional…), and the state and federal government are determined to maintain the status quo, in any event…
So; if we don’t embrace a casino cash-machine coming to Bridgeport, we can just watch our fortunes make one last cycle around the proverbial toilet bowl and call it a day [as we put our homes up for (very underpriced) sale…
Jeff, I didn’t recommend more tax giveaway incentive programs. Rather I talked about improving the economic base (i.e., reducing government spending to be able to reduce taxes) which, by itself, would make Bridgeport more attractive to investors.
I am looking for and not finding the equation…….
MGM is coming to town to make a $675 Million investment in a waterfront resort……jobs…etc…..etc……etc…..a reduction in mil rate????(but only if the Mayor and Council do not increase City budget to require a 54 mil rate?? Would a new $675 Million facility add perhaps $500 Million to the TAXABLE Grand List? At least before depreciation kicks in? So would that be $20-25 Million more in annual taxes?? wHAT DOES PROMOTER SPEAK MEAN B $8 mILLION “ANNUALLY IN DIRECT PAYMENTS TO BRIDGEPORT’? Taxes? Why not call them that? And what about money for education??? Silence? Time will tell.
Jeff, I am a strong proponent of Bridgeport casino because those $14 any hour and up jobs are needed. I have family, friends others that are Bridgeport resident’s who would relish those jobs. I have friend’s that work two full time jobs to provide for their families, two $10 or $11 per hour jobs.
Think a $15 an hour job can’t be life changing, a man his wife and son or daughter who all live in the same house get a $15 an hour job at the MGM. After one year this three person Household is now earning in excess of $93,000. Jeff, I fully understand the need, my only concern was if Bridgeport resident’s are going to be adequately represented as employees.
MGM’s proposal looks all glittery and smart but how many Bridgeport resudents will qualify for employment? Let’s face facts. More than a few people in Bridgeport have criminal records.
Derek, let’s start that line first with Joe Ganim.
Oh C’mon Derek, I came to Bridgeport in 1968 and know countless Bridgeport resident’s and most have NO criminal records. DOG WHISTLING? It’s unbecoming of you.
1968 was a longtime ago. Ten years ago an out of town cable television company (not Cablevision) tried o open a customer service center in Bridgeport. I called the number listed in the CT. Post advert and was told candidates had to have a clean police record. I was is qualified due to a misdemeanor marijuana conviction. I told the company rep “You’re gonna have a hard time filling positions in Bridgeport…” She replied “I’m finding that out.”
There are different requirements now with state law.
You say.
I want the people if the city of Bridgeport, the poor folks that need a second chance to be given the opportunity to work their way up. Everyone deserves a fresh start, once in a while.
Unfortunately the higher paying gigs at a casino will be going to imaculately groomed professionals with perfect résumés and no criminal records.
Points clarified, Donald. We’re on the same page with that “bottom line” concern…
Derek, what you’re offering is anecdotal evidence on your ascertain that Bridgeport has historically large population with a criminal background. Now may I suggest that you offer empirical evidence that would substantiate your baseless ascertains.
We’ve seen this before, Donald. It happened at Bass Pro. Most of sales floor jobs went to out of towners. Bridgeport folks were annished to the restaurant.
*bannished