Tiverton Leaders Weighing Casino Proposal
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
A day after a big announcement from Twin River to move it’s newly acquired casino from Newport to Tiverton reaction in Tiverton is cautious.
Our first formal communication with Twin River came on Monday afternoon so just a few short hours before they went public,” Town Administrator Matt Wojcik said.
With so little lead time, it’s hard to tell how town leaders feel. Twin River officials chose to make the announcement first, then work with the town
Wojcik says ultimately the people will decide if they want a casino which is why Twin River hasn’t produced a full–scale proposal.
“They are actually very reluctant to do that and I understand why. They need the support of the community and the referendum so what they are trying to do is build a proposal that will enjoy the support f the people when it finally does goes to a vote,” he said.
When and if it goes to a vote is up to the town council.
Town council president Denise deMedeiros said she too just found out about the casino proposal on Monday and wanted to wait to comment until she had time to discuss with her town council. The hope is to do that in their meeting on May 4th.
John Edwards has represented Tiverton at the state house for 20 years and sees some positives in the idea, including its location.
“The one plus factor for this particular proposal is that it is up in the corner, right on the state line. It really does not effect or encroach on the town itself,” Edwards said. So I think there are some strong possibilities this will be looked upon favorably.“
Meanwhile a move would leave a large hole in Newport,but Mayor Jeanne–Marie Napolitano is confident they will fill it, as they did after the navy left in the 70’s.
“We’ve had to be a phoenix and rise from the ashes. And we have done that successfully and reinvented ourselves. Now it is a matter of offering full time year round jobs,” she said.
Napolitano says voters in the city have twice said no to table games so she doubts highly twin river would stay without them.
Meanwhile New Bedford mayor Jon Mitchell says the fact that Twin River Tiverton is being called a convenience casino should be a major red flag for residents there unlike the proposed casino in his city, which is less than a half hour from Tiverton’s site.
