Wonderland's Doors Will Finally Shut

In a move that should surprise no one, the state accepted Wonderland's request to transfer its license to simulcast dog races to Suffolk Downs. It should be noted that the group that owns Suffolk also owns Wonderland, which makes it likely that they're consolidating the operations at Suffolk Downs, so it would no longer make sense to keep Wonderland.

Given the fact that there's a major redevelopment effort being made just across the street -- both at the Wonderland T stop on the Blue Line and surrounding it -- it just makes sense for Suffolk Downs to sell the property now. Given a few years, the potential development that could be built on what's currently Wonderland, as well as what's going on across the street, Revere and the surrounding area could be poised for a real economic boon.

On the other hand, from a no-slots perspective, this cements Suffolk's position as the regional gambling powerhouse, helping their balance sheets by being able to divest in Wonderland, which helps them keep Suffolk open. I wouldn't care about any of that, save for the fact that it strengthens their ability to fight for slots. Suffolk is the #1 force behind the yearly quest for casinos and racinos in Massachusetts, so it would have been nice to see that fly finally swatted.

Attn Wonderland and Raynham Park

I'm just wondering if you've finally decided to allow your workers to receive state help in retraining -- or if you're going to continue to toy with their lives in your attempt to control the public debate by using their very plight to attempt to further your last-gasp attempts at profiteering?

Thanks,

Ryan

RaceTracks: Just in Time!

Wonderland decided to finally pay its taxes.

REVERE - Owners of Wonderland Greyhound Park wired a lump sum payment yesterday of $752,301 to the City of Revere to cover two years' worth of back taxes and utility bills

No, they weren't worried about the Question 3. They were worried about their license.

The payment makes the track current on its debts to the city through Dec. 30, takes it out of foreclosure, and comes just in time for a reapplication hearing for its operating license this afternoon with the State Racing Commission.

Once upon a time, rumor has it, there were consequences for not paying property taxes: property seizure. Apparently, those rules only apply to people, not special interests. With enough lobbyists and allies in government, two years of tax evasion is no biggie. The Mayor of Revere didn't mind much, but then again he wasn't one of the dozens in Revere to be laid off over the past few years, dozens who wouldn't have lost their jobs if Wonderland paid its share in taxes.

Of course, people can hold Wonderland accountable on Tuesday, even if state officials won't. Vote Yes on 3.

Race Tracks, Lies and Broken Regulations

Come November 4th, it's no big secret that one of the most important questions facing voters will be Question 3 - the ballot question that could phase out Greyhound Racing by 2010. The efforts of the Committee to Protect Dogs is already well under way. What's been puzzling, though, is the fact that the Greyhound Tracks have remained relatively quiet. Oh, sure, they've spun some interesting tales to reporters, but it's not really working. So what, exactly, do they have under their sleeves?

The Committee to Protect Dogs and Jobs. You've heard it here first. A Washington, D.C. lobbyist named Read Martin ordered the domain name ProtectDogsandJobs.org, a site that's currently under construction. Most voters wouldn't be aware of this, but Read Martin is a business associate of Glenn Totten, of Totten Communications, hired by Raynham Park as a politician consultant to defeat the 2000 attempt to ban Greyhound Racing, which was the closest ballot question fight in Massachusetts state history.

So what's the big deal here? Two things - first, it's clear that because the Race Tracks in Massachusetts know they can't win the battle of ideas, they're going to try to confuse the voters. Already posted to Youtube are videos of cute little dogs and their adoptive parents - with one add titled Adopt a Massachusetts Greyhound, Vote No on 3. They're trying to send the message that if you really want to help Greyhounds, you should vote no on 3. Of course, they're skipping the maiming and the sufferring parts.

Even more important than trying to create a campaign solely meant on confusing voters is the fact that it appears as if state law is being violated. Why? The Committee to Protect Dogs and Jobs has not been filed with the State OCPF, the organization that oversees campaign finance law for state elections. As a ballot question campaign, they are required to file with the state before they start raising any money - and certainly before they spend any of it.

From the OCPF website itself:

Political Committees and Other Organizations

A political committee is a committee that raises money for a specific political purpose, such as:

The election of a single candidate (candidate's committee);
The election or defeat of one or more candidates (political action or people's committee);
The promotion of a particular party (state and local party committees); or
The passage or defeat of a ballot question (ballot question committee).

Before it can raise funds for its specified purpose, a committee must be properly organized with OCPF or, if applicable, a local election official.

Emphasis mine.

Of course, as with anything this cynical and irregular, the bludgeon they keep hitting themselves with doesn't stop. Among those sweet, kind-hearted videos on the Youtube site are a few claims that are flat out wrong. In fact, the very title of the ad - "Adopt a Greyhound, Vote No on 3" - is misleading, at best. Adopting Greyhounds and voting no on 3 have nothing to do with each other.

But it only gets worse from there. The first text to pop up on the featured ad is, in fact, false. The ad claims that the Greyhound adoption rate in Massachusetts is 100% - all Massachusetts Greyhounds are placed in a loving, caring home. Not exactly. According to the Massachusetts State Racing Commission, only 14% of track dogs end up being adopted in Massachusetts. For the math-challenged among us, that means the lobbyists are off by a whopping 86% - 65% of the dogs in Massachusetts are just sent to a new track, out of state and out of mind, where we can't keep track of them. Perhaps those are states that don't have such strict regulations as Massachusetts in terms of reporting what actually happens to Greyhounds at Wonderland and Raynham.

The second number that pops up in the same ad is a claim that can only be described as misleading. The ad claims that the state's race tracks have "contributed" $1.34 million to Greyhound Adoption agencies from 2000-2007. In fact, that's false. In 2001, a law drafted by Grey2K was carried by State Representative Pat Jehlin, establishing the Retired Greyhound Care and Adoption Council. Under this law, a portion of the taxes that the state was already collecting from gamblers spending money at Raynham and Wonderland was redirected to this council: that was the funding mechanism. So, in essence, it's the people who gamble at these tracks who have "contributed" these funds, not the tracks themselves.

Moreover, if the money weren't redirected to this Council, it would have been sent directly to the state's coffers. So let's not confuse this money with a generous donation that's being handed down from the industry to the adoption agencies in anyway, whatsoever. While it's good that the state has directed some funding to adoptive services, it's a small band aid on a gaping wound. The very reason for the fund's very existence would evaporate if we began to phase out Greyhound Racing in Massachusetts.

So let's try to get this all straight: the dog tracks are currently in the process of setting up their campaign to defeat Question 3. Their chief tactic appears to be confusing the voters, making them think that voting no on 3 will help Greyhounds. Furthermore, their campaign is currently violating OCPF campaign finance regulations in Massachusetts. I guess this all this shadowy mess is par for the course with the dog track industry - it's not as if they haven't tried to mislead and lie to the voters before.

Crossposted at BlueMassGroup.

"Long and Trusted Relationship." Ha!

From the State House News Report: Governor Patrick thankfully refused to support a bailout of the Wonderland Race Track - and their refusal to pay property taxes. Don't worry, though, Wonderland and Revere's Mayor have worked it all out...

In a statement, Wonderland executive Dick Dalton said, "We take full responsibility and have taken immediate action to arrange a payment plan to settle the arrears. We have spoken with Mayor [Joseph] Ambrosino and expressed our deep regrets for any inconvenience we have caused the City of Revere. The City of Revere has been a long and trusted partner and we value our continued relationship with the community.

There's a long and trusted relationship? What part of 'long and trusted' and 'relationship' is withholding more than $800,000 dollars? In long and trusted relationships, does one party take all the money and run? Or do they go years in which one party doesn't pay the legally required taxes to the other? How many layoffs did that $800,000 lead to in the city of Revere - how's that for long and trusted?

It's a relationship, all right, and certainly long - but trusted? Revere is the long and abused wife, who's just starting to work up the courage to leave. Certainly, this $800,000 fiasco will do wonders for the community - in convincing them that they don't need Wonderland Race Track and the hundred favors every year it'll need just to stay open. It's not good for the community one bit, not only are hundreds of dogs being injured there every year, but they can't even manage to pay their own taxes. It's time we put this dog industry out of its misery - and I thank the fine folks at Wonderland for making my case for me.

This is the Industry We're Protecting

The Dog Track industry is so profitable and important to the Massachusetts economy that Wonderland Race Track is about to be foreclosed on. And, no, this doesn't even have to do with the mortgage lending crisis... they owe the city of Revere more than $800,000 in back taxes!

REVERE - Revere city officials have begun foreclosure proceedings on Wonderland Greyhound Park for failure to pay $789,293 in taxes over the last two years.

Wonderland Park, the city's eighth biggest taxpayer and now the city's largest tax delinquent, also owes $16,673.70 in water and sewer bills, said George M. Anzuoni, Revere's director of finance. The figures were calculated through Aug. 1 and include interest and fees.

Don't worry, though. When you're a government-protected industry, you don't have to worry about silly things like not paying taxes.

The track has been delinquent since 2006, city officials said. But city councilors were surprised to learn last week that the track was able to obtain annual liquor and restaurant licenses, as well as a special permit for parking at a track-owned parking lot while delinquent on taxes. That is a violation of a local ordinance.

This is why we need to make sure the ballot question to end dog track racing passes. The lobby is too strong - and nervous about profits - to trust just to die off on its own, as one would think would be inevitable. They'll keep trying for other revenue streams to add to their tracks, like the even more nefarious slots, which in the end will only serve to keep these dogs down and promote their sufferring. Enough is enough.

HT David.

7 Greyhounds Break Legs in 6 Days

From a press release I received today:

Raynham, MA – According to state records obtained by the Committee to Protect Dogs, seven greyhounds suffered broken legs at Massachusetts racetracks during a six-day span in June. The records indicate that three of the dogs will require a full year to recover from their devastating injuries while another greyhound will need six months to heal.

“Every month, we receive new reports of dogs suffering broken legs and other serious injuries while racing at tracks in our state,” said MSPCA-Angell President Carter Luke. “In some cases the dogs limp away facing a year of recovery and rehabilitation while other greyhounds leave their lives on the track. It is time for Massachusetts’ citizens to end this cruelty and vote yes on Question 3.”

Greyhound racing... a little harmless fun, right? Wrong. There were actually 8 Greyhounds that were seriously injured in June. That's in addition to the 9 last month. There's an epidemic here - one that voters can cure by voting Yes on Question Three in November.

Update:

Oops - I was wrong. Eight dogs weren't seriously injured in June - there were 11. It was even worse than I thought. In fact, 8 dogs were injured in June at Wonderland alone!

Here We Go With the Jobs, Again

From today's State House News Service (sorry, SHNS doesn't allow links):

TRACKS MAKE LAST-DITCH SLOTS BID
Track owners facing long odds are making a closing plea to lawmakers to approve slot machines at the state’s four tracks, arguing that the Commonwealth would have an extra $1.5 billion and 4,000 union jobs on hand if they had joined the Senate in sanctioning the gambling machines two years ago.

“The legislation coming before you this month will put expanded gambling where it belongs: At the four Massachusetts racetracks that are zoned for gambling, are in communities that embrace the jobs and revenues from these businesses and are owned and operated locally,” wrote Richard Dalton of Wonderland Greyhound Park and Gary Piontkowski of Plainridge Racecourse in a letter to legislators.

Where it belongs? I don't think so. If anyone believes Richard Dalton - that Racinos will create 4,000 new jobs and give the Commonwealth $1.5 billion a year, I have a bridge I'd like you to come take a look at.

For the record, Rhode Island's singular Racino claims to be on the verge of bankruptcy. Why, exactly, would we expect Massachusetts's four race tracks to do any better? Correct me if I'm wrong, doesn't more competition lead to less profits?

Heck, two of the tracks in Massachusetts are within 2.4 miles of each other, or 3-4 subway stops. (Yes, Massachusetts has given both tracks their own Subway stop - talk about government propping up an industry!)


View Larger Map

Is that what we want Massachusetts to look like? Racinos within spitting distance of each other?

The Casino Job Mythos

One of the biggest reasons some people claim to support casinos is for the jobs. It's one of the age-old arguments - that casinos create jobs time infinity, all of which provide decent benefits. Of course, it's another age-old phenomenon that the pro-casino lobby usually lies, distorts and cheats it's way to their much ballyhooed numbers. Anyone remember those 25,000 construction jobs? Yeah, right.

Well, as the casino debate in Massachusetts shifts to Racinos this summer, it's important for everyone, including Beacon Hill, to note that the Racino Lobby is as gifted with their math as the Casino Lobby - 25,000 construction jobs being only the most laughable example. Need a refresher? Let's take a look at what George Carney, owner of the Raynham tracks, has said in the past:

Falsehood #1

"I'm sticking with 650 [jobs]."

George Carney continuously claims to employ 650 people at the Raynham Racetrack. Of course, according to the Census, the actual number is less than 250 - including part timers. Specifically, between 100 and 249. Oops.

How gross is that lie? Well, if you combine all the race tracks in this state - dog, horse, car, whatever - there's 707 employees, according to the Massachusetts Department of Labor. So, George Carney claims to employ almost as many racing-related jobs as the entire industry of Massachusetts. George, we know you're big, but not that big!

What tangled webs we weave. Let's pretend George is right - he has 650 employees. George also released documents that give definitive labor costs for the Raynham Track. Here's George's labor costs over a 9 month period in '06:

Taunton Dog Track, Inc. – “casual labor” $8,800
Taunton Dog Track, Inc. – “salaries and wages” $544,500
Massasoit Greyhound Association – “contract labor expense” $1,980,092
Massasoit Greyhound Association – “salaries and wages” $2,622,384
Total: $5,155,776

So, if George's claims are right and he truly employs 650 people, there's some very simple math to do. 650/5,155,776 = $7,931. Either George is paying his 650 minimum wage or less (and he claims his jobs are good jobs), or he's completely full of himself. Even George knows his math is as fuzzy as a pair of over-used tennis balls.

Now, if George really employs ~200 people, that number is a more reasonable $25,779. Sound about right?

Falsehood #2

"If the ban on dog racing wins approval... it could eliminate 6,000 to 8,000 jobs at the two tracks."

Right off the bat, we've deduced that Carney employs between 100 and 249 employees at Raynham. Let's be generous and round up to 250. If that's the case, the other park in question, Wonderland Racetrack, would have to employ between 5,750 to 7,750 jobs. Of course, according to Census numbers, that's laughable. Note to George: they couldn't fit that many cars in the Wonderland Parking Lot.

In 2002, Wonderland employed between 250 and 499 full time and part time employees. Of course, there's probably even less now, given recent trends at Race Tracks in Massachusetts and across the country. In fact, Wonderland even threatened that if it doesn't get its way with Racinos, it'll shut up shop and close for good. Good riddance. With hundreds of millions being invested just across the street on the beach, as well as a T station even closer, there's limitless possibilities for those acres to be used, which could bring more and better jobs for the area - industries that aren't so prone to lie, distort and cheat about their numbers.