New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
Casinos and South Coast Rail – the two items politicians love to tease us with. New Bedford residents have voted several times to support a casino only to have their hopes and dreams squashed by developers, politicians or political appointees.
Just a few years ago, voters in Massachusetts approved three resort casinos and a smaller one in Plainridge, but like legalized marijuana, politicians decided the peasants voice only matters on paper. The politicians rewrote the ballot question and decided no south coast, MA casino was needed. The threat of an Indian casino was enough to have the New Bedford casino developers pull out just a few feet from the finish line. Now a few New Bedford city councilors are hoping to entice the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to consider a casino in New Bedford.
The following motion was submitted to the New Bedford City Council during the January 25 session:
1. WRITTEN MOTION, Councillors Abreu, Lima, Giesta and Lopes, requesting, that the City of New Bedford send a letter to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) expressing support of their casino interest for the mainland Southeastern Massachusetts region; and further, the City of New Bedford could be poised to host such a casino, given its available space for potential economic development, strong workforce, solid public infrastructure, community support, and nearby location to Rhode Island and Cape Cod. (To be referred to Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Tribal Council, Mayor’s Office and the New Bedford Economic Development Council Office.)
The motion passed and was sent to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and New Bedford Economic Development Center.
Is there still hope for a New Bedford casino? Yes, if you consider a 0.0001% hope.
