Suffolk Downs

City Council may try to raise stakes in Filene's Hole battle

By adamg - 1/3/12 - 8:55 am

The Herald reports the City Council has formed a special committee on gambling. Part of its role will be to figure out if everybody in Boston should vote on allowing a casino at Suffolk Downs, but it may also attempt to leverage Vornado Realty Trust's 20% ownership of Suffolk Downs into getting it to do something about the Hole, of which it is the majority owner.

The mayor vs. the Krafts

By adamg - 12/3/11 - 11:54 am

The Herald reports on the looming battle royale between Tom Menino, who wants a casino at Suffolk Downs, and Robert Kraft, who wants a casino next to his football stadium/mall in Foxboro.

Should entire city get to vote on casino in East Boston?

By adamg - 9/23/11 - 5:38 am

State Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz wants to extend a referendum provision of the proposed state gambling bill from the area immediately around a casino to an entire municipality. The Dorchester Reporter explains why everybody in Boston should have a say in whether Suffolk Downs becomes a casino.

The connection between the Hole and a casino at Suffolk Downs

By adamg - 9/19/11 - 12:01 pm

Could the BRA's sudden kissie-kissie with evil Hole overlord Vornado have anything to do with Vornado's part ownership of the group that wants to build a casino at Suffolk Downs - the one the mayor is betting on? Jason Schwartz assumes 2+2=4.

Place your bets: East Boston vs. Milford

By adamg - 9/16/11 - 6:27 am

The Herald reports the mayor continues to back plans for a resort casino at Suffolk Downs, but that he'll have to fight off Milford, which is also expected to put in a bid for a gambling emporium.

Ed. question: The Herald actually says the racetrack's owners want to build a "resort-style casino." How is that different from a plain old "resort casino?"

Looks like a fortress with pretty pennants

By adamg - 7/6/10 - 7:18 pm

Jim considers drawing of the proposed resort casino at Suffolk Downs, notes something is decidedly lacking:

[E]lderly folks with oxygen tanks and children left in cars are missing from the attractive drawing.

The paper that shills for Suffolk Downs

By adamg - 6/19/10 - 9:22 am

Jim wonders when the East Boston Times will dedicate some space to a real discussion of an issue that is of huge importance to this neighborhood instead of just shilling for the racetrack and its effort to get a slice of that whole gambling thing.

DeLeo: We don't give a fig what the public thinks about gambling plan

By adamg - 4/2/10 - 7:12 am

Released yesterday, ready for a vote next week. Includes a provision for slots at Suffolk Downs.

The Outraged Liberal wonders:

... Is the racino proposal really so shaky it cannot stand a public discussion? Or because the bill's new provisions really only affect your own district and a couple of others, do you think no one else need bother themselves with the details? ...

Jim, who lives in East Boston, isn't too happy with the Speaker, either:

... There are many legitimate arguments against casinos and slots, and not allowing for an open and fact-based discussion is clearly undemocratic. ...