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PROVIDENCE -- Hundreds of union workers stood outside the State House
today chanting "jobs, jobs, jobs," in a show of support for the
Narragansett Indians' casino proposal.
The rally came a day before a key House panel was to begin hearings on
bills to establish state regulation over casinos and ask voters whether
they would support such a facility in West Warwick.
The tribe and Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment want to build a
casino in West Warwick. They say it would create 3,000 construction jobs
and 3,200 permanent jobs. Voters statewide must give their approval
before the casino could be built.
Ronald Coia, president of the Rhode Island Building Trades Council, said
the tribe and its partner have promised that most of the construction
and permanent jobs would be filled by union workers. The agreement has
not been signed yet, he said.
"These are jobs that allow Rhode Islanders to purchase homes, buy cars
and put their children through school," Coia said to a crowd of more
than 400 union workers. "Rhode Islanders deserve the right to choose at
the ballot box."
The tribe and Harrah's are proposing a $450-million resort casino. They
say the casino would generate more than $100 million in annual revenue
for the state.
After years of futile efforts to persuade lawmakers to put the question
on a statewide ballot, the tribe has the support of House Speaker
William Murphy, D-West Warwick. Murphy has promised a vote in his
chamber this year.
The tribe is also hoping to gain support from a recent study released by
Senate leadership that suggested the state would only lose about 10
percent of its tax income from Lincoln Park and Newport Grand, which
both have video lottery terminals.
Governor Carcieri, an ardent opponent of casino gambling, called the
study by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of
Massachusetts, Dartmouth, "garbage" and said he has no faith in its
findings.
Today, Cranston's James Cook, 28, stood in the middle of the throng
outside the State House holding a sign that urged lawmakers to "Let the
People Decide!"
"It is our future right here," the electrical worker said of the casino
project. "If there's a union job, our local will be there."
For more background, read today's earlier Providence Journal story:
R.I. gambling venues attack validity of casino study
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