NH Reaction to a casino in Maine.

By Doug MacPherson on Friday, October 24, 2003.

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Interest in Maine’s upcoming referendum on gambling doesn’t stop at the state border. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Doug MacPherson reports.

DAVID YOUNG VIEWS THE DEBATE OVER A CASINO IN SANFORD, MAINE SOLELY IN TERMS OF ITS IMPACT ON HIS WORKLOAD.

TAPE DEPUTY DAVID YOUNG 210 if we were to have a casino is southern maine, I think we would definitely feel the affects of it. :06

YOUNG IS PORTSMOUTH’S DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE. HE’S TALKED WITH HIS COUNTERPARTS IN LEDYARD, CONNECTICUT, THE HOME OF FOXWOODS CASINO. YOUNG FEARS A CASINO IN MAINE WOULD BRING MORE TO PORTSMOUTH THAN INCREASED TRAFFIC.

TAPE DEPUTY DAVID YOUNG 233 gambling brings with it a certain element of crime. You have criminals who prey on people who gamble. ///238 it’s not unusual for these kinds of criminals to move from one are to another, based on where the action is, so to speak. The action being the local casino. :15

THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH TAKES NO OFFICIAL POSITION ON A CASINO IN MAINE, ALTHOUGH PORTSMOUTH’S MAYOR AND MOST CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS PUBLICLY OPPOSE IT. FOR CITY MANAGER JOHN BOHENKO, IT’S A QUESTION OF LOCAL ECONOMICS. BOHENKO SAYS A CASINO WOULD SIPHON AWAY THE DISPOSABLE INCOME OF BOTH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO PORTSMOUTH.

TAPE JOHN BOHENKO 331 I know that, people that go to the casinos in Connecticut go to the casinos. The casinos are pretty well self-contained. They have their restaurants, they have their shops. And people go for that form of entertainment. :11

PLANS FOR A CASINO IN SANFORD INCLUDE A SIX-STORY HOTEL TO ACCOMMODATE 900-GUESTS, EIGHT RESTAURANTS, FOUR RETAIL SHOPS, A CONVENTION CENTER, A PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, AND A GOLF COURSE.
BOHENKO SAYS MAINE’S CASINO REFERENDUM PRESENTS ISSUES THAT CLEARLY CROSS THE STATE BOUNDARY. BUT HE SEES NO PRACTICAL MEANS FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION. SOME NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS, HOWEVER, ARE TAKING PART. THEY’RE VOTING WITH THEIR DOLLARS.

A SPOKESWOMAN FOR “THINK ABOUT IT,” THE PRO-CASINO CAMP IN MAINE, CLAIMS TO HAVE SUPPORTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. BUT WHEN ASKED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO SUPPLY ANY NAMES. AND, BECAUSE THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL SUPPORT COMES SOLELY FROM A LAS VEGAS DEVELOPER, SHE COULD NOT POINT TO ANY NEW HAMPSHIRE CONTRIBUTORS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ANTI-CASINO CAMP, “CASINO’S NO,” HAS RAISED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM DOZENS OF GRANITE STATE CONTRIBUTORS. AMONG THEM IS
DAN HOEFLE, AN ATTORNEY FROM RYE, WHO GREW UP ON THE SEACOAST.

TAPE DAN HOEFLE 280 you’ve got an increased demand on social services. Crime rates go up. We all know that gambling is addictive. The employee theft issues. The violence increases as a spin-off of increased crime. Increased transportation problems. Of course, affordable housing issues. The result of which is it degrades the community’s quality of life. :19

WHEN HE REFERS TO THE “COMMUNITY,” HOEFLE INCLUDES SEACOAST TOWNS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE/ MAINE BORDER.

TAPE DAN HOEFLE 308 And the seacoast of new Hampshire and southern maine is an oasis. And a great place to raise a family. I’m very concerned about that quality of life going away forever. :08
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TAPE JANET PRINCE 065 I had a gut reaction: bad idea. :03

THAT’S JANET PRINCE, A RESIDENT OF NEWCASTLE AND PRESIDENT OF PRINCE COMMUNICATIONS. SHE’S ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR TO CASINOS NO. PRINCE SAYS SHE’S CERTAINLY NO EXPERT ON GAMBLING.

TAPE JANET PRINCE 065 but when I put on my marketing hat, which is where I come from professionally, and i think about all that maine and new Hampshire sell – what we sell to the world. /// what we use to bring people to come here and visit us. That a casino is diametrically opposed from that, from what we have to offer. :19

LIKE HOEFEL, PRINCE SAYS A CASINO IN MAINE SHOULD VERY MUCH CONCERN RESIDENTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

TAPE JANET PRINCE 156 We’re talking about a REGION that really should be working together from an economic development perspective to plan how it’s going to sustain itself. What are the kinds of industries that we want to attract here that are healthy. That have a more positive influence. :15

“WELL, CRY ME A PISCATAQUA RIVER.” THAT’S THE RESPONSE OF KITTERY RESIDENT BRIAN MACKENZIE TO CASINO-COMPLAINING NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS.

PHONE TAPE BRIAN MacKENZIE 1:15 mainers are poor. They need some kind of business here to help with the taxes. :04

MacKENZIE WORKS AT THE PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD, STILL LOCATED IN MAINE, HE QUICKLY POINTS OUT. FIRST NEW HAMPSHIRE TRIES TO CLAIM THE ISLAND THE SHIPYARD LIES ON, MacKENZIE SAYS. THEN IT COMPLAINS IF MAINE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING TO BRING-IN MORE BUSINESS.

PHONE TAPE BRIAN MacKENZIE 1:35 I don’t think new Hampshire ever really considers maine for anything they do in their state. I mean I don’t remember new Hampshire ever asking mainers about any businesses going in new Hampshire. :09

NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL FIND OUT WHAT MAINE DECIDES AFTER THE POLLS CLOSE ON NOVEMBER 4TH. IF THEY DO VOTE FOR A CASINO, JANET PRINCE IS READY TO WORK ON CONTINGENCY PLANS.

TAPE JANET PRINCE 147 my husband and I were talking about this. His idea was maybe we should take the nh toll booth experiment one step further and make it a slot machine. So at least we’d get some benefit from all this if it were to happen. But I really hope it doesn’t happen. :13

FOR NHPR NEWS, I’M DOUG MACPHERSON.