Passing the blame

I found it interesting on election night watching the accounting of the vote for the casinos and again reading the Sun Journal. Both Mayor Larry Gilbert and Stavros Mendros blamed the governor and everyone else for the failure to pass the approval of the Lewiston casino.

I was amused by the comment that the “anti-casino” group pumped millions into the campaign. It seemed to me that every time there was anything about the casinos, it was the proponents for it. I really did not see very much of the anti-casino campaign until near the end.

I also thought the “for casinos” group was running some very misleading advertisements. Historically, Maine has opposed the casinos, and the casino in Oxford was not a landslide victory.

My thought, all along, has been, “Shouldn’t we let one get ‘off the ground’ before other casinos are allowed?” That seemed to be a common feeling, at least with the folks that I know.

I feel the governor expressed what a lot of other folks across the state felt and, by the outcome, I think he may have been right.

Sounds to me that there were a couple of “boys” who did not get their way.

Gary Bain, Auburn

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Comments

DCPsyclone79's picture
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You got it right, Gary

And to expand on your last point...Given the Gilbert and Mendros reactions, that of spoiled boys who expected this to pass, how can anyone wjth an ounce of integrity expect to take the notions and ideas of two gentlemen, who are supposed to carry a professional, public image at all times, seriously moving forward? I guess this was to be Gilbert's coup-de-gras and he went "all in" to use a gambling term. Still that's no excuse for poor sportsmanship. Gilbert is one of the faces of Lewiston. Gilbert acted like a crybaby upon hearing the result of the election. I think he and Mendros should take out a full page ad in the Sun Journal and apologize for their rktten behavior and silly comments.

sweetfern's picture
verified

Right on Gary

The Lewiston casino idea was not well thought out. If the Biddeford casino would have passed folks from southern Maine, NH. and Mass. would not have bothered to travel to Lewiston to throw their money away. Folks from northern and eastern Maine would have gone no further then Bangor. The rest would go to Oxford leaving the Lewiston casino to survive on recycling and sucking out the money from locals.
Too many, too soon convinced Mainers to say no.

LewistonNative...'s picture
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I beg to differ, people don't

I beg to differ, people don't go to the most convenient gambling spot, they go to the one that offers the best entertainment. Who is to say that Lewiston's casino couldn't have survived, they weren't given a shot to. There was/is a big difference between all four casinos that you mentioned. Biddeford was going to build a sports complex with their racino, Bangor is capitalizing on the musical acts, Oxford is trying to be a "resort" and Lewiston had a convention center to go along with their casino. I also have to disagree with you that Biddeford would get the folks from Southern Maine, N.H. and Mass. Lewiston (would have) and Oxford is going to be a full casino with tables, while Biddeford was only going to allow slots. You think people go all the way to Conn. to play slots when Bangor is much closer? Either way if the Lewiston casino would or would not have succeeded, it would have succeeded in the fact that the Bates Mill #5 would have been renovated, which is a lot easier to sell/develop then an empty run down mill or just a patch of land. Which would probably end up being more parking garages anyways. Either way I expect that the Lewiston backers will be back in two years, as they said they aren't going to give up on this area.

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