NASHUA – Mayor Donnalee Lozeau doesn’t want a casino anywhere near Nashua – let alone in the Granite State.
“I’m opposed to gambling in the state of New Hampshire,” she said during Tuesday’s Board of Aldermen meeting.
Ward 9 Alderman Dan Moriarty asked Lozeau for her stance on New Hampshire casinos as the city’s “chief executive” during the aldermen’s period for general comment.
He pointed out that southern New Hampshire representation that could lobby for a casino in Hudson – one of three casino locations under consideration along with Rockingham Park in Salem and Loudon’s Motor Speedway – is stronger up in Concord than the representation for the other two.
Lozeau said she was particularly opposed to building a casino in Hudson, as gambling studies show it could have a “devastating impact” on Nashua.
“This is a case where I don’t think anybody is sure what our stance is,” said Moriarty, explaining why he raised the issue on Tuesday. “Is it obvious that everybody’s for it? Because if everybody’s for it, we need to get involved now.”
During a Visualize Nashua session earlier this month – a local, community crowdsourcing event and idea generating group – Moriarty said most attendees voiced support for a casino in Hudson, if the state had to have one.
“The argument is there will be jobs and there will be social ills, that’s sort of what everybody believes,” Moriarty said. “The trade-off is are the social ills acceptable given the large amount of jobs? That’s what I have to resolve for myself.”
The city spends $14,000 on a legislative facilitator, Moriarty said. Lozeau said the position keeps the delegation informed about issues in Concord.
“If this board would like to take a position, then I’ll make sure that the legislature hears that,” Lozeau said.
In the past, the Board of Aldermen has voted for continuing resolutions that support commuter rail in the state.
“Normally (i.e.![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
↧