Joe Crist was just getting out of the Navy and wanted the best place to raise a family when he decided to purchase his house within Foxborough close to 50 years ago. “It was the only place I could afford in a little country setting,’’ said Crist. He is the father of four, and the grandfather of eight children. He has always commuted to the Gillette Company within South Boston for work. He has since retired and states that he is being barraged by this whole marketing campaign that is bent on persuading the residents of the area to support these plans to build a $1 billion casino on this land.
This is not going to let up any time soon. Next week they are holding the election where the casino is the top priority in the race for two different selectmen’s seats. Wynn is showing how he will make thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue for the state and also adding in some extra perks like free child care for the employees, an ice skating rink, and even a new hospital. He will add all of these if the Board of Selectmen will just say yes to the proposal which they have not done so far.
Crist is not convinced. “The unemployment rate here is 4 percent, well below the state and national average,’’ said Crist, who said he resents the constant “sales pitches disguised as phone surveys” asking how he plans to vote in the election. “This is obviously a well-funded and sophisticated effort to try to convince us it’s a good idea to place this in our town,’’ Crist said. “I wish the whole thing would go away.” For some others out there however, this new message is getting through to them. Millie Cetrone who is a real estate agent has lived in Foxborough for over 30 years and has raised four children in the area. Cetrone opposed the casino when it was first brought up, but after seeing the DVD from Wynn, she changed her mind. She was so excited about the plan that she then became a part of the committee for the casino. “When I saw the DVD I was like, ‘Wow, that’s a beautiful building,’ ’’Cetrone said. “I’m all for the jobs and investing money in Foxborough. And it’s the perfect location.’’
Cetrone stated that the candidates’ positions regarding the casino are going to guide her vote. “How do you take our vote away? It’s time for a change.” The Wynn group has not actually endorsed any candidates for this run, but the blitz of political campaigning for those that care about the matter has increased. The current board of Selectmen has a vote that is split 3 to 2, but they are hoping to turn it around with a little persuasion. With a little negotiating, they should be able to swing the votes in their favor. They are expecting the voting to be brisk and straight to the point without having any delays.
Wildgras Co. Ltd.
