Salisbury residents vote against casino

Wednesday, May 10, 2000 | 11:31 a.m.

In the nonbinding referendum, voters against the casino outnumbered those for it 1,804 to 1,440, according to preliminary results.

"I heard them loud and clear," said state Sen. James P. Jajuga, D-Methuen, who has been pressing for a bill to allow a three casinos statewide, including one in Salisbury. He said the vote has persuaded him to drop his support.

"They don't want it and they're not going to get it," Jajuga said.

Casino proposals have had ups and downs in the town. A 1991 referendum approved a casino, but a Town Meeting vote later that year rejected it. Town Meeting reversed itself in 1994 and approved casino gambling.

In 1997, Harveys Casino Resorts of Nevada unveiled its plans for a Victorian-style casino in the commercial district.

Harveys' plan includes a 1,000-room hotel, a 1,500-seat theater, a cabaret lounge and a health club. Shops and restaurants would lease space from Harveys along the beach. Harveys also envisions an amusement park completely enclosed in glass so it can be used year-round.

But no casino can be built without the Legislature's approval, and casino legislation has stalled on Beacon Hill in recent years. Jajuga said he did not expect any other pro-casino legislation to pass this year, but he believes the state will someday allow casinos in order to remain competitive with nearby states with casinos.

A study commissioned by a pro-casino business group found that Massachusetts residents spend $620 million on casino gambling per year, but Jajuga believes the number is much higher.

Debbie Sharkey, chairwoman of the pro-casino Citizens With Visions for Salisbury's Future, said her group will continue fighting for redevelopment of the town's commercial district, she said.

"I'm still going to do anything I can do to improve this beach," she said.