To the editor:

The more research I do about the impact of a casino on a local community, the more I discover the range of negative impacts that a casino will have.

One aspect, not previously discussed, is the degree that a casino in Tiverton will open our town up to strong outside forces with particular self-interests.  Tiverton residents will no longer be in control of Tiverton.

Twin River is an international and multi-million dollar corporation. They have already spent almost half-a-million dollars on promotion. They stand to make hundreds of millions of dollars from a casino in Tiverton.  Frankly, Tiverton is a minuscule element by comparison, and Twin River will first-and-foremost be looking out for the well being of Twin River Casino with little if any real concern for little Tiverton.

Also, the State of Rhode Island hopes to benefit by tens of millions of dollars of tax revenue a year from the casino. This money would not only fund state programs, but also pay the salaries of the politicians who support it, which, in my opinion, represents a conflict of interest.

Tiverton is a very small player in the state and -being East Bay - barely even considered a part of the state. I believe it will be very easy for politicians to not be concerned with the problems of Tiverton while working to protect casino revenue.  Legislatively and politically, the casino will come first the town will be a poor second.

And these forces may be functioning openly, or they may be functioning covertly.  But they will not be functioning with the well being of Tiverton in mind. These forces will magnify whatever weaknesses we have in local government and will exploit them.  Along with taking the control of local government away from residents, it will create an atmosphere of suspicion and frustration ultimately corrupting the character of the town.

The residents of Tiverton need to start asking some hard questions and seriously considering facts that have been presented and that are readily available.  Because, after November 8, if the casino is approved, there won’t be a second chance.

Rev. Patrick Crough

Pastor, First Baptist Church

Tiverton