Mayor Avedisian to Present Anti-Casino Resolution

Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, along with other council members Sue Stenhouse (R-Ward 1) and Time Lee (R-Ward 3) have issued a press release stating that they plan to present an anti-casino resolution to Warwick City Council by September 2006.

A resolution had already been drafted by the three Republicans. This resolution is similar to the resolutions passed by the City Council in 2004, 1999, 1998 and 1994. The resolution states that a casino in West Warwick is a "matter of state-wide concern," and there are "great social costs" and "economic damage". All this destruction could be caused by constructing a casino in West Warwick. One of the final clauses reads: "that the Council of the City of Warwick is strongly opposed to the expansion of gambling and specifically the proposed constitutional amendment to allow for a casino in the Town of West Warwick."

Avedisian said, "We're concerned about the impact that it will have on the city of Warwick, and by extension, on the town of East Greenwich. I know that two years ago, Warwick and East Greenwich were united in their concerns that nobody was addressing what would happen to the neighboring communities. The same thing can be said at this time." Advedisian noted that he was not satisfied that traffic and public safety impact questions had been addressed.

Stenhouse noted that she planned to introduce the resolution in the next meeting on August 28. She said that the resolution is "a team effort". She said "I have been the sponsor of past anti-casino resolutions. I am still concerned about the affects that it would have on our constituents. We are literally just across the line; we're got a lot of businesses that are concerned, and I know that public safety officials are concerned as well."