Commentary: Casinos A Construction Gold Mine

By The WBUR Newsroom
Sep 14, 2011, 4:15 AM
3 Comments

This commentary was written by Bill Frost, a carpenter based in Acton.

Bill Frost, outside WBUR's studios (WBUR File)

After another year of spotty employment and battling to pay my bills, I would wholeheartedly welcome the opportunity to build even a doghouse. And the idea of a long-term project, like a casino, would be El Dorado — a gold mine to me.

But it’s also a business, let’s not forget, and casino interests are certainly going to encourage people to gamble.

Me, I’m a carpenter, and if you invited me to your home to patch a leaking roof, I’d try to sell you a new one. If you went for it, I’d also suggest new gutters and down spouts. It’s not up to me to decide if you can afford it. As the old song says, “A man should never gamble more than he can bear to lose.” He should also not buy home improvements he can’t pay for.

Since 2008, this country has been stuck in an economic downturn, fueled partially by the fact that a great many people bought homes they couldn’t afford. The bottom fell out of the housing market and the hardest hit have been construction workers, like me. And the irony here is that most of us in the trades were able to foot the bills back when we bought our homes.

Given steady employment we could afford them, even now. But the economy sputters along and tradesmen consider ourselves lucky if we can manage enough hours to keep our health plan current.

Once I’d hoped I’d have a few years between getting my three kids through college and my retirement, to service school loans and pay down my mortgage. Now I wonder if I’ve already retired but no one took the time to tell me. I’d hoped retirement would be a time when my wife and I could travel and visit family. Now I’m afraid it will be spent looking for a supermarket that will allow me to bag groceries without wearing a necktie.

So, if our lawmakers vote to expand gambling in this state, many of us will be able to retire in the fashion we envisioned: not by hitting big at the blackjack table, but by simply going to work, doing our jobs, and building our own futures.

- From The Archives:

Last year, when Massachusetts lawmakers battled over gaming legislation, Robin Rouse and Bill Frost composed commentaries for us. You can read Robin’s 2010 entry here, and Bill’s here.

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http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1634193787 Mass Vocals

dear brother   This is SR Drury I was grace by two dispatches One was at U mass a 6 week job   I ask if it was a drug testing job   the DBA said ” Im not aware “ yet the company was signatory for many years and general to the drug case cause , they also wanted me to sign agreements to allow them a c CORRI check and the right to search my personal property   I asked the stew to call hall and before thet what his experience was / he new nothing of contractual nexus of the agreement as to what form to sign�
I took there dam test and left the project   too send a message to DBA     under the contract the DBA should have casue a meeting such things as entry documents should have been issue , they were not yet am not allow to be a stew you see brother   cause am not in the click   you speak in terms of retairment for this year waiting for work well am member of 107 and have 30 years in yet only have 8.9 good credits in 30 years   the last job the DBA was piss off cause i refuse to remove my black safety glasses form a signatory Dimeo   who call the cops on me to remove me form the job site and both times i was not paid�
you say your retired ( that union right )   >> or your carpenter skills in selling a roof, please we union carpenters remember we gave roofing up the union did its was wise ah    we are not roofers any longer yet you think its carpentry work ?    I remember when it was but that was in 70s late 80s    you speak of the system of things like a tradesmen needs law makers   or some grant    the union now is taking over by progressive demo/rats i call them   we have no vote on BA and we control nothing   . we wait or go to job to job asking but told there is a list that is not hiring hall    I was fire for not removing my glasses when told by a dimeo super who call the police even on me and nothing was done about it nothing at all being of lawfull age i thing io can decide for my self when to remove my glasses    frankly it was an attack caus3e by rats in the union    my question too U is are you one of the rats   who beckon the will of the union org , or are you an realist and know the work never ends and its just not contacted , the union has a mafia curse and click   they refuse a fiar dispatch system   U feel it   you see it and there no check or balance in system you have no ideal to have such as you are not vocal , like me�
I file complaint and they are bury but soon i will file law suit would you like to join me and become the solution not the problem ,
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1634193787 Mass Vocals

I fell the members should take back the union washington internation has been out of wack forr some time and many of us have no employment only the union personal have hours rank and file getting screw at least that how it is in 107
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1634193787 Mass Vocals

remember this before they 9 me what you build is what we become the system of betting leads to no good and yet you care not and want to engage in what is made now lawful but is part of the problem thugs love such places