Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | August 6, 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 21 Central Mass is better off without a casino Tariffs hurting New England V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L A t first glance, it may appear Central Massachusetts lost out in the Massachusetts casino race. When it was all said and done, the state's three casino licenses went to Springfield, Greater Boston and (presumably) Taunton, while the slots parlor was built in Plainridge. With gambling already established in Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, Central Massachusetts is square in the middle of a robust gaming market without a casino to call our own. But, really, we don't need one. e city of Worcester is emerging as a cultural hub, without the need for a nine-figure invest- ment from an out-of-state casino operator. Worcester's influx of restaurants has made it a draw for foodies, and it touts destinations like the EcoTarium, Hanover eatre and DCU Center. In addition, the city may well be on the verge of drawing the Pawtucket Red Sox away from the Rhode Island market to play Triple-A baseball in the Canal District. Even if the PawSox don't come, the city's profile has risen enough to drive new interest from visitors and developers. Outside Worcester city limits, Fitchburg, Mendon and Princeton all have attractions bringing in 500,000 visitors annually in Great Wolf Lodge, Southwick's Zoo and Wachusett S oon aer taking office, President Donald Trump made good on his campaign promise and announced the U.S. would renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, a multilateral agreement with Canada and Mexico put into effect in 1994. Amid reports NAFTA talks have grown contentious and the U.S. is considering withdrawing altogether, the administration announced tariffs on certain imports directly impacting Canada and Mexico. Canada and Mexico are significant economic partners for New England states in particular. e U.S. must work toward a modernized NAFTA and should reconsider the tariffs. e impact of trade with Canada and Mexico on the New England economy cannot be understated. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Canada is the premier goods export market for businesses in five of the six New England states – in the sixth state, it is the second-largest market – representing more than $8.3 billion in exports in 2017 alone. Mexico is a top trade partner for our region, with three states counting our southern neighbor as their second- or third-ranking export market for goods. e region exported $4.4 billion worth of goods to Mexico in 2017, and remains a significant multi-billion-dollar market for goods produced in Mexico. Data from the International Trade Administration indicates 10.7 million American jobs are supported by goods and ser- vices exports, and it is doubtless tens of thousands of New England jobs rely upon trade with Canada and Mexico. e tariffs Trump has put into place are already having an impact here in New England. e U.S. Chamber of Com- merce released a state-by-state analysis of the impact of the emerging trade war on U.S. exports. As a result of the tariffs, $125 million in Massachusetts exports to Canada and $11 million to Mexico are targeted for retaliation. e hardest hit products include foods, household items and furniture. It is certainly appropriate to revisit and update major trade agreements. Some elements of our economy did not even exist at the time NAFTA was first negotiated, and we commend the administration for taking steps to modernize this historic agreement. At the same time, the president is right to be concerned about trade imbalances and to seek ways to minimize trade deficits. However, given the impor- tance of trade with these two nations, it is gravely concern- ing the administration would even suggest withdrawing from NAFTA. Further, the evidence laid out by the U.S. chamber's new report suggests the tariffs are not serving our nation's best interests, and could harm disparate and unrelated sectors of our economy. Partners and neighbors can have temporary disagree- ments over policy considerations, including on trade matters. However, e New England Council believes it is crucial the playing field remain open for businesses, workers and families across New England, so that they – through no fault of their own – are not disadvantaged by potential retaliatory trade measures or a defunct NAFTA. James T. Brett is president & CEO of non-partisan business alliance e New England Council. BY JAMES T. BRETT Special to the Worcester Business Journal James T. Brett The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. WO R D F R O M T H E W E B Mountain Ski Area. Old Sturbridge Village is a top five tourist destination in the region, and Boylston's Tower Hill Botanic Garden is riding a 66-percent attendance increase since 2012. Sure, a Central Massachusetts resort casino would have brought a surge in visitors and con- ventions, but a monsterous single-site develop- ment can produce a large sucking sound for local restaurants and entertainment venues, plus the inherent seediness and addiction problems coming with casinos. ese resorts tend to be places where visitors and eat, sleep and gamble all without see- ing sunshine for days on end. e tax collections benefit local government coffers, but the businesses around casinos don't see that money. Take a drive down to Norwich and Ledyard, Conn. – home to New England's oldest and biggest casino resorts – and see if you think those communities reap the rewards of the casinos. Spoiler alert: they don't. e protections written into the state's gambling law prevent the Springfield and Greater Boston casinos from competing with the likes of the DCU Center and Hanover eatre, so it is hard to envision much lost attendance. While being in the center of a gaming market without a gaming estab- lishment may seem like we got the short end of the stick, the only thing Central Mass. is really losing out on is people who visit casinos, which we never had to begin with. So let's be grateful we didn't win the casino lottery. We're better off. Tweets of the week "Did you know? The FBI now estimates that over $400 billion worth of intellectual property leaves the U.S each year." - Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership (@MassMEP), July 26, on a WBJ interview with its director of growth services, Tom Andrellos "I laughed a little too hard at the editor note's title by Brad Kane 'Say nice things about Trump' @WBJournal. By saying that, he really meant, 'Don't.'" - V (@veronica_roy), July 25, on WBJ Editor Brad Kane's Letter From The Editor in the July 23 issue Facebook feedback "They actually shouldn't even have brick-and-mortar facilities. They should instead implement mobile inspectors (vehicles), continually visiting onsite production locations." - Kevin Lundy, July 27, on the lack of cannabis test- ing facilities delaying the rollout of the recreational marijuana industry "Worcester commercial property values are so inflated that it is pathetic. Why businesses are leaving. If you are profit motivated, look elsewhere. The city will take all your money in taxes." - Marc Joseph, July 26, on the $2.9-million sale of Frank Carroll's downtown building W W

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