June 10, 2015 — NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Members of New Bedford’s historic fishing industry stepped firmly into the city’s casino debate Wednesday night, voicing opposition and raising concerns about the $650 million waterfront proposal during a passionate forum at the Zeiterion, where strong support for the development also was heard from many attendees.
Opinions from all sides filled the downtown performing arts center to nearly 9 p.m., well past the proposed 8 p.m. end time. More than 100 people attended the event, the city’s broadest and best public discussion of the casino proposal so far. A citywide vote is June 23.
The fishing industry, little heard in casino debates to date, accounted for several of the new voices heard at the event.
“The idea of a casino is very frightening, not only for our city, but also for our port — we strongly oppose this,” said Stephanie Rafael-DeMello, co-owner of Bela Flor Seafood Brokerage Co., manager of Northeast Fishery Sector 9 and one of 10 panelists at the forum. “We are extremely concerned about the impact this would have on our day-to-day operations.”
Read the full story at the New Bedford Standard-Times