Harrah's Opens Up

Concerned residents turned out in droves to hear Harrah’s Entertainment representatives address the issues associated with the proposed casino they are planning to build with the Narragansett Indian Tribe.  Nearly 700 residents packed the public forum.  

The Tuesday night forum lasted three hours.  It proved to be Harrah’s most all-encompassing presentation of their West Warwick casino plans.  The casino has had to jump constitutional hurdles.

The forum revealed a few alterations the Harrah’s officials and consultants have slated for the casino complex.  The alterations are a direct address to the concerns of the West Warwick public.  Among the list of amendments is the lowering of the planned hotel tower and creating a barrier between neighboring homes possessing pine groves and wetlands.

Harrah’s adjustments to their casino’s parking complex were also made to appease locals.  The nine-story garage will now be located further away from surrounding neighborhoods.  It will also be walled up to reduce noise pollution and headlight glare.  

Rob Shaeffer, a Friedmutter Group designer, confessed to the obedience of the casino planners, “We’re doing this as a direct response to the concerns we’ve heard from council members.  You spoke, we listened.”

Despite the flexibility of the casino planners, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has not been a friendly force.  Citing a stipulation in the state Constitution that mandates the state run all lotteries, the Rhode Island Supreme Court has twice advised against legislation that would allow the opening of the casino.  To counteract, Representative Timothy Williamson, a Democrat from West Warwick, sponsored a Constitutional amendment aimed at overriding the provision. 

If a majority proportion of the General Assembly members approve of the amendment, voters will have the opportunity to pass it into law on the next ballot.

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