My name is Dan Onofrio, President and CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council and I am here today to provide our support of House Bill 7055 on behalf of the 700 business partners and members we represent through our affiliate organizations of the Bridgeport, Stratford and Trumbull Chambers of Commerce. Bridgeport is a beautiful, vibrant city. We sometimes get lost in the shadows, but make no mistake, this is a thriving community of people. A community that wants what all of us want—the chance to work, to live, to strive for greater things. This a family community, and in Bridgeport, family always comes first. But families can’t do it alone. They need jobs. And not just run-of-the-mill jobs, or seasonal jobs, or jobs with little to no hope for growth. No. They need secure, high-paying jobs from established, reputable employers. Those employers, and the citizens of Bridgeport who would choose to work for them—that’s why I am here today. Public Hearing Testimony: Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security February 26, 2019 HB 7055: AN ACT CREATING THE CONNECTICUT GAMING COMMISSION AND CREATING A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS FOR A RESORT-CASINO.
The Directory of Elected Officials Greater Bridgeport Region
U.S. SENATORS Richard Blumenthal (D) 915 Lafayette Boulevard, Room 230 Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 330-0598 724 Hart Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-2823 www.blumenthal.senate.gov Chris Murphy (D) One Constitution Plaza, 7th Floor Hartford, CT 06103 (860) 549-8463 303 Hart Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4041 www.murphy.senate.gov U.S. REPRESENTATIVES D 3 Rosa L. DeLauro (D) 59 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510 (203) 562-3718 Rayburn House Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3661 www.delauro.house.gov D 4 Jim Himes (D) 211 State Street, 2nd Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 (866) 453-0028 119 Cannon House Building Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-5541 www.himes.house.gov STATE OF CONNECTICUT Governor Ned Lamont (D) 210 Capitol Avenue, Room 200, Hartford, CT 06106 (800) 406-1527 | www.ct.gov/lamont Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz (D) 201 Capitol Avenue, Room 304, Hartford (866) 712-6998 | www.ct.gov/bysiewicz Secretary of State Denise Merrill (D) 30 Trinity Street, Hartford (860) 509-6200 | www.sots.ct.gov State Comptroller Kevin Lembo (D) 55 Elm Street, Hartford (860) 702-3300 | www.osc.state.ct.us
STATE OF CONNECTICUT State Treasurer Shawn T. Wooden (D) 55 Elm Street, Hartford (800) 618-3404 | www.state.ct.us/ott Attorney General William Tong (D) 55 Elm Street, Hartford
STATE REPRESENTATIVES D 122 Ben McGorty (R) Shelton, Stratford, Trumbull Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 ben.mcgorty@housegop.ct.gov D 123 David Rutigliano (R) Shelton, Trumbull Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 dave.rutigliano@housegop.ct.gov D 124 Andre Baker (D) Bridgeport Room 4051, (800) 842-8267 andre.baker@cga.ct.gov D 126 Charlie L. Stallworth (D) Bridgeport Room 4050, (800) 842-8267 charlie.stallworth@cga.ct.gov D 127 John “Jack” Hennessy (D) Bridgeport Room 5002, (800) 842-8267 jack.hennessy@cga.ct.gov D 128 Bridgeport Room 4000, (800) 842-8267 christopher.rosario@cga.ct.gov D 129 Steven Stafstrom (D) Bridgeport Room 4024, (800) 842-8267 steve.stafstrom@cga.ct.gov D 130 Ezequiel Santiago (D) Bridgeport Room 4051, (800) 842-8267 ezequiel.santiago@cga.ct.gov D 132 Brenda L. Kupchick (R) Fairfield, Southport Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 brenda.kupchick@cga.ct.gov D 133 Fairfield Room 4033, (800) 842-8267 cristin.mccarthyvahey@cga.ct.gov D 134 Laura Devlin (R) Fairfield, Trumbull Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 laura.devlin@housegop.ct.gov D 135 Anne Hughes (R) Easton, Redding, Westport LOB Room 4000, (800) 240-8585 anne.hughes@cga.ct.gov Christopher Rosario (D) Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D)
(860) 808-5318 | www.ct.gov/ag STATE SENATORS Senators and Representatives Legislative Office Building
A good job is a ticket to a better life. For all of us. A ticket to purchase a generational home. A ticket to escape the challenges of debt and financial hardship. A ticket to a brighter, more empowered future for ourselves; our children; and of course, Bridgeport. That is why, as president of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, I am here today to ask you, our elected officials, to help make Bridgeport a more hopeful place. A place with a real future, where families will stay, and live, and thrive. Where people will be rewarded for hard work, raise families, and create lasting legacies. I am here today to strongly endorse a move to bring jobs, tax revenues, and local business spending to this great city. There is a skilled, enthusiastic, but underutilized workforce in this city. Our unemployment rate of 4.6% lags dangerously behind the state average, 3.2%. Where do we find the jobs to close that gap? To empower our citizens with the ability to make good on their dreams? A casino in the greater Bridgeport area is certainly a start – and that can only happen if you approve a competitive process for a commercial casino license. A moment ago, I referenced jobs, taxes, and local business spending. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, and I quote, “The greatest perceived benefits [of casinos] are increased employment, greater tax revenue…and growth in local retail sales.” As the legislature continues to evolve this discussion, I look forward to helping you all as a representative of the people and businesses of Bridgeport, who stand to gain so much from a thoughtful, pragmatic partnership with, for example, MGM, and their world-class entertainment and commerce hubs. Thank you again for this opportunity to champion Bridgeport, a vibrant, beautiful city that would significantly benefit from an infusion of good jobs, tax revenue, and spending at local businesses.
300 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106 D 21
Kevin Kelly (R) Monroe, Seymour, Shelton, Stratford Room 3400, (800) 842-1421 kevin.kelly@cga.ct.gov D 22 Marilyn Moore (D) Bridgeport, Monroe, Trumbull
Room 2200, (800) 842-1420 marilyn.moore@cga.ct.gov D 23
Dennis Bradley (D)
Bridgeport, Stratford Room 3600, (860) 240-8600 dennis.bradley@cga.ct.gov D 28 Tony Hwang (R) Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston, Westport Room 3400, (800) 842-1421 tony.hwang@cga.ct.gov Connecticut House Democrats (800) 842-8267 | www.housedems.ct.gov Connecticut House Republicans (800) 842-8270 | www.housegop.ct.gov D 112 J.P. Sredzinski (R) Monroe, Newtown Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 jp.sredzinski@housegop.ct.gov D 113 Jason D. Perillo (R) Shelton Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 jason.perillo@housegop.ct.gov D 120 Phil Young (D) Stratford Room 4200, (800) 842-1423 phil.young@cga.ct.gov D 121 Joseph Gresko Stratford
T H R E E R E A S O N S F O R C ONN E C T I C U T MODE RN I Z I NG GAMING P O L I C Y
MOVING BEYOND LAST-CENTURY APPROACHES
Increased gaming competition requires updated policies that maximize potential for economic growth.
NEW MARKETS O p po rtunity fo r C onnec tic ut to tap into underserved markets: ● 8 .5M people in New York C ity ● 7.5M people in Long Island ● O pportunity to leverage Tweed and Sikorsky A irports, commuter rail and water transportation
ENTERTAINMENT TOURISM D estination reso rt in B rid g epo rt would b rin g : ● Investment in tourism and attractions for visitors and new residents in Connecticut’s largest city area ● A ccess to national headliners ● Full resort amenities ● World-class restaurants and retail
ECONOMIC GROWTH E c onomic imp ac t in clud es: ● $1.4 B Total economic output ● Minimum of 2 ,0 0 0 direct jobs ● Minimum of $5 0 0 M in new, unsubsidized private c apital investment
Room 2102, (800) 842-8267 joseph.gresko@cga.ct.gov
12 REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT
REGION | GREATER BRIDGEPORT 13
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