Sunday River in Bethel has joined with other ski resorts, businesses and individuals in Maine to oppose Question 2 on November’s ballot, the proposed gambling casino for Oxford County.
In a memo to Sunday River’s employees, Dana Bullen, general manager of Sunday River, said the casino would be incompatible with Maine’s “brand.”
“The decision to oppose casinos in Maine is based on our belief that the proposed casino represents a clear threat to our State’s brand and is a poor choice for the citizens of Maine,” he said. “Maine is one of the few states in the nation that is fortunate to actually claim a ‘brand’ identity. Maine is known for its rugged outdoor image, uncompromised natural beauty, family-friendly environment, and Yankee originality. These are attributes the State of Maine promotes to the world through its tourism efforts, and attributes that Sunday River has tied into our own Visioning process. They are what differentiate us from all other states in the country.
“There is a stark contrast between these attributes, for which Maine is known, and those associated with casino gambling,” the memo continued.
Saddleback Mountain, Sugarloaf and Sunday River have joined with CasinosNO! to help defeat the casino, and Bullen said the company will be making a financial contribution to the anti-casino group.
“Although Sunday River does not have a history of adopting a corporate position on public referendum, we feel that this issue warrants our involvement as a company,” Bullen wrote. “We respect every employee's right to have their own, and possibly a differing, view on this issue. At the same time, however, we hope that every employee understands Sunday River’s position and will make an informed choice.”
Warren Cook, general manager of Saddleback Mountain, said, “The ski industry in Maine has made millions of dollars in investments to create good jobs and attract tourists who come here for our clean environment, beautiful scenery and outdoor recreation. This is Maine's strength. A gambling casino doesn't play to our strengths, it preys on our weaknesses."
Contact: Dennis Bailey, CasinosNO!, 207-347-6077, 207-749-4963
Warren Cook, Saddleback Mountain, 207-266-2533
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2 comments:
Of course they oppose it!!!! They don't want anyone leaveing their money anywhere on the way to the mountains. They want it all to come with them. Just think of how many skiers will now make it a combined trip instead of just skiing. Sunday River has big dreams of making that mountain a luxury resort in the next several years...........doesn't sound exactly outdoorsy to me either from what I have read. They want the money guys..............they don't want it going somewhere else. Right now skiers get off the inter-state and head for the ski resorts................guess what a lot of them will do when a casino opens up!!!!
well, let's hope none of the skiers get involved in anything illegal and need legal representation, like even something as simple as a bail reduction.
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