Citizens for Milford's Future Plans Pro-Casino Kickoff Meeting

A newly launched pro-casino group in Milford will hold its first organizational meeting and public kickoff on Thursday, at the Portuguese Club.

The meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., is expected to include statements from organizers and several Foxwoods Massachusetts officials, including possibly Foxwoods Resort Casino CEO Scott Butera. State Rep. John Fernandes (D-Milford) also will attend, to speak on the licensing process for resort casinos in Massachusetts. 

The meeting also will include volunteers who speak Portuguese, Italian and Spanish to help register non-bilingual voters, said chief organizer Michael Kaplan. Milford voters will decide whether to move the Foxwoods Massachusetts application forward on Nov. 19, at a town-wide referendum.

Kaplan, a Milford attorney, started the group several weeks ago after he said he sensed the pro-casino side needed an organized voice.

The group, called Citizens for Milford's Future, is getting promotional support from Foxwoods Massachusetts, which issued a press release on Tuesday urging people to attend. "The event is an opportunity for area residents to discuss getting their voices heard in the Milford resort casino debate, and to learn from Connecticut officials about Foxwoods’ impact on their communities," the release stated.

It quoted Kaplan:“Many of our neighbors support the overwhelming improvements this resort casino will bring,” said Michael Kaplan, President of Citizens for Milford’s Future. “But some have been hesitant to speak out. This group will provide an organization so people can feel comfortable expressing their opinions, knowing that many share the view that the jobs, economic and overall benefits of the resort casino present an opportunity that shouldn’t be passed up.”