Carlos Da Silva Urges Plymouth Voters to Vote “NO” on Question 4

Plymouth, MA.

On May 21st Plymouth voters will go to the polls to vote on question #4 which deals with the proposed horse racing track at County Woodlot. “My name is Carlos Da Silva, I am a Candidate for Plymouth County Commissioner, and I have been calling on the Commissioners since 2019 to preserve the aquifer and the woodlot land. I urge voters to vote “NO” on question 4 on May 21st!” Stated Mr. Da Silva

“With the midterm election cycle upon us, I am reminded of the late, great Speaker of House Thomas “Tip” O’Neill, who opined that all politics are local. While the national conversation this cycle focuses on rights to reproductive care and the global economy, here in Plymouth County there is a local conversation that must be had regarding integrity, transparency, and the environment, the proposed horse racing track in Plymouth County. Let me be clear: I oppose the development of this racetrack in Plymouth, and I am disappointed, but not shocked, at how the Plymouth County Commissioners have approached this issue.”

Despite being the world’s oldest functioning democracy and a bastion of liberal and democratic values and policies, Massachusetts remains one of the least transparent governments in the nation. This disappointment was on full display when the County Commissioners decided on the racetrack in March. On March 31, during a tense County Commissioners meeting with several concerned residents, the County Commissioners decided to immediately go into an executive session mere moments after the meeting began. Upon returning from this mysterious, rushed executive session, the Commissioners announced the result of their vote to ratify the agreement before hastily continuing with unrelated items on the agenda. While the Commissioners are allowed to do this to not undermine the counties’ position in negotiations, the choice to do so without allowing the citizens to comment at all was a poor one. None of the 20 or so Plymouth residents in attendance were given the opportunity to speak on the matter that directly affects them, their families, and their properties.

With the lack of transparency and total disregard for the welfare of the citizens of Plymouth put aside, this plan to build a horse track in the town does not even make basic economic sense. Currently, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has four casinos (MGM, Stockbridge, Plainridge Park and Encore), the state is on the cusp of legalizing sports betting and several horse racetracks in the region (Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park) have either closed completely or drastically rolled back their horse racing operations. The market for gambling surrounding Plymouth is saturated and the competition to this racetrack could possibly yield unsavory results.

Lastly, there is little known at this point of the potential environmental impacts of this project. The proposed location is between Camelot Drive and Tall Pines Road in Plymouth and spans over 100 acres of undeveloped land. The rapid plowing down of the existing area to erect a racetrack, parking lot, and establish all of the infrastructure necessary to support its operations will displace wildlife and permanently disrupt some of the natural beauty that Plymouth has to offer.

In summation, this racetrack is an ill-conceived plan that the citizens of Plymouth have been shut out of by the County Commissioners with the potential of being both environmentally and economically harmful. I can offer the citizens of Plymouth and Plymouth County, that as your commissioner I would be transparent and act in your best interest in these decisions. Carlos’s opponents are supported by the establishment. Carlos cannot do this on his own. Carlos is with you! Are you with Carlos? He is “Committed to the Plymouth County Communities.” Can you help Carlos win on September 6th and on November 8th?
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Carlos A.F. Da Silva is a Candidate for Plymouth County Commissioner. Carlos is a State Auditor with the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, where he is the Union Representative with the National Association of Government Employees-NAGE-SEIU. He is a Democratic State Committeeman, is a member of the Hingham Net Zero and Climate Action Committees, is a member of the Brockton Area NAACP and is the President of the Hingham Sons and Daughters of Italy. Carlos was a member of the Quincy Zoning Board of Appeals, was Elected to the Hingham School Committee in 2016 and 2019, and was a member of the Executive Board of the Greater Boston Labor Council.
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