I think it will be a given that MGM will receive permission to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. for those customers who are gambling and frankly, it doesn’t bother me all that much. I think people who come to indulge in gaming will expect liquor service until the wee hours.

MGM has to be competitive with the casinos in Connecticut and this is one such element.

What I can’t wrap my head around is there will be gaming going on 24 hours a day. Yes, I understand that Las Vegas is truly the city that never sleeps. Springfield, though, does sleep.

Ever take the first Amtrak train of the day to New York City? As you travel through downtown to the station you realize that at 5:30 a.m., there isn’t much going on.

Of course all of that is about to change in a few months when the casino opens. Springfield will be, at least in one pocket of it, 24/7, baby!  

The possible extension of the serving time for the casino brings up another issue: could that extension go to other bars into town? Would we want to level the playing field?

It’s very Libertarian of me to consider that option.

The Commonwealth would have to change the law to do so and I’ll be curious to watch how the Legislature reacts when the Wynn casino opens. I can imagine there will be pressure from liquor license holders in the greater Boston area to give them the same privilege. I doubt the Legislature would consider such a change until then.

Here’s the question, though: is it unfair to give MGM an advantage? Is it really an advantage? Will people actually stop partying at various nightspots, come to MGM in time to grab a beverage before 2 a.m. and continue drinking as long as they are feeding a machine? Is the lure of drinking until 4 a.m. really that enticing?

Or is this much ado about probably nothing?

I’d love to hear your take. Let me know by dropping me a line at news@thereminder.com.
    
Local case drives controversy home

The first and so far only illegal immigrant to be accepted into the sanctuary program at the South Congregational Church and supported by the Springfield Interfaith Sanctuary Coalition walked out of the church and went back to her family.

The program was certainly deemed a success by those who attended a press event announcing that Gisella Collazo has been given a Stay of Removal by federal officials.

Collazo is married to an American citizen and has two children, both citizens. The Stay of Removal will give her additional time to fulfill federal regulations about her permanent residence here.

Her story received much local media attention; especially with Mayor Domenic Sarno adopting what many people saw as a very tough attitude toward the church and the sanctuary program.

While this case isn’t resolved, it does point out the very real humanity of these situations.

I would like to see Congress take up the issue of substantive immigration reform, but it doesn’t seem likely at this time. I’m not sure what Congress really wants to tackle and what they are willing to have the president do through his powers.

At least here we understand the urgency and the value in trying to come up with a system that will keep families together and put the undocumented onto the road of citizenship.

At least some of us will, as I’m sure to realize on Facebook later today.

Does transportation equal jobs?

The news the Valley is going to get commuter rail service next year linking Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield is great news.

The fact the Commonwealth is now actively pursuing a study of East-West rail is great news.

The start of commuter rail from Hartford and New Haven, CT, this week is outstanding news.

Now here is the challenge for local elected officials and others: how do we begin leveraging these transportation improvements into additional residents, additional jobs?

Having East-West rail is still a long shot as Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack noted in her announcement made at Union Station on Tuesday. The Commonwealth doesn’t own the track and arrangements with CSX, the owner, would have to be made.

That isn’t the case with the North-South commuter service to Greenfield. A two and half year pilot program should start next June.

So now the Pioneer Valley would be served by two bus companies, the regional transit authorities, Amtrak and commuter rail, as well as Bradley International Airport.

Not bad at all.

We need to tell people  about these developments and use them to build the region.