Problem
At the moment there is an old, outdated, but exclusive law that allows only the Foxwoods and Mohegan tribes to build gaming establishments, or casinos, in the state of Connecticut. Casinos have come a long way. Yes, they do house the highly regulated gaming floors we've all seen in movies, but they have become a magnet for entertaining shows and destinations for quality time with the family. More importantly, they are revenue and career generating establishments which generously take care of their host communities.

Foxwoods and Mohegan are not enough for Connecticut. Their revenues to the state have been declining for years and will continue to plummet well into the future. Instead of worrying about traffic, imagine a modernized, efficient, and upgraded train system from New Haven to New York thanks to an anchor destination that'll sit right in the middle of that path; MGM Bridgeport.

MGM Bridgeport plans to create a premiere tourism destination that will create thousands of new jobs for Bridgeport and surrounding towns. This would be at no tax payer dollar. If approved by the state, the proposed resort will invest more than a half billion dollars in Connecticut’s tourism infrastructure. It would also include world-class entertainment, hotels, restaurants, shopping, and more.

Solution
Remove the state's tribal exclusivity deals that are currently in place. In return, allow an open and competitive bidding process for a casino that will allow any commercial casino in the world the permission to bid on a property in the state. This would satisfy everyone and directly benefit Bridgeport. If the Mohegan and Foxwoods tribes would like to bid on a piece of land in Bridgeport they can. However, with MGM's great plan for Bridgeport, competition will be stiff.

Bridgeport desperately needs an injection of non taxed revenue to save our roads, hospitality needs, schools, and unemployment rates. Such an investment will also make the entire state of Connecticut more business friendly and adaptable to the needs of the modern generation.

We need to convince lawmakers that this is the solution. Lobby day in Hartford, Connecticut is only a few months away. We need to rally our communities together to visit the capital and fight for our future.

Personal story
I have assisted in the outreach efforts to enact an open and competitive casino bill for the state. I believe in this bill because it would immediately and directly benefit not only my city but our state. I am a resident of Bridgeport and we desperately need a mega power in the entertainment industry such as MGM in our city. Gone should be the days of long and far travels to Foxwoods and Mohegan for entertainment.

I have heard stories of Bridgeport's proud and historic past. We need to get back to those times where job security was at an all time high. This is the answer whether it seems like it at face value or not! Who else is coming to Bridgeport, Connecticut with a $675 Million Dollar investment at no tax payer dollar? A deal which would not only positively affect our host city, but all surrounding towns.

Roads, school systems, and the train system would benefit greatly. I am tired of hearing, "That'll never happen in Bridgeport!" That's not the mentality we need to have. One must think of the future effects such an investment will make for not only our lives, but for the lives of our offspring and future generations within this city and our state as a whole. Don't you want to be part of history?