Executive Coucilor Ray Burton supports spending $1.3 million dollars on the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad through northern New Hampshire. I'm questioning why.                                           

The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad was constructed in the late 1800s as a link between Canada and industries in New England that today are eithier dead or dying: agriculture, textiles and more recently, paper. I think the major problem with this entire idea is cost.                                                                                                                                                                             "While the original cost of this project was originally estimated at $7 million. a recent re-costing of the project suggests it will cost $10.3 million." Burton stated. I asked Councilor Burton to explain what kind of return NH taxpayers will see with this kind of capital investment. I've questioned projects like this in the past and usually the response is economic development, jobs and a "public-private partnership."                                                                                                   

"There are currently economic and industrial development efforts underway, led by regional, state, and local economic development officials."  Burton stated.  During the past two years the papermills in Groveton, Berlin and Gorham have either shut down or face and uncertain future. Hundreds of papermakers have lost their jobs. Millions of dollars of taxbase and economic value have disappeared including inbound and outbound rail traffic for the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad. The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad is owned by publically traded Genesee & Wyoming Railroad which is based in Greenwich, CT. I sent the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad a FAX requesting their position(s) on the capital investment in the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad and how New Hampshire taxpayers will see a return on their investment.

They haven't responded.

Just finished reading through the list of Legislative Service Requests for 2009. With all the issues in New Hampshire I expected to find something earth shattering. I just didn't. I'll admit after the two vote defeat of the casino legislation in the Senate in the waning days of the 2008 session I'm looking for another casino LSR. We'll see what happens. But if what I think is going to happen in November it might be pointless to suggest a casino LSR has any chance this session. What is the projected state budget deficit now-- some $200 million.

Speaking of the Senate does anyone have any projections on the races. I'll only have one prediction. Senate District 1. Incumbent Sen. Gallus against Rep. Martha Mcleod. I'll put this one at a Gallus defeat. And one less vote for any casino legislation or at least this was the case when I contacted Rep. Mcleod last spring about SB 306-FN. "Senate Bill 306-FN was put on the table by the Senate and since the Senate is no longer in session it is not available to support or oppose." she said.  I think Rep. Mcleod is going to win because she is working at her campaign and catches traction better than Gallus in regional issues such as the Bethlehem landfill and economic conditions in Berlin. I have yet to see a Gallus for Senate sign or any ads in the newspaper. Its October.

The Maine county directly adjacent to northern New Hampshire is Oxford. It is my understanding that this November the residents there will vote on a referendum to allow casino development in this area of Maine. I'd make the arguement of how this would help the tourist based economy especially in a place like Sunday River Ski Area in Bethel but this doesn't seem to add up to votes or public support.

But if this referendum does pass......

 In mid August I decided to head south to Atlantic City, N.J. to play low ball. Low ball is more commonly known at Texas Holdem and in most cases generally refers to the lower level tournaments and cash games which feature more rapid blind levels and lower patience factors than some larger and higher stakes tournaments like the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

  Having been to Foxwoods several times, I prefer Atlantic City as there is not only more variation in terms of casinos and tournaments but even with the increased cost of fuel found the cost of expenses to be cheaper than in the woods around Ledyard, CT. I arrived in Atlantic City just as the sun was going down. It was an incredible scene watching the bright glow of the reddish-pink sky setting over the Atlantic Coast. I'm rushing down the Garden State Parkway past billboard signs that read and have pictures of:  "Robin Williams" August 23rd and "Madonna." the background is illiuminated by the shapes of the casinos themselves. Having never been to the Borgata decided to stop there first and I didn't regret it!

  The word amazing is an understatement to describe the opulence of the Borgata. Everything at the Hotel, Casino and Spa is first class. A guest experience that is definately here. The casino is equally as impressive. I literally had to follow the signs through a mass assortment of table games, high stakes table games, slot machines. Its 10:00 at night the place is packed. Beautiful women everywhere in a scene that is simply not seen in northern New Hampshire. Finally, I locate the poker room. Similar to the rest of the Borgata property, the room is at capacity with 850 poker players! The no-limit tournaments are all $350.00-$500.00 plus fees and they had at least 10-15 tables of cash games. So I decided on a $1-2 cash game I purchase my chips and head across the massive chandelliered ballroom as widescreen HDTVs broadcast the Beijing Olympics; the U.S. is winning the swimming competition. I arrive at the table, I'm assigned to seat #7 which is on the end three from the dealer. This is a good seat because it offers a lengthwise view of the other players.

Shuffle up and deal. I muck my first three hands just to get an overall sense of the environment the player to my left looks and acts like a younger version of Mike Tyson, think he is from Philadelphia there are a couple of Puerto Ricans who clearly speak broken english and the ever present and predicatable, hoodies. I dismiss the rest as clingers on. By now I'm the small blind and I've called with my sutied 7-9, Tyson throws out an information bet at $200.00 one of the hoodies calls the bet and the rest of the table quickly fold. I call. The flop comes 7-Q-10. Hoodie checks. I bet $500.00, Tyson acts pissed but throws his cards away, I'm guessing he is holding a king. The hoodie really hesitates looks at my chipstack, he wants to call this bet but he doesn't, he folds. My experience is that hoodies often fold under pressure even when they have the winning hand. So I pick up this pot. The night continues on, I did lose some hands, I chased after A-Q spades which were beat on the river by unsuited jacks when nothing hits the board. But by 4:15am I'm looking at my chipstack I'm up substantially from where I started. The poker room is still nearly 2/3rds full and I'm starting to feel tired from the six plus hour ride from New Hampshire. So I decide to cash out my chips. As I'm leaving the Borgata and walking along the seventh floor of the parking garage through the night sky I'm asking myself some questions: Why isn't New Hampshire doing this? Why did Senate Bill 306-FN not pass? Why did Senators Lou Dellasandro and John Gallus not mention Atlantic City during the hearing on the casino legislation?

The Borgata was opened in 2003 by casino developer Steve Wynn. Imagine something like this in Hampton Beach or even the Pease Tradeport. It could mean alot for tourism and New Hampshire.  

Just about two years ago I decided to run for my former State Representative seat in northern Grafton county. When I had served it was Grafton County District #1 Bethlehem, Littleton and Monroe. Times change. Today, it is now Grafton District #2 which includes the towns of Bethlehem and Franconia. I think the current district is best known for one of the state's largest landfills and Olympic skier, Bode Miller. But the real story here isn't about this race, its about northern New Hampshire and what is going to happen this fall.  And without getting into a discussion about what it takes to run for a position that pays $100.00 per year in a small town I drifted through the Republican nomination simply because I was the only Republican on the ballot. I think the high water mark on my campaign was when I was interviewed by the local newspaper and asked to give my plans if elected to this office. My plans were all related to economic development and needed jobs in northern New Hampshire and I was able to discuss issues ranging from casino gambling to foreign trade zones, the reporter did a good job while my opponet who was interviewed later that afternoon I thought appeared to be the pro Lynch, support Cannon Mountain and education for all, candidate. So I thought the voters at least would have a good choice: economic development and jobs or more of the same.

I was sitting in the local restraunt as WMUR announced the major races while the state representative races were flashed across the bottom of the screen. I knew from the polls this was no time to be drinking champagne and was I ever right. Times had really changed. My score about 26%. And my opponet was Rep. Martha Mcleod.

The voters did the right thing. Though I don't agree with many of the positions of Rep. Mcleod since that time I've come to respect her analysis and knowlege of not only the issues in northern New Hampshire but her response to both constituants and local town governments. This is quality.  So my question is and the real story is: In November what is going to happen in Senate District #1?  Is Senator Gallus vulnerable?

Executive Councilor Ray Burton proposes to spend $850,000 of taxpayer money on a crumbling railroad line that runs through northern New Hampshire.

  The St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad known as the SLR runs from Norton, Vermont through Groveton and Berlin before ending up in a small emaciated town in southern Maine named Danville Junction. The SLR was once a viable and profitable railroad but today this is no longer, with reasons running from the decline of papermaking to the competitve advantages of intermodal trucking throughout the northeast. So my question is why exactly Councilor Burton proposes to spend this $850,000 on what essentially amounts to a financial subsidy for a failing railroad in northern New Hampshire?

  Councilor Burton responded to my request by outlining the $850,000 being used for about 23 miles of railroad improvements and added the role of the Federal Government in this project. “To his credit Congressman Hodes has secured another $450,000 for this project.” Burton stated. In a letter to the Editor Burton also mentioned “economic stabilization” as a reason why this project should go forward. During the past two years the papermills in Berlin, Groveton and Gorham have either shut down or sharply reduced capacity. Somehow I don’t Councilor Burton taking any position on these mill closures which resulted in some 600 workers losing their jobs. Papermills incidently, that would have provided rail traffic for the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad. I also don’t recall Councilor Burton mentioning anything about the very idea of “economic stabilization” when the mills announced they were closing.

  I’ve been following the SLR and its operations since at least 1994 including its predessors, Emons Holdings Inc. and the Canadian National Railway. Every economic analysis I’ve done on this railroad shows a carrier that has done nothing but cut overhead costs, lay-off workers and continually ask for governement grant money. The later of which seems to have the strong support of the long-time councilor from the north.