Rumors abound that the local Convention Center operated by the DOD will be used to house victims of Katrina.
The hotel has 235 rooms, which are empty most of the time. The Center is owned by the Federal Government and operated under taxpayer subsidy. I belong to the gym there and can attest that it is attractive, up to date and generally vacant.
The town of Southbridge does not need another 500 unemployed people, so the next question becomes what do the people do, once transplanted to Massachusetts?
Southbridge borders Connecticut, and is close to the home of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos.
These Casinos are operated under a special federal dispensation which could be made available to a survivors of Katrina. Many of the displaced people made their living working in Casino’s in the Gulf Coast. They bring an expertise that could be easily utilized. The project would alleviate unemployment in the local area and would pay for itself in short order. We need a donation of some Federal land, some local cooperation and we would be off and running.
There is no time like the present.