THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2022 Page 11 MGC collects more than $3.7M in DOR intercepts in 2021 T he Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) collected more than $3.7 million in Department of Revenue (DOR) intercepts during 2021, according to Bruce Band, the Deputy Director of the MGC’s Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. Those intercepts came via 2021 winnings at Massachusetts casinos from people owing back taxes or back child support. Whenever someone wins a jackpot over $1,200 in slots or a table jackpot of $5,000 or that pays out at 300-to-1 odds, that person’s name and social security number has to be run through the DOR to see if they owe any back taxes or back child support. If the patron does, the money owed is withheld from the winnings and transferred to the DOR. The total intercepted by the DOR in 2021 at Massachusetts casinos was $3.7 million. The following is the breakdown of jackpot winnings intercepted at individual Massachusetts properties: • Encore Boston Harbor – $2.1 million • Plainridge Park Casino – $921,594.87 • MGM Springfield – $633,937.32 “This was a record year for the assistance and collection on this,” Band said of the DOR intercepts. “This is a credit to both the casinos and our staff for making sure that these funds were intercepted.” Mayor Brian Arrigo spoke on the funding for the Andrew A. Casassa Overpass with Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark at the overpass last week as Ward 4 Councillor Patrick Keefe looks on at right. (Advocate photos by Adam Swift) BRIDGE | SEE Page 11 en Administration and Congressional Democrats made it a priority to enact the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure and economic competitiveness in nearly a century,” Clark said. “I was honored to celebrate the $18 million coming to Revere to repair and modernize this overpass, part of the $1.1 billion investment in the Commonwealth’s bridges, and begin our path to a 21st century economy.” Last month, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration announced that the fi rst round of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s $27.5 PARKING | FROM Page 11 the long-term meters operate at half the rate of the meters on Broadway. “We have also established a business parking permit program for business owners and employees so that they can park all day, every day with a permit administered by the parking department,” stated Viscay. “We feel this is a fair price allowing for capacity on Broadway meters. We have over 50 people taking advantage of this program.” Viscay also said that the mebillion bridge formula program was distributed to states and tribal communities. In this initial round of funding, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation will receive $225.3 million for Fiscal Year 2022. Over the life of the fi ve-year program, Massachusetts will eventually receive $1.1 billion for bridge replacement and repair projects across Massachusetts. “As municipal leaders, we know the power of investing in infrastructure,” said Arrigo. “I am thankful for federal and state partners like Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark for understanding the importance of infrastructure funding – with ARPA money, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and other grant opportunities from Governor Baker ters are free of charge from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. on weekdays, on weekends and on holidays. He said the parking department has also worked with the director of elder aff airs to make sure there is plentiful free parking for the seniors who use the nearby senior center. Additionally, Viscay noted that the administration is seeking the creation of a parking benefi ts district where money collected from the city meters would be used for projects in the downtown and Broadway area. “I feel that any vote to reAssistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark spoke on infrastructure funding. Engineering Chief Don Ciaramella talked to Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark about Revere infrastructure projects while Mayor Brian Arrigo and Councillors Patrick Keefe, Steve Morabito and Ira Novoselsky looked on. and Lieutenant Governor Polito, the city of Revere is in an unmove these meters is premature and that we should reinvest all the money generated into funding a parking benefi ts district,” stated Viscay. Police Chief David Callahan said that there were a number of issues with unregistered and uninsured cars littering the lot before the meters were installed. “The lot has never looked better, and I think you can attribute a lot of that to the meters,” said Callahan, who also sits on the Traffic Commission. “I’ve personally had to remove cars that clearly didn’t belong there that precedented position to make lasting infrastructure change were unregistered, uninsured, or inoperable.” McKenna said she had no issue with the statements made by Viscay, but said she was upset about the lack of transparency and being left out of the conversation as events were taking place. “I’m here not as a councillor, I’m here to better Revere,” said McKenna. “Transparency has been one of my biggest issues since I have been a councillor, and to leave the Ward 1 Councillor out of the dialogue is wrong. Do I agree with this and what’s happening? Yes, that will benefi t all residents and visitors.” I do, but you know what – give me the respect as a ward councillor to bring me into the conversation.” McKenna said she also still wants to see four spots in the lot set aside for residents of Aucella Court who have issues with parking in the tight-knit neighborhood. “All I want is the four free parking spaces for the people who need the free parking spaces,” said McKenna. The commission agreed to take the request up at its next meeting if McKenna submitted a formal request.
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