GRANT-2026-1 : Requesting acceptance of a Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund Grant in the amount of $166,800 to address the impacts of gambling related harms in our community.

Transcript (~13 min @ 23:14)

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▶ 23:14 Mark Garipay: Okay, moving on. Next step. We have a grant ID 1, 2, 8, 9 8 requesting the acceptance of a Massachusetts Gaming Commission Community Mitigation Fund grant in the amount of $166,800 to address the impacts of gaming related harms in our community. We have Director Chu

▶ 23:35 Speaker 7: with us. Hi, how's yours?

▶ 23:38 Speaker 8: Thank you. Good evening. Um, to the council, uh, thank you for the opportunity to come before you to discuss, um, the grants awarded by the Mass Gaming Commission. Uh, we're excited to announce that we are awarded $166,800, uh, from the Mass Gaming Commission. Um, this is a sort of a part two of a grant that we received to fiscal years ago, um, to combat the effects of the expansion of Encore, uh, and gambling harms in our city. Uh, we are one of several communities to be deemed as part of that area. Uh, we've already had great success in our first round, um, working on projects such as community, uh, such as the pop-up market, uh, public safety benefits, uh, and also working with our schools to increase education around gambling harms. Um, I, I, I don't wanna go over the entire memo again, but, um, just some of the highlights. Uh, in the first round, we were able to fund, um, some surveys done for our students regarding, uh, regarding, uh, harm, uh, gambling related harms and their perception of harm when it comes to gambling, um, where you're gonna use that data now to create more targeted curriculum and also, um, kind of address some of those concerns that parents may have, um, for ease of access to, uh, gambling online, as well as other avenues. Um, we've also seen success. Uh, the Milano Center has been able to increase their programming that is not gambling related, uh, for seniors. And so we know that there is increased risk for those in a fixed income, um, to, uh, to suffer harms from gambling. And so we wanna make sure that we're offering other programs as well as potentially, uh, financial literacy programs for youth and seniors. Um, we're also able to bring forth more resources, including portable radios for our police as well as trauma kits, um, through this, for this, through this grant. And we're hoping to expand our impact and hopefully, um, be able to use these resources. So, uh, I'm happy to answer any questions, counsel may have

▶ 25:36 Mark Garipay: Any questions. Council, vice chair, Jamal, sorry.

▶ 25:41 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. You're welcome. Um, thank you for, um, the work that you've been doing, um, specifically on this topic. Uh, do, do you have a, um, number, and I don't expect, like, exact number of population that have been benefiting from these resources and services that you've been providing?

▶ 26:03 Speaker 8: Yeah, so we actually have, um, we actually have some numbers, especially for the senior center. Um, they actually host monthly trips to the Encore. And so, um, knowing that these are the numbers, um, it looks like they've been attracting 107 senior participants with 22% attending multiple times. Um, so by increasing the number, um, of programs, they were able to provide 1700 more rides, uh, 1700 rides to residents, uh, giving them access to medical appointments, grocery store visits, uh, in community, in community programs as well. So 1700 rides, um, to other resources. Um, so we're able to say that, you know, this has helped expand that, um, service.

▶ 26:43 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. So the majority of, so the population that's benefiting the most from, um, this grant, if I may say, is, um, see, uh, older adults,

▶ 26:55 Speaker 8: Older adults in the first round have experienced the most, uh, benefits so far. Um, in terms of youth, we're actually just past the survey phase. So we've collected all this data on, you know, how many, how many students are, um, accessing, gambling, how they're doing it. Uh, it was only a 10 question survey. So we have kind of a basic idea of it now. In combination with the youth risk behavior survey, which we're gonna administer through a different grant, um, we have now a better base of understanding of where they're gonna, um, where their, where their, uh, behavior is when it comes to gambling. And so the second round of funding is hopefully going to provide us with the resources to reach out to coaches, teachers, other adults, um, that interface with youth, um, to kinda give them the tools to help educate students. So hopefully those numbers will have later on.

▶ 27:39 Maya Jamaleddine: And I'm sorry if you've mentioned that, when was this, when was the survey done?

▶ 27:45 Speaker 8: The survey was administered at the end of last school year, or, um, 20 25, 26?

▶ 27:51 Maya Jamaleddine: Yes. Uh, so the end of, uh, last school year. Yes. And was it done for all the high school or

▶ 27:58 Speaker 8: It was done for, I believe, all the high school. It was not done for the middle school.

▶ 28:02 Speaker 9: None on the middle school.

▶ 28:04 Speaker 8: Yeah, we were planning to, but we had, we did have a, um, we did have an issue with capacity. Um, it was towards the end of the year, and it was a very busy time, so, and

▶ 28:11 Maya Jamaleddine: Was it like everyone, uh, did it? Or was it like, uh, volunteer voluntarily?

▶ 28:16 Speaker 8: Um, there was an opt out, so students could opt out if they wanted to.

▶ 28:20 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. And, um, I'm sorry, I'm, uh, asking multiple questions. Um, is that a yearly grant, or is it, uh,

▶ 28:29 Speaker 8: So this is, um, this is pending funding availability to the Mass Gaming Commission. So we've now, this is a second round of funding was received. Um, we're, we're not sure moving forward if there's gonna be funding available, um, but just 'cause we're, we're kind of in uncertain times for financial situations. So, um, we're not sure if there's gonna be, but we're anticipating using this funding in the next two, we're given two years to spend this funding, so.

▶ 28:52 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. So it's for over two years. Correct. And is it, um, can it be, uh, used for towards a salary for a new position? Or is it restrict there is restriction on it for programming? Um,

▶ 29:06 Speaker 8: We would, we would have to consult with the commission. I don't think salary is out of the question, but I think we'd have to figure out. And we also have to figure out the sustainability of the position. We don't really wanna create a position and then not be able to fund it afterwards. Um, but I, I don't think it's exclusively for programming, but I think programming has, uh, one of the bigger impacts, so.

▶ 29:26 Speaker 7: Got it. Thank you. Set. Councilor Kim Chiney,

▶ 29:28 Manjula Karamcheti: Um, uh, counselor Jamaluddin asked a few of my questions. And so just to, um, in terms of like a timeline for when you would anticipate that data, particularly around high school gambling being released, um, when are you thinking?

▶ 29:46 Speaker 8: We're thinking probably in the next month or so, we're working with a consulting group called ICH. Um, so they're putting that data together for us right now. They were the ones who helped consult with the survey questions in the first place to make sure that it was effective. Um, and we'll have those results pretty soon.

▶ 30:00 Manjula Karamcheti: And then, generally speaking, or if you have more details, that's great too, but how do you anticipate sharing that information with the schools and the community?

▶ 30:11 Speaker 8: Yeah, so, um, our athletic director has been very interested in this data. Um, you know, I think it's, I think it's an issue that's happening across, um, for all students, but I think, um, athletes are an area that we want to kind of work on first. So we want to work with ath athletic director and our programs there to reach out, kind of educate, provide them with the resources, and then get a better understanding of the landscape, um, and see, you know, what is the understanding of gambling right now, uh, and its harms and, you know, what else can we help address, uh, for them. So I think that's kinda where we're gonna start. We're gonna work with our, with our, uh, athletic teams and then kinda move out from there.

▶ 30:45 Manjula Karamcheti: Great. And I, I, obviously, it depends on what the data says, but just anecdotally, I would say sports betting in particular has been something running rampant in the high school. And I, I speak as a parent having two kids who just graduated last year and the year before. Um, it's pretty commonplace. And so just wondering, you know, are there programs, information, resources to address that, that have been created? Or would you be creating them sort of from scratch?

▶ 31:14 Speaker 8: Yeah, so there is, um, there are resources that are available, uh, I believe through the Mass Gaming Commission. Um, they actually have resources. So there's a how to talk with your kids about gambling guide. Uh, it comes in, uh, we actually have some in the office that will be sharing with the schools. It comes in a packet. Um, there's several cards and it's just kind of to help parents, you know, ask the right questions, how to ask their students, you know, and it's a way of not stigmatizing the issue. Um, 'cause gambling can be an addiction. Um, so there's language in there on how to address it and how to, how talk about it. So we're gonna use that as part of our resources as well as other, um, kinda evidence-based methods to talk about it. So.

▶ 31:47 Speaker 6: Great. Thank you. Really appreciate those efforts. All

▶ 31:50 Speaker 7: Set. Council Stewart?

▶ 31:52 Robb Stewart: Thank you Mr. Chair. Um, Mr. Chair, uh, Mr. Tru, you answered all the questions. Um, I do appreciate, uh, you taking both the senior side as well as the student side equally seriously. 'cause they're both a problem. Uh, so thank you for all this work.

▶ 32:07 Speaker 7: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Council Van Devar.

▶ 32:09 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. Mr. Chair. Uh, on the senior side, uh, noticed in the documents that, you know, you mentioned there are these monthly group trips to, um, the casino Yes. That the senior center runs.

▶ 32:26 Kimberly Vandiver: And I wonder if, if in your role, kind of relative to kind of gambling problems and addiction, if you feel like those are problematic, if you feel like they need more safeguards around the trips that we are assisting people in taking?

▶ 32:38 Speaker 8: Yeah, I think, um, I think similar to other issues that we tackle kind of public, from a public health standpoint, I think a harm reduction approach is probably the best. Um, we know that it's, it's a popular program. Um, and I think, uh, it's a, it's also a way for seniors to socialize as well. I think it, I think it's a program they look forward to. I think our goal is really to provide, you know, our senior center with the resources, you know, for people to reach out if they're really struggling, um, to kinda identify signs. 'cause they're, they also do a great job talking with the people who come to their center, um, getting to know them, you know, and through conversation they're able to pick up on a lot of things. And so, um, I think it's, uh, it's kind of a harm reduction approach. I don't know if, uh, if we would look to decrease those trips. Um, we might do that over time. Um, but we're just looking for a way to kinda provide them with alternate activities and so, and also someone to talk to if they have issues. So.

▶ 33:30 Speaker 4: Great. Thank you very much. That's

▶ 33:31 Mark Garipay: All. Thank you. Anyone else? Uh, oh, go ahead. I just had, uh, one quick question on this community mitigation fund. It's kind of open for a lot of, a lot of different events. I mean, I was thinking it would be more towards gambling, but we have like, um, you know, popups, um, community events in there. Can you explain a little bit about what the, what actually falls into the community mitigation and what it can be used for?

▶ 33:58 Speaker 8: Yeah. So If,

▶ 33:59 Mark Garipay: if someone in the public's looking at this, I think they would be looking at it a little, little differently.

▶ 34:03 Speaker 8: Sure. Yeah. So I think the way I would, the way I would explain community mitigation fund, I think it's to, like it says, to mitigate the harms to a community or impacts to a community. Um, we may not be the closest to, uh, Encore compared to other communities that are receiving this, these funding opportunities. But I think, um, for community to, uh, to thrive, I think to increase the kind of business engagement as well. So that's part of community planning. We're talking about, uh, the popup events. Um, I think being able to build up our small businesses, our, our base here, um, I think is a benefit to our residents to have access to resources, um, that may not be available otherwise. Um, a lot of our programming is kind of focused on the impacts of gambling. So that would be our senior population, increasing programs for them and for our youth. Increasing access to financial literacy and other classes and other programs, um, and surveys. I think public safety, um, that part of it is, is important because we may see increased traffic. Um, and I think we want to better, um, better prepare our officers and give them the resources to respond properly. Um, so I think, you know, all of these are related to the impacts of, of gambling by the increase in our area, um, to access. So I think, uh, it's something that we'll continue to work on. Um, I think the community popup is a way for us to benefit through economic development, um, not just, uh, our established businesses, but also provide those without, uh, kind of a brick and mortar, uh, uh, base to get a chance to expand, um, and to kind of get their name out there. So I think that's, that's the reason for that.

▶ 35:35 Mark Garipay: Okay. Um, just curious if we could use it for geese remediation tool, but, yes. Uh, what's the, uh, will of the committee? I'll

▶ 35:43 Speaker 6: Make a motion to recommend.

▶ 35:45 Mark Garipay: Second, uh, we have a motion to recommend by counselor ache. Seconded by counselor, uh, Romanul on discussion. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Voice call. Voice voice vote. Yes. Uh, can we take a voice vote on this, please? Yes.

▶ 36:01 Speaker 3: Vice Chair Jamine? Yes. Councilor Occhio? Yes. Counselor Hamilton? Yes. Counselor Karen Chetty? Yes. Counselor Romanul? Yes. Councilor Stewart? Yes. Councillor Vandiver? Yes. President Elli? Yes. Chair Garipay? Yes. All in favor.

▶ 36:22 Mark Garipay: Thank you. That will be recommended to the full council. That concludes our business. I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. Motion