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| Mohegan Sun, Uncasville |
This hits especially hard right before the holidays. Perhaps the recent layoffs of 300 workers at Mohegan Sun Casino shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Nonetheless, it is a big blow to an already struggling eastern Connecticut economy. Revenue is down as out of state casinos and a shaky recovery take their toll, but I can't help but wonder whether massive layoffs should always be the first option. There is no doubt this region has historically depended far too much on a few giant companies like EB and Pfizer. This leaves us susceptible to the decisions of too few. New London County is not a remote market; it is halfway between New York and Boston with a great harbor and tourist attractions. There is no reason why this region can't diversify. If I ran a major financial or tech company, I'd prefer New London and vicinity over the traffic and costs that choke growth in places downstate like Fairfield County. How big a wakeup call do we need? I appreciate what our resort casinos offer; They are two of the finest in the world and I hope they can thrive for workers and the tribal owners. That doesn't mean we should bet everything on them.
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