"The state should not entertain watering down the state's open government law simply because it may be inconvenient for executives at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Foxwoods President and Chief Executive Officer John A. O'Brien recently wrote to the Division of Special Revenue asking it to reconsider providing the names and addresses of casino employees in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

Mr. O'Brien sanctimoniously stated he was concerned about the privacy of casino workers. But casino operators voiced no such concerns until union organizers started gathering up the names. The union wants to contact workers at home to generate support for organizing the work force.

Management hopes to block the union and therein lays the real motivation for its concern.

The reason the names are part of the public record, and therefore open to inspection under the FOI Act, is because the card dealers and other workers running the games of chance are licensed by the Division of Special Revenue Services."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Keep Casino Records Open (The New London Day 8/21)
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