Knott Favors National Harbor for Slots, So Do His Friends
Martin Knott, the newly elected chairman of the Maryland Economic Development Corp., likes the idea of expanded gaming at the National Harbor.
So do Knott's friends, who just happen to run a public affairs firm that represents MGM Resorts and is running ads for union interests that want to see a new casino at the Prince George's County site.
Knott, a Towson resident and president of Timonium-based Knott Mechanical, was elected chairman of the group late last month.
Since becoming chairman of MEDCO, Knott spent the last week writing opinion pieces and doing interviews advocating for a sixth casino specifically at the National Harbor site.
"All of this is inevitable, at some point it is going to happen," Knott said of expanded gambling during a Saturday interview on the Jimmy Mathis Show on WBAL radio.
Mathis asked Knott if he favored locating the sixth casino at National Harbor.
"It certainly fits the profile of National Harbor," Knott said.
Knott went on to repeat some bullet point items that appear in radio and television ads calling for expanded gaming including the creation of 8,400 jobs, and attracting $800 million in new investment. The money generated could go to schools and other needs around the state.
"The city needs the property tax reduction they'll get out of this," Knott said, adding that it would also mean as much as $30 million to other jurisdictions such as Baltimore County.
"In Baltimore County, 46 percent of our schools don't have air conditioning," Knott said. "That's $20-$25 million that is just not going to be there (without expanded gambling). I look at that and say, 'Gosh, we could air condition 10 schools with that.'
"We cannot continue to lose $300 million a year," Knott said.
What has not been mentioned are Knott's ties to Kearney O'Doherty Public Affairs, a politically-connected Baltimore-based firm that represents a union group and a casino operator that also have an interest in the National Harbor site.
Knott was one of three founders of the website CenterMaryland.org along with Steve Kearney and Damian O'Doherty, partners in Kearney O'Doherty Public affairs. Kearney is a former top aide to Gov. Martin O'Malley. O'Doherty is a former chief of staff to former Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith.
Patch reached out to Knott and asked him to respond to questions about the connection with KO Public Affairs.
Knott instead sent an email with a three-sentence statement: "MEDCO’s mission is to help our state’s businesses create and retain jobs. That’s what I intend to work on as the newly elected chair. You’ll be hearing more from me in the future on business-related issues."
A representative at KO Public Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
KO Public Affairs has done some work for MGM Resorts. Last month, Howard Libit, a KO Public Affairs employee who also is listed as a founder of CenterMaryland.org, sent out a statement announcing the MGM Resorts had entered into an agreement to build a casino at the Prince George's County location.
KO Public Affairs is also responsible for assisting the Building Traders for the National Harbor in buying time to run radio and television commercials calling for a referendum to expand gambling.
David Moon obtained copies of the ads, which can be found on his Marylandjuice.com blog.
So far, the House and Senate have not been able to come to an agreement on a plan that would have lead to a second special session this year. That session was supposed to start today.
Knott, on WBAL, said he doesn't understand the resistance from the House of Delegates and Republican legislators.
"We don't live in those times any more where we can be playing these games," Knott said, adding that he believes a deal will eventually come together.
Some of the opposition is related to issues surrounding the protection of other casinos such as Maryland Live, which obtained their license with the expectation it would be one of just five regional casinos.
"I really believe there is a deal out there that protects the Anne Arundel County (casino) and protects the Baltimore City site," Knott said.
M. Sullivan
5:41 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
I find it difficult to believe that the people living in the high priced housing at National Harbor want a casino in their midst. Also, based on the numbers I just heard about Maryland Live, their payback percentage is only averaging 86%. This is lower than just about any other casino in other states. This kind of ripoff of the public can only survive for so long. They don't even give away free alcoholic drinks! Only Maryland would come up with such stupid rules for casinos.
According to published numbers, business dropped 10% in Perryville since MD live opened. This is business that won't return. More casinos means more dilution of the potential patron base.
Paul Amirault
6:00 pm on Monday, July 9, 2012
Maryland and the legislature just don't understand. Casino's are treated as giant 50-50's, only the ignorant play the game. The state thinks it maximizes profits by reducing player's odds of winning. Just dumb, I understand odds and will never be seen in a Maryland casino. I'll fly to Vegas first. Penny wise, pound foolish.
JustABill
8:33 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Wait a minute I have to make note of the date and time because Paul and I actually agree on something.
Other Tim
9:11 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I truly understand odds, and will never be seen in any casino.
Frank in Elkridge
11:47 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
National Harbor is a much more appropriate location for a big casino than Arundel Mills. Hopefully, new casinos at National Harbor and the Inner Harbor will put the the Cordish casino out of business.
Ideally though, the Baltimore City casino should never get built, the Arundel Mills casino should go out of business, and a casino should finally be built at Laurel Park, which was the originally intended location. Take a look at Delaware Park to see what Laurel Park should have been.
JustABill
8:45 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Frank I agree with you that the Arundel Mills casino should have been built at Laurel Park where most of the voters that supported the original referendum were led to believe it would be from the beginning. Unfortunately we are now stuck with the one we have at Arundel Mills and it is not going to be going out of business any time soon so you may as well accept that simple fact. Just as you may as well accept the simple fact that this whole process has been filled with corruption and political favoritism ever since Senator Miller and Speaker Busch both ensured Governor Ehrlich's original slots bills would only pass over their dead bodies just to keep him from getting the win so to speak. The 6 year delay has cost the state hundreds of millions if not over a billion in lost revenue and countless jobs in the horse racing industry as well as other businesses in the areas surrounding the racetracks in Maryland. It is no surprise that National Harbor is in Senator Miller's back yard and the developers are certainly in his back pocket.
CerahAnd
11:54 am on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
A lot of the housing in National Harbor is vacant. Some of the condo buildings are just starting to fill up as we begin to rebound from the soft housing market. And if you buy a property in National Harbor, you're not buying it to stay away from potential development .
Before MGM, Disney was eyeing this property. It is my understanding that Disney pulled out (was going to be a themed resort/spa property) when they learned that this site was being considered for a casino. I also believe that the way this topic is being addressed by politicians, that MGM and Peterson Companies have already reached an arrangement and that this is going to happen. The only question mark is will it be just slots, or will we have approved table gaming by the time construction begins. Then you have a real problem, because that would be detrimental to MD Live and the other slot parlors in the state. MD will most likely be a table-games state after November, and you'll see a new casino in National Harbor plus table games at the existing casinos.
Parkvillehoney
3:03 pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Everything Maryland does is a waste of money. Maryland Live is new which accounts for the big uptick in visitors. When real gamblers realize what a low payoff they receive, they will go the distance to a real casino. These casinos will fall on their face just like the money pit Rocky Gap Hotel and Convention Ctr in Western Maryland did.
Skip727
5:43 am on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I have a question for Mr. Knott, he says we can not afford to lose $300 million a year, my question to you sir is...HOW CAN ONE LOSE, WHAT ONE DOES NOT HAVE? Where and when did we acquire this money and who is responsible for losing it and how did they lose it?
Just asking.
Adam R
11:11 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The National Harbor location intrigues me: 1. Lower PG County got screwed by Cornish and the Arundel Mills location. We all know if life was fair that Casino would be at the Laurel Race Track right now. 2. Cornish is raking in the dough and will be opening another Casino in Baltimore City within the year. 3. Now Cornish is the one crying foul with the possibility of another Casino at National Harbor. 4. I don't care what Cornish thinks about anything. I say Tit for Tat, the floodgates are open, build the damn thing. The location is perfect for NVA/DC/MD. The National harbor is already a wonderful place to visit and a Casino near by would be a great asset for the area. Its still in MD and revenues would help the State. Yes there would be poaching of customers, but is it really any different from Charlestown, WV, Perryville, MD, or any of the many sites in DE? If Cornish's profits go down, too bad buddy!
Dean Smith
8:28 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
For the life of me, I can’t understand why some lawmakers are fighting to stop gambling in National Harbor (I know why Cordish is doing it) while at the same time, Maryland Live and the Proposed Slots Parlor in South Baltimore (currently, the largest 2 slots parlors in the state) are only about 10 miles apart?
adminnikePrinz
12:35 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
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hawkeye
12:56 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Wonder how Congresswoman Donna Edwards feels about the casino in her neighborhood. Will it impact the resale value of that sweet deal condo she bought there? Maybe this is another of the governor's ways of screwing her over…like when he redistricted her into Anne Arundel County.