Senior Groups Boycott Foxwoods
The outcry is in response to remarks CEO reportedly made about seniors with walkers and oxygen tanks.
The director of the Derby Senior Center is boycotting Foxwoods Resort and Casino, following controversial comments, reportedly made by the CEO.
Some local senior citizens groups are boycotting Foxwoods after reports of disparaging comments about seniors attributed to the CEO.
This started after Boston Globe ran an opinion piece on May 24 that said all Foxwoods’ CEO Scott Butera wants from customers is “their wallet.”
The reporter went on to write, “The chief executive of Foxwoods Resort Casino is also candid about customers he can do without — for example, those stereotypical busloads of senior citizens who show up with walkers and oxygen tanks.”
After seeing the article, Sarah Muoio, director of the Derby Senior Center, decided that Foxwoods won’t get her business until Butera is out of the job.
"At first, I was just really offended that someone could make a statement, stereotype senior citizens in such a negative way," Muoio said. "I decided that our senior center was going to boycott Foxwoods."
Butera told the Valley Independent Sentinel that the writer took his words out of context.
So, the Independent contacted the Globe, and representatives said the comments were not taken out of context.
Muoio said she does not believe the words were taken out context and contacted other senior centers in the area, which have also refused to work with the popular resort and casino.
"Generally, we get a busload and we are allowed 54 on the bus and the tickets were $56 each," Muoio said. But now, the trip planned for Oct. 24 is canceled.
On Wednesday, Muoio met with Foxwoods’ manager of marketing and sales, in an attempt to mend ties.
It did not work. Muoio said that as long as Butera is CEO, she won't be doing any business with the resort and casino.
"Ultimately, I will only go back to Foxwoods if they had a different CEO,” Muoio said. “I'm not going to go back and encourage my members to spend their money there when the person who is running the money of the business, is not respecting them."
The public relations manager for Foxwoods told NBC Connecticut that they would not be making any further comment regarding the situation.
Caught On Cam: Anchors Take Cover
