The mayor of Everett ceremoniously welcomed Wynn Resorts as the city’s casino developer on Tuesday afternoon, one day after the City of Boston filed a lawsuit against the state gaming commission.
Governor-elect Charlie Baker says traffic congestion in Charlestown is a big concern of his as it relates to the casino. At an event in Providence on Tuesday, he said he was not familiar with the details of the Boston lawsuit but said Sullivan Square was of concern because "it's a fairly small, very complex intersection."
Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria warmly welcomed officials from Wynn Resorts in City Hall, hailing the plans for the $1.6 billion casino. Wynn has the only casino license in eastern Massachusetts.
“Gaming is gonna happen in Massachusetts. It’s gonna happen in Everett.”
And Wynn Senior Vice President for Development Robert DeSalvio says Everett will be home, now that they’ve closed on a 33-acre parcel on the former Monsanto Chemical plant.
“With this land transaction and our arrival into the city of Everett, nothing gets in our way in terms of bringing this project to fruition.”
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has filed suit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, arguing Charlestown residents should have a vote on the casino. Traffic will flow through Charlestown on the way to the casino.
“I think it’s important to have a Charlestown vote, just like we did in East Boston, the folks of East Boston had a chance to vote. The most impacted community, that happens to be in the backyard where the casino would go.”
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Suffolk Superior Court, argues that Boston should have "host community" status. A spokeswoman says the commission is reviewing the filings and may comment at a later date.
Previously Boston was designated a “surrounding community,” which entitles the city to financial compensation from Wynn, but not a vote.
