Gaming mogul Steve Wynn, who is preparing to build a massive .7 billion casino in Everett, which has aroused the ire of Boston’s Mayor Martin Walsh into suing to try to stop it, has filed a lawsuit of his own.
Wynn is suing the so-far unidentified person or persons who leaked information about Wynn and his efforts that he considers defamatory.
In his statement to the court Wynn’s lawyers asserted: “Although our commitment to Massachusetts is absolute and irrevocable, our tolerance for mean-spirited, libelous statements has exceeded any reasonable limit. Someone knowingly disseminated sham subpoenas containing falsehoods — outright lies — designed to interfere with our license granted by the Gaming Commission and defame our reputation. We intend to identify the malicious individuals who did this and call them to account.”
Wynn is bitter about the reception his casino has received from Boston so far. He told the Boston Globe last week: “No individual or company who presents themselves honestly in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by any measure of fair play, should be subjected to the defamatory political abuse that we have experienced, and it is our intention to finally deal with it.”
Anonymous sources provided subpoenas related to the city of Boston’s lawsuit to the media. Wynn asserts that the subpoenas were never intended as such, but were intended to spread falsehoods about Wynn. One allegation, later denied by the U.S. Attorney for Boston, was that Wynn had hired two ex-police officers who obtained information about a convicted felon who was part owner of the land that Wynn later purchased for the casino.
In the meantime Boston has filed another lawsuit, this one challenging the environmental certification the state gave the project.
Officials at Wynn say they are “baffled” by this behavior since officials from Wynn and Boston had been meeting to try to solve the traffic problems at Sullivan Square in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood.
Wynn Everett President Robert DeSalvio, interviewed on Boston Herald Radio, said, “We walked away from the meeting actually feeling pretty good,” adding, “We were somewhat baffled by the resulting litigation that followed and I really can’t answer for it. I don’t know why that action was taken.”
A spokesman for Mayor Walsh answered that question later in the day: “Mayor Walsh is exploring all options to resolve this matter on behalf of the people of Charlestown and the city of Boston. This includes continuing productive conversations with Wynn officials around whether or not there is such an opportunity.”
The spokesman concluded, “However, it is the city’s responsibility, and the mayor’s top priority, to fight to protect the rights of Boston’s residents and the neighborhood of Charlestown.”
Walsh has commissioned an internal poll that showed that 57 percent of the city’s residents support his approach, with 22 percent not so supportive.
DeSalvio commented that if the poll’s radius was widened to include surrounding city’s that Walsh’s approach wouldn’t be so popular.
MGM Springfield
Executives of MGM Springfield will meet again with City of Springfield officials within the next 30 days to continue discussions and hear more updates on the project.
MGM will update the officials on historical preservation issues, development of offsite residences and a proposed new marquee for the casino. Last month officials, including Mayor Domenic Sarno heard MGM’s proposal for a more modest casino resort, including elimination of the 25-story hotel tower, replaced by a six-story hotel with the same number of rooms.
After the meeting MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis released a statement: “Over the last two weeks we have been working very hard to get key stakeholders the information they deserve, and to address any concerns they may have,” he said. “These discussions have been extremely productive. We look forward to providing more details to the Mayor and City Council.”
Although the mayor supports the changes, council President Michael Fenton does not. He fears that the casino’s “wow factor” will be harmed. He said he welcome more dialogue with the developer but wants to address the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on the issue. He wants more concessions from MGM.
In his statement Fenton declared, “MGM’s recent outreach has been very productive and I am pleased they have agreed to my requests that they consider additional community benefits that go above and beyond the most recent plans, such as condos and a marquee component.” He added. “My concern has been and will remain that the City get a better deal in exchange for MGM’s recently proposed revisions – we are making progress on that front.”
MGM has cited “skyrocketing” construction costs, and last week released the numbers to back up its claims. It noted that it has already spent $220 million on the project before the first concrete is poured.
MGM Resorts International President Bill Hornbuckle added that his company’s commitment to the city is “unwavering.”
The cost breakdown included $85 million for the gaming license, $46.7 million in land purchases, $13.9 million in pre-opening expenses, $50 million for pre-licensing expenses, such as marketing and campaign expenses, $7 million in site preparation and design, among other expenses.
Any redesign is subject to veto by the city government and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Aside from Fenton, most of the 13-member council say they favor the changes.
Councilor Timothy Rooke told the Republican, “I love the amended version of the hotel. I personally don’t want people in a tower that’s comfortable. I want them leaving, walking, stopping at businesses.” Rooke says that when city voters cast ballots on the project they voted for an $800 million casino resort, 3,000 jobs and an infusion of capital into the city’s business district. They were not voting for a hotel tower, he said.
Thomas Ashe, Clodovaldo Concepcion, Justin Hurst, and Zaida Luna agree with Rooke, while Timothy Allen wants more information, although he too worries about the casino’s “wow factor.”
Kateri B. Walsh wants to be convinced. “I would say the jury is still out,” she told the Republican. “Several people still want the wow factor. Surprisingly, a lot of people like the new design and feel it fits better with Springfield.”
Some council members had their fears allayed that there would be few hotel rooms. MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis assured them that the numbers would be the same.
Southeastern Casino Zone
An executive assistant of the Mashpee Wampanoag Gaming Commission was one of two people arrested for heroin possession last week in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. Philip Earl Cash, 30, is one of three gaming commissioners. He was arrested after being pulled over in a routine traffic stop.
A spokesman for the tribe said that Cash had been subjected to a thorough background check before being hired and had been told the tribe has a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs. Cash has been suspended without pay.
