Maybe we have some lawmakers who should go elsewhere

Lawmakers: Mohegan Sun could go elsewhere

WMass goes from 3 possible casino host towns to 1
By Christine Lee Friday, November 8, 2013




Boston (WWLP) - Western Massachusetts has gone from a possible three casino host communities, down to one, with both Palmer and West Springfield voting against hosting a casino.

“The system is working, [the state Legislature] wanted communities to make the decision if they wanted to host a facility,” said Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst). “Four communities [in Massachusetts] have said yes and four have said no, it’s local decision-making.”

Springfield has voted yes, but their casino operator, MGM, has a partner in China that has been linked to Chinese organized crime by the New Jersey attorney general. The state Gaming Commission has rejected Caesar’s as a casino operator in East Boston because of their link to Russian organized crime. Wilbraham state Senator Gales Candaras hopes the outcome will be different for MGM.

“I don’t think you can compare the problem that Caesar’s,” said Candaras. “They were involved literally, the financing was coming from organized crime, ostensibly the Russian mob. You can’t compare that with what has happened with MGM.”

Senator Gale Candaras needs to do her homework!


 


Chicopee state Representative Joseph Wagner points out that Mohegan Sun has passed a background check by the Gaming Commission and could look for another city or town to host them.

“There are other locations potentially where they might look to cite a casino given that they would be qualified like Springfield, like West Springfield, like any community that might have an interest,” said Wagner.

The Chicopee Democrat added that the law allows Palmer to revisit the issue of hosting a casino six months after the casino referendum vote.


http://www.wwlp.com/news/politics/state-politics/wwlp-lawmakers-mohegan-sun-could-go-elsewhere-cl