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Next steps in Wynn casino construction await

A Suffolk Superior Court dismissed a suit Thursday from the City of Boston fighting the construction of Wynn Casino in Everett. PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
A Suffolk Superior Court dismissed a suit Thursday from the City of Boston fighting the construction of Wynn Casino in Everett. PHOTO COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

An attempt by the City of Boston to block construction by Wynn Resorts in a nearby city has reached a standstill as officials consider the next step of legal action.

Superior Court Justice Janet Sanders dismissed Boston’s suit to halt construction on the casino in Everett. The initial complaint, filed Sept. 28, outlined a number of concerns including environmental effects, the scale of the project, traffic congestion and a lack of a substantial plan.

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Bonnie McGilpin, spokeswoman for Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, said the dismissal does not signify the end of the process.

“The City of Boston is currently reviewing the Judge’s order and weighing options to appeal,” she wrote in an email.

Michael Weaver, a spokesman for Wynn Resorts, said moving forward with the project is in the best interest of the general public.

“We are very pleased with Judge Sanders’ ruling, the result of which continues the positive momentum of our development,” Weaver wrote in an email. “We are well underway in successful site remediation and look forward to creating 4,000 union construction jobs and $1.7 billion in construction spending, 4,000 permanent jobs and bringing $22.3 million in taxes a month to the Commonwealth and local communities.”

Wynn won the right to build the casino in the Greater Boston area following the passage of the 2011 Expanded Gaming Act in Massachusetts. The resort is set to be constructed along the Mystic River, with site preparation in the process and completion expected by the end of 2018, according to Wynn’s website.

Elaine Driscoll, spokesperson for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said the dismissal would be a positive move forward for the Commonwealth.

“We are gratified by the judge’s decision and believe it is a validation of the hard work and detailed effort put forth by the Commission and its staff,” she wrote in an email. “We are hopeful that Wynn and the cities of Boston and Revere can now begin to reconcile their differences through open dialogue and negotiation as opposed to legal action.”

Fred Bayles, a journalism professor in the College of Communication at Boston University, said the construction of the casino is more than just a political affair.

“It’s pretty simple. The mayor wanted to have more input on the casino in Everett because it does neighbor Boston and even though it is across the boundary, it has an impact on all sorts of aspects of Boston,” Bayles said. “I think the biggest threat to the casino in Everett is not necessarily [Walsh], but geography and the economy.”

It is difficult, Bayles added, to generalize the public’s reaction to the casino because the amount of impact may vary depending on location.

“You saw people vote against the casino, you saw people vote for it. It’s a constant debate about jobs, and, in some ways, it depends on the community,” Bayles said. “It’s hard to make a grand statement for the entire population of Boston, for them to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.  There are many elements within it.”

Several residents said although the construction of casinos in Texas could potentially have negative impact on the city, the decision to gamble should ultimately be left to the individual.

James Strain, 45, of Back Bay, said citizens should be able to feel entitled to their decision to gamble.

“I don’t see the problem with it,” he said. “If people want to go to the casino, then that’s every bit their right to do so. Just because some people don’t like it doesn’t mean no one can do it.”

 

Marilyn Wallace, 38, of Back Bay, said as long as gambling is legal, the city should not take issue with the construction of a casino.

“As long as it’s legal, I don’t see why it’s an issue,” she said. “If people want to do that with their time and money then they can. Even if it’s not great for the community then they should still be able to.”

Olivia Quintana contributed to the reporting of this article. 

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article said Boston and Everett will be able to work and negotiate as a result of the ruling instead of Boston and Revere. The article has been updated to reflect this change. 

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