New England Public Radio

Baker Says He’d File Bill To Save Springfield Casino If Voters Repeal Gaming Law

Republican Charlie Baker says if he wins the governor’s office in November and voters also repeal the state’s casino gambling law, he would then seek to save a proposed resort casino in Springfield.

Baker made the comments on Wednesday during a meeting with the editorial board of the Republican newspaper.

The state gambling commission has approved MGM Resort International’s plan for an $800 million casino in downtown Springfield. But a question on the state ballot calls for repeal of the 2011 law allowing for up to three resort casinos and one slots parlor in Massachusetts.

Baker says he will vote against repeal but if it does pass and he becomes governor, he would then file a bill with the Legislature “to put the Springfield casino back on the map.”

Casino Regulators To Rule On Claims From Northampton, Hampden And Longmeadow

Officials in fight with MGM over 'surrounding community' cash

State regulators will announce Tuesday whether three Western Massachusetts communities are entitled to money from MGM, as the company seeks to open a casino in Springfield.

The hearing is about what’s called “surrounding community status.” It means a town or city would be impacted by a Springfield casino, and the casino operator – MGM – has to pay up.

MGM signed agreements with a half-dozen communities, but is fighting claims from Northampton, Hampden and Longmeadow.

Longmeadow’s case for cash is perhaps the strongest. The town borders Springfield and says some casino customers from Connecticut would use its roads to get to the gambling.

MGM says Longmeadow just wants the company to shell out millions to pay for existing traffic problems.

If the Massachusetts Gaming Commission sides with any of these communities, MGM must strike a deal or head to arbitration.

Likewise, the commission will decide if two venues in West Springfield, the Majestic Theater and Eastern States Exposition, are eligible for settlements from MGM.

MGM is the only applicant remaining for the casino license reserved for Western Mass.

MGM, Supporters Launch Voter Referendum Campaign For Casino In Springfield

Executives with casino developer MGM Resorts joined Mayor Domenic Sarno today [Wednesday] to kick off their referendum campaign for a casino in Springfield. Voters go to the polls July16th to decide whether or not to approve the host agreement signed by MGM and Sarno, and endorsed by the City Council. MGM’s Kelley Tucky says the campaign will launch a voter information drive on the proposed 800 million dollar resort in the city’s South End
“They should say yes for a lot of reasons. Number one; 3,000 permanent direct jobs, 2,000 construction jobs, and a lot of development monies and tax dollars coming to the city as a result of MGM Springfield coming here.”
Tucky would not disclose how much MGM plans to spend on the campaign, adding that will come later. But she says it will “do whatever it takes without breaking the bank to get their message out”. Michael Kogut of the group Citizens Against Casino Gaming, says he and other opponents expect they will be heavily outspent in the campaign, calling it a David versus Goliath battle.  But he says their grassroots campaign will continue working the trenches to bring out their message to residents and officials that urban casinos rarely deliver on the promises promoters make.
“An urban center like Springfield is not a destination for a resort casino. It’s going to be an urban box-type casino regardless of the type of fanfare that they’ve surrounded with the host agreement. And we just believe it’s going to increase the socio-economic problems they city has.”
The State Gaming Commission will ultimately decide next year whether Springfield, West Springfield or Palmer will get to host western Massachusetts’ sole casino.

 

Springfield Officials Opt To Not Hold Casino Referendum In June

A plan to hold a casino referendum in Springfield on the same day as the June 25th Special Election to fill Massachusetts’ vacant US Senate seat is going by the wayside. Springfield officials had hoped voters going to the polls to choose a US senator to fill the remainder of John Kerry’s term, would also be able to decide on whether to have a casino in the city. However, host community agreements with the proposed developers – MGM Resorts and Penn National Gaming – would have had to be completed by this Thursday in order to hold the casino referendum on June 25th. Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief economic development officer, says that’s not enough time for the city’s consultants to finish working out some unresolved details in the agreements.
“It’s just a matter of getting through the document which is in excess of 100 pages plus about 25 or 30 pages of exhibits. It’s a very big task and we’re nearing the end of it.”
Kennedy says he’s optimistic the agreements will be finalized in a couple of weeks before they go to the Mayor and City Council for their approval.
“I think both companies have good packages on the table. And I think that the people of Springfield not only will be very interested, but I think it could be pretty appealing to them.”
Kennedy says it’s more likely only one developer will be placed on ballot. But he says that decision, and when the election will take place, is up to Mayor Domenic Sarno. Kennedy says taxpayers will not have to pay the bill for the voter referendum, which is estimated to cost about $150,000. That, he says, will be paid for by the chosen developer.

 

Gambling Developers To Formally Present Casino Plans Tuesday To Springfield Public

The public will get a chance tomorrow [Tuesday] to hear and see plans by the two prospective gambling operators vying to develop a casino resort in Springfield. Penn National Gaming wants to build an $807 million casino on about 13 acres in the north end of the city’s downtown, while MGM Resorts would build its $800 million facility on about 10 acres in the south end of downtown. Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s Chief Economic Development Officer, says Tuesday’s hearing at City Stage marks the first formal public presentation of the companies’ respective proposals.
“Each casino operator will have 45 minutes to present their proposal to the public. There will be a 10 minute break in-between and, following the second presentation, there will then be a 2-hour question and answer period where the public will get a chance to offer their opinions and ask some questions.”
Kennedy says the hearing will give the prospective developers a chance to fine-tune their proposals before they have to formally submit complete written details to City Hall early next month.
“The casino operators will not have their formal presentation due back to the city until January 3rd. So if they do hear something that they think the public wants or needs, they have an opportunity to incorporate into their plans.”
Kennedy says an ad hoc committee appointed by Mayor Domenic Sarno will then decide on January 25th whether one or both companies will get to negotiate a community host agreement with the city. And he says only after the State Gaming Commission completes its pre-qualification process will the issue go before Springfield voters. Tuesday’s hearing, which is being moderated by the city’s casino consultants, Shefsky and Froelich, is slated to begin at 5 pm.

 

Anti-Casino Group Forms In Springfield

As Springfield officials continue their plan to select one or more bidders to develop a possible casino in the city, a new group has organized to oppose the effort. The group Citizens Against Casino Gaming filed papers as a municipal ballot question committee with the Springfield Election Commission two weeks ago. Chairman Michael Kogut, a lawyer and nearly 30-year Springfield resident, says the filing allows the committee to solicit donations of any amount, including corporate support, to help educate residents about what he calls the negative effects of siting a casino in Springfield.
“Study after study will show that when gaming comes to town, there’s an up-tick in crime, there’s an up-tick in additional socioeconomic and social ills that an urban center like Springfield suffers. Not to mention traffic and a drain on resources like police and fire.”
Springfield officials have touted a proposed casino as a major catalyst for economic development. Kogut says while he gives Mayor Domenic Sarno credit for proposing a competitive bidding process, he’s not buying the Mayor’s argument that a casino in the city would be a boon to economic development.
“His so-called billion dollar economic plan or economic stimulus for glitz and glitter is not the way to correct the problems the city has.”
City officials say they are not surprised a committee would form in opposition to a casino. Kevin Kennedy is Springfield’s Chief Development Officer.
“I think it will be healthy for the citizens. I mean, there should be both pro and con in any type of election like this. It’s not unanticipated.”
Meanwhile, Kogut says Citizens Against Casino Gaming has filed a request with the city about fees paid to its casino consultant, Shefsky and Froelich. And he says the committee will begin filing requests every month for invoices and expenses until Springfield’s contract with the consultant ends. According to Kogut, state law requires the city to respond within ten days to such a request.