BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Mayor Marty Walsh ripped the state's Gaming Commission, days before it's expected to decide which project gets the nod to build a casino in the Boston region.
The mayor sent a letter to the commission, accusing the board's acting chairman of bias and claiming the panel is manipulating the process. Walsh says he's reserving the right to sue if the city's concerns aren't dealt with and he's careful with his wording.
"I've never threatened to sue," he said. "It's always been an option on the table and it continues to remain an option. It's a last resort, I'm not looking to sue. I'm looking to, I'm hoping that the process that I voted on as a legislator who works on behalf of the City of Boston, all the residents of the Commonwealth, in my opinion in this region, this process has not worked."
Walsh has been able to cut a mitigation deal with Mohegan Sun in Revere that would pay Boston several million dollars, but that's not the case with Wynn. The city's letter to the panel also includes a timeline and even mentions Wynn's land partner's ties to a convicted felon. Walsh says he's not favoring either project and that there are unanswered questions in both proposals.
"We're putting in a casino, potentially in the Boston area, whether it's in Everett or Revere. I don't care where it goes. I just want to make sure as they're putting this casino into one of these two areas, they've done their due diligence, they've done their job correctly and I don't feel they have to this point," he said.
The spokeswoman for the Gaming Commission tells us the panel "firmly rejects false accusations of bias and remains fully committed to protecting the integrity of the process." She also says the commission fully agrees with Boston's concerns regarding the importance of ensuring the potential for impacts are thoughtfully and effectively mitigated.
Everett Mayor Carlo Demaria sent FOX 25the following statement: "We respect the commission's process in making a decision with respect to Region A. From the outset this has been an open, fair and transparent process and I am confident that when a decision is made next week it will be made on the merits of each project. I will reserve further comment on the commission's proceedings until that time."
A spokeswoman for the Gaming Commission said a decision could come by next Wednesday.
