Somerville claims the Wynn Everett will cause massive traffic issues on the waterfront.
The City of Somerville filed a legal claim against Wynn Everett recently, citing an environmental claim against the 24-story complex on the Mystic River. The filing drew criticism from Wynn Resorts, which claimed Mayor Joseph Curtatone was politicizing the casino.
The Wynn Everett is a $1.7 billion casino set for opening in 2018. Somerville is the adjacent city, and shares space on the Mystic River with the casino. The new hotel and gaming venue is supposed to draw millions of visitors a year from the Greater Boston Metropolitan Area, while putting thousands of people to work.
Under those circumstances, one might imagine a nearby city government would be pleased with the development. Instead, Somerville has been an unwavering opponent of the Everett-based casino. Somerville has filed several lawsuits to reverse the state’s decision to approve a casino license in Everett.
Somerville’s Legal Filings
First, Somerville filed a lawsuit against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, challenging its decision to award a casino license. Next, it filed with a state judge, asking the administration of Gov. Charlie Baker to overturn a key environment decision.
After filing with the state government, Mayor Joseph Curtatone said, “We’re fighting to address the serious and real consequences this casino will have on the people of Somerville. The public is not being protected from the adverse impacts of this project.”
Complain against Traffic Congestion
Curtatone said the Wynn Everett is too big and will draw too much traffic into the waterfront area. Given that considered, the mayor said the casino development plan should never have been awarded an environmental license.
The Somerville mayor said the exhaust from the thousands of cars heading to the casino would harm the health of local residents. He said, “The height and the massing of the project is extraordinary, if not unprecedented.”
Somerville’s 16-Page Filing
In its 16-page legal filing with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Somerville called for an administrative hearing which would allow it to address its concerns.
The Environmental Affairs Office said it would review the filing and “bring the parties together to adjudicate the issues raised.”
This is not the first environmental claim against the Wynn Everett. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also has challenged the casino on similar grounds. After months of legal wrangling, Mayor Walsh and Wynn Resorts resolved their controversy last month. After this new challenge arose, Wynn Resorts appears to be losing its patience with the litigation.
Wynn Resorts Press Release
Wynn Resorts said in a statement, “We find it necessary to call out this selfish politician, when so many jobs and real benefits are at risk.”
The Las Vegas casino company, which has gaming interests in the United States and Macau, said Curtatone was making a “selfish, blatant attempt” to politicize the case.
Wynn’s press release continued: “The Mayor demonstrates his disrespect for the exhaustive work done by many state agencies in issuing this permit by filing an appeal to further his own personal political ambition.”
Then Wynn Resorts accused Jospeh Curtatone of having higher political ambitions. If so, the gaming company suggested, Curtatone “should try at least to learn to have more respect for the law that the legislature passed and a project that would bring to the Commonwealth an investment exceeding $1.7 million, along with thousands of jobs.”
Shirley Leung Column
The Boston Globe’s Shirley Leung agreed with Wynn Resorts in a column this week. Leung accused Curtatone of hypocrisy, saying the proposed live-work-play development at Assembly Row would be twice the size of Wynn Everett. The columnist even suggested the building of Wynn Everett might threaten the building of Assembly Row at all.
The people of Somerville argue that the size of the complex is not the key factor. Instead, it is the traffic each complex is likely to bring.
Joe Curtatone Quote on Steve Wynn
For his part, Joe Curtatone denied the suggestions his city’s filings are due to politics. He told the Globe, “This is not about money. This is not about politics. This is not about traffic and inconvenience. This is about the consequences to our environment and to our public health.”
Somerville’s mayor also denied the filings were personally motivated, either. He praised Wynn Resorts found and CEO, Steve Wynn, saying, “This is not a knock against Steve Wynn. If I wanted to build a casino, I would want Steve Wynn to do it.“
