Just when you thought all the casino chips were out on the table, in comes a few million more for taxpayers to ponder.
There’s a state bond bill sitting on Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk that will provide $50 million to clean up the old Monsanto site in Everett if Wynncan’t build a resort-style casino on the property, as was reported in the Herald yesterday. So if Wynn loses his bid, the taxpayers will foot the bill.
It seems the entire state should be pulling for a Wynn win.
After all the referendums and reports, it’s too late to be throwing around more cash linked to casino gambling.
Revere residents could argue at their last public commission meeting Monday — the day before Everett’s final open meeting — that the state has already agreed to step in with $50 million to help revitalize Everett and therefore they are not in such desperate need to revive the area.
You will recall, 86 percent of Everett residents voted in favor of the casino referendum last summer. The competing community didn’t see the same support with only 63 percent of Revere residents voting for a casino.
So does the edge now go to Revere?
Considering Everett has a larger support system in place, they better show up on Tuesday and ask the commission to save taxpayers millions of dollars and award Wynn the license.
As a taxpaying citizen, I hope the Gaming Commission will take into consideration the savings it would bring if they issued a license to Wynn. If you don’t live in or near these communities, Everett is the smart choice for state coffers.
Why not spend that $50 million dollars to fix our roads and bridges or better yet inject that money into our under-performing public schools. Every city and town has been hit hard by local aid cuts. It would be fiscally irresponsible to ask the state to pay a check someone else has already offered to pick up.
The Gaming Commission will make their final decision on the license by Sept. 12.
Let’s hope it’s not one you and I will regret.
Jaclyn Cashman is a co-host of “Morning Meeting” from 9am to noon on Boston Herald Radio. You can follow her on twitter at @JaclynCashman.
Just when you thought all the casino chips were out on the table, in comes a few million more for taxpayers to ponder.
