Everett casino dispute escalates
Wynn Resorts official announced the casino construction is ‘effectively on hold’ and the feud with Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone aggravated.
US.- Wynn Resorts’ US$1.7 billion resort casino in Everett is on hold. The company also announced the planned spring groundbreaking for the project will be delayed, the upcoming job fairs will be canceled and a project-related hiring freeze will go into effect.
Furthermore, the company blames the measures on Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone’s appeal of an environmental permit for waterside construction projects. Curtatone has been throwing spanners in the works of the projected casino for years now, filing the appeal earlier this month.
“The appeals are a necessary part of the checks and balances to make sure we get it right,” said Curtatone. “They knew the appeal was coming, and their claim that everything from this point on is the responsibility of the city of Somerville is really based on Wynn’s fantasy timeline where they are above the rules and regulations of this Commonwealth, and that they’re not subject to the normal appeals process.”
“All of that, due to this appeal that was put in by the city of Somerville. With these announcements, basically, the construction of the Wynn resort is effectively on hold,” expressed Robert DeSalvio, Wynn Everett President. “We are not going anywhere,” DeSalvio added. “We will get this project started as soon as possible. We will get this amazing project done. But for now, unfortunately, due to the delay that’s caused by the appeal, we are actually going to have to go on hold.”
