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Wynn's casino plan for Foxborough rebuffed
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Matthew West/The Associated Press
Casino developer Steve Wynn, left, and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, right, answer questions Dec. 5 at Gillette Stadium about a casino Wynn proposed to build on Foxborough land owned by Kraft.
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Dec. 29, 2011 | 9:29 a.m.
A proposal to build a Wynn Resorts Ltd. casino adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., is facing an uncertain future after the town's Board of Selectmen voted to send a letter to governor's office and state gaming officials saying they don't want it.
Wynn Resorts has proposed a $1 billion casino on land leased from New England Patriots owner and Kraft Group founder Robert Kraft. The Boston Herald reported the nonbinding 3-2 vote late Tuesday doesn't kill the casino proposal, but the two companies would have to request a townwide vote.
Wynn Resorts would also have to ask two-thirds of residents to overturn current zoning laws that prohibit casinos in Foxborough. Wynn Resorts founder Steve Wynn is scheduled to present his plan to town executives and residents on Jan. 10, and his company on Wednesday said the town board vote isn't the end of the process.
"We're disappointed with the board's decision to deny Foxborough taxpayers the due process they are entitled under the state's gaming law," Wynn Resorts and the Kraft Group said in a statement. "We have not made any decisions regarding next steps."
In a letter recently sent to approximately 8,000 registered voters in Foxborough, Wynn said he understands some residents "are fearful when they hear the word casino."
"That is not our business," he wrote.
In his bid to win approval for a Massachusetts gaming license, Wynn has argued a casino is only a "small portion" of a resort's overall square footage and makes it possible to build luxury amenities. Wynn said his Las Vegas-based company builds five-star hotels, offering spas, entertainment, and restaurant and convention facilities that attract people "in pursuit of an experience."
A five-star hotel doesn't seem to be on Foxborough's wish list. During a long meeting Tuesday, residents at times heckled the selectmen, while others compared Wynn and Kraft to "great white sharks" circling the small New England town, the Herald reported.
Though casino backers argued the proposed resort would bring jobs, not everyone was swayed by the allure of economic development. Local physician David Egilman predicted a casino would be good for his business because it would lead to an influx of patients with sexually transmitted diseases, gambling addiction and alcoholism, the Herald reported.
Contact reporter Chris Sieroty at csieroty@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893.
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Regional casinos creates jobs and revenues for the communities and cities nearby. one tribal casino member told me any one over 19yrs of age gets $150k per yr under 18 gets $1500 a month plus consul paid life time bennies, there`s tons of money made at the regional casinos. Mass is missing a good opportunity for additional economic development and benefits.
wynn spent plenty to enhance las vegas. with the empty suit "managing" the u.s. economy, jobs and wealth are fleeing that "progress" [read, oppression]. like many, original u.s businesses, wynn and adelson have to follow those exported jobs and wealth. what's cool is that with the empty suit's "boot on the neck" of u.s. employers, even "communist" countries are more entrepreneur friendly than the u.s.. that would be an embarrassment to anyone but a stooge for the "progressive" dictatorship.
Wow, your guys sure got it out for steve wynn. The guy employs thousand of people, and brings millions into the local economy by the hotels he runs now, and the ones he has built. I guess you posters just cant stand a guy who is successful...bc he came from nothing here in Vegas, and is not a Billionaire..( small club). You guys just sit in stands and complain and criticize him....well, if it wasnt for steve wynn and guys like him, we would have alot more foreclosures, alot less jobs, and Vegas would not be the tourist attaction it is today. So lighten up. The guy has done alot for this town.
I am sure old Stevie can find another communist country to take his billions to.
Hey Steve, why not spend a few billion investing in the Vegas economy by buying up all of the foreclosures and tearing them down so property values can stabilize? Hell, at the price of homes right now, you would probably have 99% of your billion left to donate to the poor and homeless, or get another face lift.
It's not like you owe Vegas anything now is it, Stevie??
I guess the people near the race track have good solid jobs and the state does not need any more money. The place is nice- has good schools and beautiful homes, weather and and culture. Guess they do not want to lower their standards with a "vegas culture". Can' say I blame them. Wynn will still have his say, and he is man enough to take the news however it goes. Rejection there will mean opportunity for him someplace else. There are dozens of new venues for his business coming up in 2012. He will have lots of new places to look and make deals. If there is one thing we need to admit about Mr. Wynn - he's no quitter!
someone told the gov. how envolved the wynn family was in organised cime, and how we do things and get away with it, by using the cops = metro to kill, mame, torture, rob& steal everything we put in our names $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
A windfarm would be a better use of that land anyway.
The same Steve Wynn who won't run a casino in New Jersey because of the state oversight. They would kill him with oversight in Massachusetts.
Maybe he can open a Bingo parlor instead. Maybe China will conquer the USA and he can put his joints up anywhere. Who are you going to blame this time??
As a former resident of Massachusetts for over 30 years I can tell you 2 things about that state and the people of Foxboro.
The people of Foxboro are not exactly poor. They tend to be well-to-do and that is why your seeing them play the NIMBY game. They are not exactly against casinos, since they just zip down to Connecticut, whenever they get the urge to gamble. They just don''t want one in their backyards.
As for the state..it sucks. It is a nanny state, which will most likely micro-manage a casino to death.
Steve should just keep his money and writeoff this project. It's not worth the stress and the BS.