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GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
22NEWS AT 5:30. I'M BARRY
KRIGER.
AND I'M LAURA HUTCHINSON. IS THE
SPRINGFIELD CASINO SELECTION
PROCESS MOVING TOO FAST? THAT'S
A QUESTION BEING ASKED BY THE
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT.
22 NEWS STATE HOUSE REPORTER
CHRISTINE LEE SPOKE WITH THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE STATE GAMING
COMMISSION TO FIND OUT WHERE
THEY STAND.
HERE I HAVE A LETTER FROM
SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL
PRESIDENT JAMES FERRERA
ADDRESSED TO THE MASSACHUSETTS
GAMING COMMISSION. IN THE
LETTER, FERRERA ASKS IF
SPRINGFIELD'S CASINO SELECTION
PROCESS DEADLINES ARE WITHIN THE
PARAMETERS OF WHAT THE CITY IS
ALLOWED TO DO. ONE OF FERRERA'S
CONCERNS IS THAT SPRINGFIELD
DOESN'T HAVE THE TIME AND
RESOURCES TO THOROUGHLY VET
CASINO DEVELOPERS. SO IF
SPRINGFIELD REJECTS A CASINO
PROPOSAL, THE COMMISSION, WHICH
HAS MUCH MORE TIME AND MONEY,
WILL NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
REVIEW THOSE PROPOSALS. BUT THE
COMMISSION AGREED THAT IT IS
WITHIN THE AUTHORITY OF CITIES
AND TOWNS TO SET THEIR OWN
NEGOTIATION TIMELINES.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SOME KIND OF
DISCONNECT WITH OUR RULES THAT
THE ANSWER WAS YES, WE HAVE
DECIDED THAT THE TOWN, THE
CITIES AND TOWNS ARE GIVEN THE
AUTHORITY TO SET THE PARAMETERS
OF THEIR NEGOTIATIONS. LAST
WEEK, THREE CASINO DEVELOPERS
MADE THE APPLICATION DEADLINE TO
BECOME A POTENTIAL DEVELOPER IN
SPRINGFIELD.
THE CITY WILL ANNOUNCE THE
PRELIMINARY QUALIFYING COMPANIES
ON NOVEMBER 1ST. IN BOSTON,