The
City of Somerville will host an informational public meeting with a
Massachusetts Gaming Commission staffer to give City officials and the
public a better understanding of the state’s casino laws and how those
laws may relate to Somerville.
Gaming
Commission Ombudsman John Ziemba will lead a presentation on Monday,
Sept. 16, at 6 p.m., in the East Somerville Community School auditorium
at 50 Cross St. He will touch upon facets of the law such as host
community status, surrounding community status, mitigation for affected
communities and more. Representatives from City Hall will serve as
members of a panel and the meeting will be open to the public.
This
meeting will not focus on specific proposed casino projects in
Massachusetts or advocating for or against casinos. Instead, City
officials hope to gain a better understanding of the casino law and its
potential impacts, and to educate the public about the law.
“Regardless
of personal opinions about casinos, it’s important for us to become
well-versed in the current laws governing the creation of casinos in
Massachusetts and the impact of those laws on our community,” said Mayor
Joseph A. Curtatone. “I thank the Gaming Commission and Mr. Ziemba for
making themselves available to City officials and the public, providing
us with a better understanding of the law and answering any questions we
may have.”
Gov.
Deval Patrick signed “An Act Establishing Expanded Gaming in the
Commonwealth” in late 2011, allowing for up to three resort casinos—one
in Western Massachusetts, one in Central and Eastern Massachusetts and
one in Southeastern Massachusetts. It also allows the creation of one
slots facility in the state. Host communities under the law are
locations where the casino or slots facility will be located, while
surrounding communities are municipalities in proximity to a host
community and are determined, by the Gaming Commission, to experience
impacts from the establishment of a casino.
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