Boston Mayor Walsh weighing legal options after gaming decision

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says he's weighing his legal options after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission ruled unanimously that Boston has no claim to host community status for either casino project in Everett or Revere.        

"This isn't about losing," Walsh told FOX 25 Political Reporter Sharman Sacchetti. "This is about a fair and open process and we're going to see again today what the best next step."

Walsh met with lawyers Friday afternoon, and said taking it to court would be expensive.

"Litigation brings a cost as well to the residents of the city of Boston that's not reimbursable," he said.  "So that's substantial cost potential."

Walsh says the city is looking at whether or not there is any kind of appeals process, adding, "There's clearly many litigation options that's out there." 

The mayor said he believed Thursday's four to zero vote "seemed predetermined," even as Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby recused himself from the process amid questions of impartiality.

"The city of Boston, yesterday, went in and spent three hours talking about why we feel we're a host community, and then ten minutes later they came back with a decision saying that we're surrounding. That clearly seemed predetermined before we went into it," Walsh said.

When asked again if he wanted to kill the projects, Walsh said "I've never mentioned once about killing a casino," and pointed out his concerns were that city residents ought to be able to "make a decision on whether or not they should have a $1.6 billion gaming facility in their backyard."

Walsh released the following statement Friday: "Based on the ambiguous and arbitrary process the Gaming Commission has pursued, we believe that we have multiple options available to us at this time. We are continuing to work aggressively to determine the appropriate action to continue our fight for the people of Boston. My position has not changed: Boston is a host community to both sites, and the people of Boston -- of Charlestown and East Boston -- deserve the opportunity to vote and have their voices heard."

Cox Media Group