The mayor of Northampton is planning to petition the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for economic relief if a casino is built in Springfield
Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz fears his city’s vibrant entertainment scene will suffer if a resort casino opens for business just 16 miles away.
"I'm concerned about what the impacts are of this casino business model,which is obviously trying to get people to come to it, provide entertainment, restaurants ,retail etc with the blessing of the state creating a monopoly in western Massachusetts."
The Northampton City Council authorized $22,000 to hire a consultant to help make the city’s case to the gaming commission. MGM, which wants to build the Springfield casino, has offered payments to a half-dozen communities that border the city, to mitigate impacts on traffic and municipal services.
