The mayor of Springfield is asking the highest court in Massachusetts to keep a casino repeal question off the November state ballot.
Mayor Domenic Sarno and nine city residents filed a brief asking the state supreme court justices to uphold Attorney General Martha Coakley’s ruling that the attempt to repeal the 2011 casino gambling law is unconstitutional. Sarno strongly supports a Springfield casino proposed by MGM. Anti- casino activists filed a brief last week asking the court to let voters decide if casinos should be built in the state. Political consultant Tony Cignoli said a recent poll found public support for casino gambling in Massachusetts is slipping.
" There is an anger by the electorate toward government because this has taken so long to get done. The legislature got the job done and it was thought it would not take this long for the gaming commission to move."
A decision is expected by July on whether the casino repeal question will be on the November ballot.
