Rizzo to Wynn:’No Thank You’

Wynn Resorts is known for palatial entrances to its resort properties and warm welcomes for its guests, but it will get none of that red carpet treatment from Revere.

Mayor Dan Rizzo said the company hasn’t contacted him about negotiating a surrounding community agreement, and he said he probably wouldn’t take the call if they did.

“We have not been approached, nor will we enter into discussions with the Wynn organization,” said the mayor this week. “Suffolk Downs has been part of our community for 77 years. As far as we are concerned, they are a big part of our city and deserve our complete loyalty and support as they continue their process to secure a license. I’m confident based on the merits and attributes of the proposal that [Suffolk Downs] will be successful.”

As Wynn progresses in it’s bid for a resort casino license, with it’s host agreement now signed, an impending step for the gaming giant is to also negotiate surrounding community agreements.

Revere would, in fact, be a surrounding community if Wynn were to successfully gain the casino license over Suffolk Downs.

That, however, would certainly be like getting the consolation prize at a beauty contest. A surrounding community agreement would be far less lucrative that a host community agreement – which Revere has already negotiated with Suffolk. A surrounding community would likely have far less say in the construction of any casino and the jobs created by it.

Already, Chelsea City Manager Jay Ash has indicated that Wynn Resorts recently contacted him about their project and Chelsea’s surrounding community status.

Chelsea would be a surrounding community no matter whether the license goes to Suffolk or Wynn. However, Ash has said he has already forged a much better relationship with Suffolk, and virtually no relationship with Wynn.

Rizzo’s declaration follows that of Boston Mayor Tom Menino, whose attorneys demanded Wynn work with them in a written letter back in February.

Last Friday, after a lavish, no-expenses-spared community meeting at Everett’s Connolly Center, Wynn told the Boston Herald that Menino should butt out of the process in Everett.

Menino has been an ardent supporter of the Suffolk Downs proposal, along with Rizzo, and has made disparaging comments in the past about Wynn’s ability to complete the project.

Wynn told the crowd at the Everett community meeting that he could have his resort casino completed in one phase over a 30-month period.