By Sue Ellen Woodcock
Jason Osborne (left), director
of operations for the Yes to 1 Campaign, and Eugene McCain, chairman of the Revere Jobs and Education Committee, are pictured at their campaign offices located at 353 Broadway, Revere
Mayor Brian Arrigo has decided to go to court to stop a special election on Oct. 18 for a proposed slots casino because of the unreasonable financial burden it places on the City of Revere.
After a meeting of the cities’ legal team on Tuesday afternoon it was decided to file a request seeking a “Stay†against the special election, according to Joe Gravellese of the Mayor’s office.
The city is claiming the special election would be a burden both on manpower in the Election’s Office and financially to the taxpayers. The election is estimated to cost more than $70,000.
Gravellese said the city officials expect to have an answer on the stay request by Friday. They have to know as soon as possible in the event the request is denied.
Eugene McCain proposes the 400-hotel and slot parlor to be placed on the site of the current Lee’s Trailer Park on Revere Beach Parkway. But to place the slots parlor at that site he must obtain a permit from the gaming commission. He has collected signatures for a special election in Revere and he is also working to get approved Question 1 on the November ballot that seeks to increase the number of slot licenses that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission can award. Only if Question 1 is approved in the statewide election then it would be up to the Gaming Commission to grant one of five permits available. The other condition is that the gaming establishment must be within 1,500 feet of a horse racing facility.
Monday night the City Council took up the matter of holding the special election because under the law they had 20 days to respond to a legal document from the previous legal maneuverings regarding the slots parlor. With little choice the council granted approval and the city clerk called for a special election on Oct. 18.
“We’re still advocating to have the rights of the citizens to vote in a special election,†said Jason Osborne, who is working with McCain.
