Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino cautioned spectators to wait for the review on the casino play between Patriots [team stats] owner Robert Kraft and Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn.
“It’s not Bob Kraft making the decision,” Menino said after a speech this morning to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a five-member panel commission the decision.”
Menino told reporters people are jumping to conclusions about who will win the three casino licenses. Suffolk Downs, which Menino favors, was thought to be a lock with its casino plan with Caesars Entertainment — before Kraft and Wynn announced their bid for a casino near Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.
“There’s a lot of hoo-ha, but I just say put the meat to the bones,” Menino said. “I haven’t seen any meat to the bones yet. I’ve seen a lot of conversation, a lot of media events.”
Menino also downplayed his role in which spot wins a casino.
“I have no say in the matter,” he said. “It’s a five-member commission, and that commission will make those decisions. My opinion doesn’t have a lot of weight in this one, but I’ll voice my opinion in what benefits it can have for the community.”
Menino groaned when asked about Occupy Boston, saying wait for Superior Court Judge Frances McIntyre to rule on the city’s petition to lift the restraining order that bans police from evicting the occupiers.
“You know, mayors can’t do much about what they’re talking about,” he said. “It’s the Congress and the U.S. Senate that can make the differences, but no one’s talking to them at all. They come at mayors, buy mayors can’t make those decisions. It’s down at Congress. Mayors can’t make decisions on banks, regulations. Mayors can’t make decisions on scholarships. Mayors can’t make decisions on housing. It’s all down in Washington. They’re aiming their fire at the wrong place.”
Menino also had some advice for the two-month-old protest.
“If they had one issue, I believe they could be a very powerful operation,” he said. “They don’t have one issue, they have several issues. Those issues are issues that middle America cares about, but until you focus on one, use your energy on one, you’re not going to have many wins.”
The five-term mayor also jokingly hinted at another re-election bid, after mentioning the city had 163 miles of waterfront — more than six marathons’ worth.
“There are some things I can imagine running six times,” he said during his speech at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. “The marathon isn’t one of them.”
Menino’s speech focused on infrastructure improvements to help the stalled development on the East Boston waterfront.