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FOXBORO – The casino issue may be raging locally, drawing in state and municipal officials from across the area, but Gov. Deval Patrick says he is not picking sides.
Patrick’s office has issued a statement saying he is neutral in the process of selecting which locations in Massachusetts get the three resort casino licenses authorized by expanded gambling legislation.
There has been speculation that the governor’s relationship with New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his prior support for a pedestrian bridge spanning Route 1 from Kraft’s Patriot Place meant Patrick supported a casino in Foxboro.
Not so, said his office. “We do not have a position on any individual proposal,” spokeswoman Kim Haberlin said.
“The independent gaming commission will conduct an open, transparent and competitive bidding process to determine which projects move forward based on the strength of their applications. The governor has made clear that any facility should have local approval, create as many jobs as possible and attract maximum private investment.”
Earlier this week, state Rep. Dan Winslow, R-Norfolk, said he believed Patrick favored a suburban location over Boston.
Rallying opposition
Winslow has been rallying opposition to the Foxboro proposal in neighboring towns. He is also trying to block funding for expanded commuter rail to the Patriot Place location.
He said the Kraft-owned site across from Patriot Place is inappropriate for a casino. A better location would be in Boston, such as Suffolk Downs, he said.
Competition
A Suffolk Downs casino proposal would be in competition to a plan being developed by Kraft and Las Vegas casino owner Steve Wynn for the Foxboro site because they are both considered by the state to be in the Greater Boston region.
One casino license is being reserved for Greater Boston, one for Southeastern Massachusetts and one for Western Massachusetts.
The Suffolk Downs location has the enthusiastic support of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, who said a location close to Boston’s tourist attractions is more desirable than one in the suburbs.
Other locations across the state that have been talked about as potential casino sites include Bridgewater, New Bedford, Palmer, Milford, and Springfield.
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