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State gambling honcho won't help decide fate of Everett casino

Seems Stephen Crosby is BFF with a co-owner of the 29-acre industrial wasteland Steve Wynn wants to turn into the only casino in eastern Mass.

Crosby's statement.

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While it is respectable that Crosby recused himself in this instance, he seems to have a lofty view of his ability to be impartial. If a friend whose money propelled Crosby to success as a young man has an interest in a Region A casino proposal, we can't count on Crosby to be objective in this licensing process. Even if he is very careful to be tough on Wynn to avoid appearances of favoritism, how does he know that he won't also be easier on other applicants for the same reason. The Globe article mentions that Joe O'Donnell, a main investor in Suffolk Downs, is also a friend and former Harvard football teammate of Crosby's. It's too messy and he should bow out of Region A completely or Patrick should ask him to resign as chair.

The way that Crosby has let Suffolk Downs call all the shots in their proposal is also very suspicious. My least sinister theory is that Crosby feels bad that Suffolk had their operator (Caesars) thrown out at the last minute, is fond of the management team, and maybe even wanted to avoid appearances that he is helping the Everett proposal, so he has been very lenient with Suffolk Downs as they miss deadlines, lose votes, and tell the commission what is and isn't legal. I'm hopeful that there isn't more going on behind the scenes.

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Casino gambling is essentially a license to steal. It shouldn't be a surprise that ethics falls to the lowest priority.

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How long has the Everett site been discussed? Over a year? He's just now recusing himself? Not sure how respectable that is.

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You're probably right; he may not be respectable at all. Anyone who takes a second to examine the record of the MGC thinks they are a joke, but people would much rather argue about bike lanes than think about the implications of ramming a casino into a poor, working class neighborhood.

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Now, at the end of the process? Why did Deval appoint a guy with such an obvious conflict of interest, to this position? Was it because Annie Dookhan was unavailable due to being in jail?

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Yeah, something smells here.

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Everett by the sea seems to be the last plan standing, having been accepted by the people. Just cleaning up the land on the banks of the river Mystic is a wynn. Suffering Downs has become too convoluted, and who knows what moves are in the
Wampanoag's bag of tricks. it is just the reality of politics, all these coincidental machinations . Would anybody expect less? The Revere option, after the East Bostonians voted it down , and the original players flunked the background test , is the 3 rd derivative of that proposal. This is what you are going to get in this adventure, one machination after another. Just get it done ,at least the Mystic will win.

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