© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

New Referendum Sought On MGM Springfield Casino

The new design for MGM's Springfield casino as depicted by this artist's drawing eliminates a 25-story hotel that was part of the original design going back several years.
MGMSpringfield
The new design for MGM's Springfield casino as depicted by this artist's drawing eliminates a 25-story hotel that was part of the original design going back several years.
The new design for MGM's Springfield casino as depicted by this artist's drawing eliminates a 25-story hotel that was part of the original design going back several years.
Credit MGMSpringfield
MGM is now proposing a six-story 250 room hotel as part of the proposed $800 million Springfield casino. The company's original plan was to build a 25-story hotel with 250 rooms.

The president of the Springfield, Massachusetts City Council isn’t giving up on getting a popular vote on MGM’s controversial casino redesign.

City Council President Mike Fenton said he’ll appeal to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to order a binding voter referendum on the proposed new design for the Springfield casino.

Fenton said MGM’s plan to eliminate a 25-story hotel from the project substantially changes the host community agreement Springfield voters approved two years ago.

" I do believe the current proposed amendment that calls for the elimination of the tower and no extra benefits to the city of Springfield would absolutely warrant a binding referendum," Fenton said.

Fenton withdrew a proposal for a non-binding referendum because it was filed too close to the deadline to get it on the November ballot.

MGM needs the city council and gaming commission to approve the new design for the casino project.  

The Springfield city solicitor said voter approval is not required.

Copyright 2015 WAMC Northeast Public Radio

Paul Tuthill is WAMC’s Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief. He’s been covering news, everything from politics and government corruption to natural disasters and the arts, in western Massachusetts since 2007. Before joining WAMC, Paul was a reporter and anchor at WRKO in Boston. He was news director for more than a decade at WTAG in Worcester. Paul has won more than two dozen Associated Press Broadcast Awards. He won an Edward R. Murrow award for reporting on veterans’ healthcare for WAMC in 2011. Born and raised in western New York, Paul did his first radio reporting while he was a student at the University of Rochester.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content