"The new law in Massachusetts that legalized casino gambling puts a lot a power in the hands of local officials to decide if their communities will become home to a resort casino. The mayor of one western Massachusetts city has already exercised that power as we hear from WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill.

The mayor of Holyoke Massachusetts, Alex Morse, is unambiguous when it comes to his position on a proposed casino development.

Shortly after his inauguration as Holyoke's new mayor earlier this month, Morse met with casino developers and gave them the cold shoulder. In a pre-inauguration interview, Morse made clear he considered a casino proposal a distraction in his efforts to revitalize Holyoke.

Hard Rock International and a local group called Paper City Development have proposed to build a resort casino on a golf course adjacent to Interstate 91. But if Morse refuses to negotiate a host community agreement, something that is required by the state's casino law, then the developers have little recourse but to look elsewhere."

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Mayors Hold A Lot Of Cards In Casino Talks (WAMC 1/23)