Wampanoags push Taunton casino at city meeting

By PBN Staff
Twitter: @ProvBusNews

TAUNTON – The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Cedric Cromwell said the proposed $500 million resort gambling casino will provide a lasting economic boost to the city and state, according to the Taunton Gazette.

Cromwell spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people at Taunton High School Tuesday night, answering questions about traffic patterns, potential jobs and the negotiations with Bay State officials.

Only 7 percent of traffic heading toward the proposed casino will use local streets. According to the news source, routes 24 and 140 will be widened to handle the heavy flow of traffic.

Michael Speller, former president of Foxwoods Casino and a representative of a group financing the venture, predicted 2,500 permanent jobs paying an average of $35,000.

The Mashpees and the city of Taunton must negotiate and finalize an intergovernmental agreement laying out the terms of compensation to the city.