nothin Harp Bets On Casino Jobs | New Haven Independent

Harp Bets On Casino Jobs

Mark Pazniokas Photo

Harp joins Ganim at casino announcement.

New Haven Mayor Toni Harp went to Bridgeport Monday to place an early bet.

She joined Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim at a press conference to announce — and support — a plan by MGM Resorts International to build a waterfront casino in the Park City.

Harp told the Independent later that the casino would benefit New Haven because the company plans to locate a job-training center for it in New Haven. She also noted that the casino is projected to create 2,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the casino itself is no sure bet. It needs state approval of the plan. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy immediately raised doubts about that because it would jeopardize the state’s deals with the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans, which send the state $260 million in annual slot revenues in return for permission to operate casinos. Also, proposals to build more casinos in Connecticut — such as a previous one in Bridgeport — have in the past raised fears about promoting problem gambling, organized crime, and exploitation of the poor.

On the other hand, the Trump administration’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has been holding up approval for the tribes to build an East Windsor casino (which would compete with an MGM operation over the state line in Springfield, Mass.). That leaves an opening to approve the MGM plan. And the MGM Bridgeport deal offers tantalizing promises to Connecticut legislators struggling past deadline to pass a new budget: a $50 million initial payment to the state and an alleged $300 million annual tax bill. Furthermore, Connecticut’s powerful UNITE HERE union, which does business with MGM in Nevada, would stand to gain from the new casino.

Click here to read a full story on the casino proposal by the Connecticut Mirror’s Mark Pazniokas.

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