Revere slates 3 meetings on casino impact

REVERE – Mayor Dan Rizzo wants to hear from the public about the impact a casino will have on the city of Revere if one opens at Suffolk Downs, which is located in Revere and East Boston.So he?s scheduled three public meetings to hear from city residents.The first meeting will be held Thursday at Paul Revere School for residents of Wards 3 and 5 at 6 p.m.The next meeting will be held Saturday at the Police Department Community room for residents of Wards 1 and 2 at 4 p.m. The final meeting will be held on Feb. 23 at the Legion Building on Broadway for residents of Ward 4 and 6. That meeting will be held at 6 p.m., according to a release from the mayor?s office.A community impact agreement must be signed between the city of Revere and Suffolk Downs before construction begins on a possible casino.The host community has the ability to make specific one-time infrastructure and development requests of the developer, according to the release.?It is a situation where casinos may be coming and will make a significant impact to the city,” Rizzo said.Rizzo believes it is important to hear what citizens want from expanded gaming and what they are concerned about.The Director of Economic Development for the city, John Festa, and City Council President Richard Penta will be present to take input and suggestions from the community, according to the release.?Now is the time to voice an opinion,” Rizzo said. “It is up to me as mayor to decide what is important to everyone.”Also, he believes these public meetings offer the public a “transparent” and “open” insight into the way city government works.?I know people are hearing that word ?transparent? a lot now,” Rizzo said. “I think a lot of people are cynical about politics, but that?s what I really want to do. I want to make it a more open process for the public.”Rizzo said the top concern for residents at a previous meeting was traffic. “Rightfully so. It makes sense that people are concerned about traffic if a casino is going to be built in their backyard,” he said.However, Rizzo believes traffic won?t be as bad as some are imagining it to be. “I remember back in the heyday when both Wonderland and Suffolk Downs were fully functional,” Rizzo said. “There was traffic, but we all managed to get through it.”Sara Brown can be reached at [email protected].