Kennedy: City negotiating with Wynn

LYNN – Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy is working to forge a surrounding community agreement with Everett casino executives even as she praised a rival Revere gambling proposal for its “fantastic partnership” with Lynn.Kennedy on Tuesday said city officials “have reached out” to Wynn, LLC representatives but acknowledged Lynn?s lack of a shared border with Everett means the city is unlikely to negotiate an agreement equivalent to the $350,000 annual financial pact announced last week between the city and Suffolk Downs-Mohegan Sun executives.?Our position with (Wynn) is very different than Suffolk,” she said.She said talks with Wynn representatives might result in an agreement regarding employment and business opportunities at an Everett casino for Lynn residents and merchants.?We?re negotiating with them,” she said.Kennedy?s talks with Everett and Revere casino proponents underscore tight competition between the rivals to win licensing approval from the state Gaming Commission. The commission on Monday announced on its website that it will award resort casino licenses on May 30.Mohegan vice president of operations and development Gary Luderitz said the Suffolk casino proposal is tightly crafted to mirror casino licensing goals outlined in the 2011 gambling law passed by the state Legislature.?We?ve put together a project that responds to what the spirit of the legislation demanded,” he said.Luderitz said Kennedy has “shown she is a believer” in the Suffolk-Mohegan project. The surrounding community agreement signed last month by Kennedy and Suffolk representatives includes commitments to ensure Veterans Memorial Auditorium is not upstaged by entertainment at a Revere casino and job training links between Lynn and Suffolk-Mohegan involving North Shore Community College.?It?s another way to provide opportunities,” said Suffolk Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle.Mohegan representatives met Tuesday in Revere with local business representatives and outlined plans to purchase local goods and services. Mohegan spokeswoman Krista Robinson said almost 100 business operators attended the Tuesday vendor fair.Transportation company executive Gina Walker said BeDriven.com already does business with Suffolk Downs and said a Suffolk casino will have a significant impact on the Revere-based business and other area firms.BeDriven provides passenger livery service, including airport and commuter transportation, among its services. She said Suffolk executives have impressed her as “down-to-earth, direct and sincere about local opportunity.”?As they grow, we?ll grow,” she said.