Given his recent obstructionism of Wynn Everett, it should come as no surprise that Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone recently made it onto a list of “America’s Worst Politicians.” Presently, the Bostonian blowhard has been vowing to block Steve Wynn‘s project for “years and years,” in an extension of his splenetic opposition to casinos in Massachusetts. Curtatone spends $300,000 on media relations for a town of 80,000 residents. The Village Voice described him as “A darling of neoliberals across the Greater Boston region (as well as of the Boston Globe and both local NPR affiliates) … [who] masquerades as a handsome young progressive.” And yet “turn over a rock and discover an elite and privileged cadre of attorneys and real estate slugs who get virtually any permissions they wish for.”
In his most recent blast of hot air, Curtatone disingenuously told a local radio station that he wasn’t trying to derail Wynn Everett but “Brushing off the issue of air quality and throwing raspberries at people, we are used to it, he has been 
giving us raspberries for the past two years … I would hope, any responsible businessperson, Steve Wynn or anyone else, cares not only about the bottom line, the profit they are going to make … but also cares about the bottom line of the impact you have on people.” However, Curtatone (left) conveniently forgets the impact on his obstructionism is having on his own constituents, denying them job opportunities at Wynn Everett and thwarting opportunities for small Somerville businesses to get a piece of the action.
“I guess he is a confident guy, he’s had it easy here, we’ll see,” Curtatone taunted Wynn. The latter brushed off the latter’s provocations, calling Hizzoner merely “an irritation” and projecting an early 2019 opening for Wynn Everett. His spokesman have been less reticent, calling Curtatone’s antics a “selfish, blatant attempt” at self-aggrandizement.
Wynn was more concerned with unveiling a new name for the project: Wynn Boston Harbor to “extend its appeal. “He expects to prevail in a June regulatory showdown with Curtatone and break ground July 1. He asked, regarding the new name, “Do you think it’s 
a reach?” When one courageous soul suggested “Mystic” instead, Wynn replied, “Mystic Resort. Somehow doesn’t have a ring to it.” Nonetheless, Wynn Boston Harbor bombed on Twitter, even though it played to a rave notice from one of Boston Mayor Martin Walsh‘s underlings, who called it “pretty powerful.” (It sounds strangely industrial to us, although Boston has more brand equity than Everett does.)
Curtatone won’t be satisfied short of Wynn coming to him, cap in hand, bearing more mitigation money. “I’m not saying money is not involved. It will cost money to address the impacts on health and environment,” Hizzoner said, by way of rationalizing the apparent contradiction. He even cited his own history of asthma as a reason for greater traffic mitigation. That could be Curtatone’s next campaign slogan: “It’s all about me.”
* While Las Vegas Sands is reiterating its support for dead-duck bill Restoring America’s Wire Act (which went spectacularly nowhere in the current Congress), it’s inching a little to the left in its position on Internet gaming. Said Sands spokesman Andy Abboud, “we need to find a way … to be able to shut down illegal offshore operators.” Agreed.
