The mayor of Taunton, Massachusetts, issued an open letter about the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino.

Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said the city is negotiating a "binding legal agreement" with the tribe that will contain a limited waiver of sovereign immunity. He said the agreement will be enforceable in state court.

The city has scheduled a June 9 election on the casino, as required by H.3702, the state's gaming law. If voters reject the casino, Hoye said he will oppose the tribe's land-into-trust application and ask Gov. Deval Patrick (D) to suspend Class III gaming compact negotiations.

Hoye's letter was written to address concerns about the non-binding June 9 vote. H.3702 doesn't say what happens if a host community rejects a casino.

Get the Story:
MAYOR'S LETTER: Taunton’s casino referendum an important step (The Taunton Daily Gazette 4/10)
Governor takes Middleboro’s request in dealing with Mashpee Wampanoag tribe under advisement (The Brockton Enterprise 4/11)

Related Stories:
Vote on casino projects not binding on Wampanoag tribes (4/10)