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: