Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE - Friday, May 3, 2019 Mass. Gaming Commission allows Encore Casino to retain license Wynn Resorts fi ned record $35 million for violations By Alexis Mikulski he Massachusetts Gaming Commission decided that the new Encore Boston HarT bor Casino in Everett remains “suitable” to obtain its Bostonarea casino license on Tuesday. This announcement comes after reports that Wynn Resorts covered up alleged sexual misconduct by its founder, Steve Wynn. Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Enrique Zuniga said there were certain procedures Wynn Resorts had to take before this decision was reached. “The company took a number of steps before we made this decision, that we had to take into account,” he said. “There’s a number of the people who are no longer at the company, who were directly involved in some of these allegations, and they went through a number of processes that we verifi ed,” he said. Wynn stepped down as CEO in 2018, after an investigation done by The Wall Street Journal reported multiple sexual misconduct accusations against him, cited by several different sources. He has since denied all allegations against him. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission charged Wynn Resorts with a $35 million fi ne for the violations, as well as Wynn’s current CEO, Matthew Maddox, with a $500,000 personal fi ne for neglecting to require an investigation into a complaint presented by one of his employees. In addition to the fi ne, Maddox will undergo mandatory training by an executive coach, who will be hired by Wynn’s board of directors. This will consist of Grand Opening! Wood Fired Pizzeria Cathy Judd-Stein, chairperson of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, addresses other members of the commission during Tuesday’s meeting as Commissioner Enrique Zuniga looks on. (Advocate Photos by Alexis Mikulski) training in sexual assault, sexual misconduct, human traffi cking and more. During an open meeting on View our Full Menu Online Buy One Pizza/Get 2nd Pizza FREE! (Monday & Tuesdays/Dine-in or Pick-up Only) 1268 Broadway, Rte. 1 North, Saugus (781) 558-5353 * www.famigliafornaciari.com Open Daily: 11:30-10:00 PM Wednesday, Massachusetts Gaming Commissioner Gayle Cameron explained how the commission went about this process. “We got to this decision, that in our opinion, the evidence and the statute that we have to go by demanded Commissioner Enrique Zuniga addresses other members of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission during Tuesday’s meeting. it,” she said. This ruling comes nearly a month after investigators concluded Wynn Resorts mishandled sexual conduct allegations committed by founder, Steve Wynn, and then proceeded to hide the accusations. Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chair Cathy JuddStein said the public should not be worried that these issues will arise again, due to agreements the commission made with Wynn Resorts. “We have imposed fi nes and even imposed significant conditions, and one of them will be to have an independent monitor to go in that will report back to us,” she said. “The company has proposed to us practices, that we’re quite confi dent in, that would mitigate their past transgressions and really have a transformative plan to change,” she said. “The independent monitor … will report back to us and that will give us the confi dence to know that the change is real.” Encore Boston Harbor is set to open its doors on June 23. City-wide resident parking permit and visitor parking program passes By Tara Vocino T he Traffi c Commission voted unanimously last Thursday to adopt a resident parkNick Moulaison, Sr. presents The Annual Senior Prom (formerly the Reinstein Senior Prom) Free to Revere Senior Citizens Thursday, May 16, 2019 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM at Beachmont VFW 150 Bennington St., Revere For more info, call (781) 656-5189 ing program ordinance that will go into effect later this year. The ordinance will be enforceable from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. “There’s a lot involved and it’s not going to happen overnight,” Parking Director James Rose said. He said the complimentary permits will be mailed to residents using the address that appears on their excise tax bills. Rose went on to say that it will take some time to put the program in place and install signage. Visitor passes will be issued one per household at a cost of $10 each, according to Rose. According to Traffic Commission Chairman Paul Argenzio, the reasoning behind the program is to dissuade nonresidents from parking in Revere overnight and to eliminate rooming and boarding houses, which he said are on the rise. Argenzio said the purpose of the visitor pass isn’t to discourage residents from having guests over, but rather to control parking for extended periods of time. Rose agreed and described the enforcement measures. “Residents should be entitled to park in front of their own home,” Rose said. “If they don’t have a permit, we’ll tag them.” Ward 1 Councillor Joanne McKenna, who helped to write the ordinance along with Councillor-at-Large Jessica Giannino, said that Beachmont has one of the highest percentages of Airbnbs and rooming houses in the city. Council President Arthur Guinasso said some wards, such as Wards 1, 2 and 3, have several areas where parking is tight, whereas Ward 6 has ample parking and won’t be affected as much. Guinasso said the program will be modifi ed as they go along, but that they have to start somewhere. Rose said it is still in the early stages, but that it will help in the long run. “A city-wide parking permit program will benefi t our residents – providing them with priority parking spaces in their neighborhoods,” Rose said. “Ultimately, our goal is to diminish the frustration residents have searching for a parking space close to their residence. The administration is excited and enthused about this program, and the Parking Department will provide more details on it when we get closer to completion.” Tara Vocino may be reached at printjournalist1@gmail.com. NOW OPEN!
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