As debate about the location and viability of a third casino continues in the legislature, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc is pressing state lawmakers to reconsider a rejected proposal in her city.
The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Sun tribes passed over the East Hartford site at a former Showcase Cinemas in favor of a location in East Windsor. The tribes won a key vote in the Senate this week authorizing them to jointly develop the East Windsor casino, but they may have trouble getting the measure through the House, where leaders have discussed levying a large licensing fee on the tribes for the gaming development rights.
In addition, with $9.2 million worth of budget cuts potentially coming to East Hartford, LeClerc argues her city could use the additional revenue from a casino.
Developer Anthony J. Ravosa Jr., a member of Silver Lane Partners LLC, has proposed a $200 million East Hartford casino at the former Showcase Cinemas site.
Leclerc said Friday that three members of the East Hartford delegation discussed it with the House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz and Hartford Rep. Matt Ritter. Those members included Democratic Reps. Jason Rojas, Jeffrey Currey and Henry Genga. Talks did not include Sen. Tim Larson, who is a proponent of the East Windsor location, Larson said.
She also wrote a letter seeking support from Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, she said.
“I thought it was worthy to raise the thought that East Hartford still seems to be a viable option,” she said. “It would make more sense to drive convention business and tourism as a complement to the casino to have a casino in the greater Hartford area.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify who Leclerc talked to in the East Hartford delegation.
