Back-to-back rulings by the state Supreme Court and a Superior Court judge have effectively killed a casino proposal by Harrah’s Entertainment and the Narragansett Indians, at least for this year.
In the wake of a Supreme Court advisory opinion that said the plan violated the state Constitution on two grounds, Governor Donald Carcieri and Attorney General Patrick Lynch sought an order in Superior Court to take a referendum on the casino deal off the November ballot.
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The Narragansetts filed a separate request for court intervention, but later withdrew its request. Judge Daniel A. Procaccini went on to grant Lynch’s request for an injunction against the referendum, saying “substantial harm” could result from allowing it to go forward.
The Associated Press reported that Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas had said the tribe would continue its effort to build a casino, but had given up on getting the proposal on this November’s ballot. “’I think the people of Rhode Island should be disappointed that they’re not going to be able to vote on this issue,” Thomas told the AP.
Harrah’s did not immediately return a Providence Business News call seeking comment on Procaccini’s ruling and the casino giant’s future plans in the state. Harrah’s lawyer Lauren Jones told Procaccini that Harrah’s didn’t want to be a party in Friday’s proceedings because it “sees no purpose in pursuing what is essentially futile legislation.”
