Less than 24 hours before a public hearing meant to explore a controversial racetrack proposal, Mayor Dean Mazzarella quietly signed a Host Community Agreement. The City Council didn’t get to review it. The public didn’t get to weigh in. And the developer? He acted like he didn’t need to explain anything at all.

What the Record Shows

• The HCA was signed behind closed doors: While the City Council had received an earlier draft and was offered an opportunity to weigh in, multiple councilors indicated they didn’t feel equipped to do so at the time. The mayor then moved forward without re-engaging them or disclosing the final version — signing it just hours before the public hearing.
• Councilors were visibly caught off guard: Several expressed confusion about the timing and legality of the proposal.
• Baystate Racing’s lead developer, Jim Whitney, barely spoke: When asked to clarify questions, he simply told councilors to call him privately.
• Petitioners for the racing ban (41-25) came prepared: Their testimony was legally grounded, ethically sound, and well-reasoned.

The Mayor’s Strategy: Distract, Discredit, and Deflect

• In both June 12 broadcasts, Mayor Mazzarella didn’t just defend the project — he actively worked to discredit those who opposed it.
• He accused critics of hiding behind anonymity and painted the opposition as dishonest — while he himself withheld the most important fact: the HCA was already signed.
• This wasn’t leadership. It was manipulation — aimed at silencing critics, confusing the public, and pretending that transparency had been served when in truth, it had been buried.

Public Service or Personal Agenda?

• For a mayor who claims to value transparency, this was anything but. He signed a binding deal without public review, used city-funded broadcasts to distort the narrative, and treated council oversight as an afterthought.
• That’s not public service — And residents know it!

Did You Know? – Critical Additions Buried in the HCA

Here’s just a few highlights we noticed but you can download and compare the two for yourself here: Draft HCA for Councilor Review | HCA signed by Mayor

• Governance & Signing Authority: The original draft referenced council involvement. The final signed version came solely from the mayor — bypassing the City Council and potentially violating procedural norms.
• Fallbrook School Contribution: $300,000/year was promised for the Fallbrook school deficit. But this functions more like a political shield — tying school funding to racing profits.
• Tax Relief Fund: A $250,000 donation was added for elderly, veterans, and disabled residents. BUT the contribution is discretionary and not enforceable under future administrations (which means the developers don’t ever have to write a check) – it’s simply a “feel good” entry and talking point to help counter criticism.
• Legal Fees Clause: The city is allowed to invoice Baystate Racing for legal expenses. This confirms city resources are already being drained — and taxpayers may be indirectly footing the bill.

What You Can Do Right Now

• Email the City Council and ask them to publicly condemn the mayor’s circumvention of review.
• Attend the next public meeting and demand answers — directly and on record.
• Refuse to be gaslit. Share this article. Share the facts. Let your neighbors know what’s happening behind the curtain.
• Watch for misleading petitions. If someone knocks on your door — ask to read the full language before signing anything.

The developers and the mayor are counting on confusion. You don’t have to give it to them.

Editor’s Note (June 16, 2025):
A previous version of this article may have implied the City Council was entirely excluded from the Host Community Agreement process. In fact, councilors were provided with an early draft and given a chance to offer input. However, no updated version was provided to them prior to the mayor’s final signature on June 11. This note has been added in the interest of full accuracy.