For $500 million, Fall River gets Slots in a Box. This should raise questions about the rushed process, flawed agreement, exclusion of the public and failure to consider the impacts.
Redevelopment Authority passes casino land sale
I was there along with two other Fall River residents and three people who lived elsewhere. A total of 6 whole people came to watch Fall River give away its valuable land without a drop dead date or a guarantee of no sovereign immunity. Sounds like a sweetheart deal for the Mashpees.
The entire meeting was a farce. The mayor sat in the back of the room and on two occasions I saw him give hand signals to Fiola regarding procedures. Torres lied to the RDA in his remarks when he stated that the Attorney General had voiced her opinion that this land and its covenants against gaming and landfill use did not fall under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution requiring a 2/3 vote of the legislature. Senator Menard made the same assertions TWICE during senate debate and was refuted by Senator Montigny who called the AG and was categorically told that her office was never consulted on this issue, nor did she issue an opinion.
So Menard and Torres lied outright. And Torres is the chief negotiator for the contract with the Mashpees. Isn't this some sort of ethics issue?
It is a shame that the RDA did not heed Chairman Bill Kenney's concerns and allow the public to take a look at this contract and offer input. Why the rush?
In addition, in this article it says the mayor stated he wanted this open to the public because he didn't want anyone to think that he was doing anything behind closed doors. Well that entire speech was a HUGE set up. He indicated to Fiola to ask for an executive session, then stood and said he personally didn't want one. Bad piece of staging mr. mayor. I saw it all happen before my very eyes. Nice try. Wanting us all to think you were being above board, when this ENTIRE process was hidden from public view.
Shame on you. And shame on the residents of Fall River for not giving one fig about the most important decision in generations. The silence from the 92,000 people who live here was defining.
Redevelopment Authority passes casino land sale
I was there along with two other Fall River residents and three people who lived elsewhere. A total of 6 whole people came to watch Fall River give away its valuable land without a drop dead date or a guarantee of no sovereign immunity. Sounds like a sweetheart deal for the Mashpees.
The entire meeting was a farce. The mayor sat in the back of the room and on two occasions I saw him give hand signals to Fiola regarding procedures. Torres lied to the RDA in his remarks when he stated that the Attorney General had voiced her opinion that this land and its covenants against gaming and landfill use did not fall under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution requiring a 2/3 vote of the legislature. Senator Menard made the same assertions TWICE during senate debate and was refuted by Senator Montigny who called the AG and was categorically told that her office was never consulted on this issue, nor did she issue an opinion.
So Menard and Torres lied outright. And Torres is the chief negotiator for the contract with the Mashpees. Isn't this some sort of ethics issue?
It is a shame that the RDA did not heed Chairman Bill Kenney's concerns and allow the public to take a look at this contract and offer input. Why the rush?
In addition, in this article it says the mayor stated he wanted this open to the public because he didn't want anyone to think that he was doing anything behind closed doors. Well that entire speech was a HUGE set up. He indicated to Fiola to ask for an executive session, then stood and said he personally didn't want one. Bad piece of staging mr. mayor. I saw it all happen before my very eyes. Nice try. Wanting us all to think you were being above board, when this ENTIRE process was hidden from public view.
Shame on you. And shame on the residents of Fall River for not giving one fig about the most important decision in generations. The silence from the 92,000 people who live here was defining.
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