Aquinnah: “This is really weird.”

The Multiple Choice Aquinnah Tribe astound many with their requests for local votes without information, disclosed location, an agreement and failing to acknowledge their financial responsibilities to pay for those votes and the municipalities' costs of negotiations.

Has anyone read the legislation?

And so it goes --

Fall River receives request for vote on Aquinnah casino

FALL RIVER — Two tribes, dueling casinos, and the race is on.

Barely a few days after the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Taunton officials announced their agreement for a land deal and casino resort, and Gov. Deval Patrick said he was ready to start negotiating a required state compact, Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan produced a stunning letter.

The Wampanoag Aquinnah Tribe on Martha’s Vineyard wants Fall River voters to decide if they want their casino — as soon as possible.

Aquinnah Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais attached an emailed letter about 1:30 p.m. Monday asking Flanagan and city officials to follow one of the precepts of the expanded gaming act Patrick signed into law in November.

She called the letter “an official request” to them “to schedule a vote for approval of the tribe’s proposed gaming in the city of Fall River.”

According to the act, “the governing body of the host community shall call for the election to be held not less than 60 days but not more than 90 days from the date the request was received,” the two-paragraph letter states.

Flanagan, aware from prior conversations about the Aquinnahs’ interest, responded cautiously, while City Council President Linda Pereira initially reacted positively to holding a referendum election.

“I think we need to know where the community stands in relation to this,” she said.

“Put it on the ballot and let’s see where people’s consensus is,” said Pereira, who said she was not bothered by the lack of a location.

“I think it’s wise to do it,” she said.

But later, after reading the bill, HR 3807, she thought the Aquinnahs’ request may be premature.

“For us to call a vote without having an agreement doesn’t seem to be what the bill represents,” Pereira said.

“We may need to know more about what (the tribe) wants to do,” she said.

Flanagan, more than a year since he abandoned a deal with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and Chairman Cedric Cromwell for a $500 million casino at the 300-acre biopark near Freetown, said the lack of any specified location caused his caution.

He tried unsuccessfully to reach the Aquinnah chairwoman, he said.

“I will not support any project unless I know where it is,” Flanagan said, while emphasizing his “pro-jobs” stance toward bringing a casino to Fall River.

Among details of the casino bill, it allows federally recognized tribes like the Mashpees and Aquinnahs until July 31 to negotiate a compact with the Patrick administration and win local approval for a casino.

A gaming commission that needs to be formed is charged with issues up to three licenses in three geographic regions, including the SouthCoast/Cape Cod.

“I do believe the Aquinnahs are viable in pursuit of a gaming license,” said Flanagan, stating he “looked forward to speaking” with Andrews-Maltais.
She did not return a phone call for comment on Monday night.

There have been both speculation and sources that would not speak on the record stating that the land the Aquinnahs are likely pursuing is the 230-acre parcel in the eastern corner of the city.

That large tract, owned for years by Walpole developer John Hasenjaeger, is located in the area of Blossom and Indian Town roads, near the Dartmouth and Westport town lines.

Among the reasons his proposals never went far with the city’s Real Estate Committee was that he required a long road access strip and its proximity to several developments, the 4,000-acre Bioreserve and the Watuppa water district.

Nearly two years ago, the Real Estate Committee, on a 3-2 vote, tabled action on the Hasenjaeger proposal.

When Flanagan shared the letter he’d received a few hours earlier Monday with a reporter, his first comment was: “This is really weird.”


Read more: http://www.tauntongazette.com/topstories/x1785613939/Fall-River-receives-request-for-vote-on-Aquinnah-casino#ixzz1qVVY3t3E