A step forward, back for Mashpee tribe
It was a day of good and bad news for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in its efforts to build a $500 million casino complex in Taunton.
The tribe announced Wednesday the National Indian Gaming Commission, the federal agency that oversees Indian casinos, approved the Mashpee Wampanoag's gaming ordinance.
"This, along with the approval of an intergovernmental agreement with the city of Taunton, movement forward on our land in trust application by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and continuing productive negotiations on our compact with the commonwealth, shows the positive progress we have moving toward our goals," tribal council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a prepared statement.
The approval comes just three days before Saturday's citywide election and as the Wampanoag race to meet a July 31 deadline established by state legislation authorizing three casinos and a single slot parlor.
Except it NEVER happend! See below. Excess Casino KoolAid consumption causes hallucinations.
The ordinance sets up a five-member gaming commission to oversee the rules and regulations of the tribe's casino management. Members of the commission and casino employees are subject to background checks that include fingerprinting and a review of criminal records, according to the ordinance posted on the National Indian Gaming Commission website.
The tribe has proposed its casino project on 145 acres in the Liberty and Union Industrial Park. City leaders have approved an agreement with the tribe that will pay the city 2.05 percent of net slot revenue yearly, as well as annual payments of $4.9 million for operational expenses and $33 million for one-time infrastructure improvements.
But for the second day in a row, casino critics attempted to muddy the waters for voters in the upcoming election, which will show whether city residents approve of the tribe's plan. This time it was the tribe's jilted ex-partner Middleboro, which continues to seek payments for what it calls a breach of contract.
Last night, Middleboro selectmen voted in executive session to send letters of opposition to Gov. Deval Patrick and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The town believes its contract with the tribe for a $1 billion casino in Middleboro on 539 acres remains in effect.
In that deal, the town would have received $7 million per year with a 3.1 percent increase based on the consumer price index. The tribe also agreed to $250 million in infrastructure improvements.
In 2010, shortly after the tribe severed its ties with casino moguls Sol Kerzner and Len Wolman, it announced it was walking away from Middleboro in pursuit of a deal in Fall River.
The Fall River talks fizzled, and it was on to Taunton. Ever since, Middleboro and the tribe have engaged in a war of words.
In its letter to the bureau, Middleboro selectmen say they have never been formally told by the tribe it is no longer seeking to put the land in town into trust and it has gotten its information through media reports. "It is obvious to (Middleboro) and to any reasonably informed observer that the tribe simply cannot be counted upon to fulfill its obligations, and that its leadership has come to view sovereignty as an axe to be wielded against any person or entity that attempts to enforce its obligations," the letter states.
A separate letter to Patrick asks for public input into the compact negotiations so communities surrounding Taunton can be assured that traffic and water concerns are addressed.
"They're pressing forward with Taunton. They're pressing forward with the BIA, and they're pressing forward with the governor, and we object to that until they finish their business with Middleboro," Selectman Allin Frawley said after the meeting.
The board continues to explore its legal options, he said. Frawley pointed out the agreement signed between Middleboro and the tribe requires "mutual trust and support."
"Right there, that's a joke," Frawley said. "We've completely upheld our end of the bargain, and the tribe has not. I think that's important for Taunton to understand as they move forward."
Tribe leaders could not be reached for comment Wednesday night, but in March tribe attorney Howard Cooper sent a sharply worded letter to the Middleboro selectmen urging them to stop talking. "The tribe is becoming increasingly concerned with Middleboro's irresponsible, false and improper efforts to promote via the media a meritless claim that the town somehow possesses legal rights against the tribe concerning the tribe's pursuit of a destination resort and casino in Taunton," Cooper wrote.
You left something out
The Cromwellians were able to get one good story in the paper yesterday. It was about the tribal gaming commission. The second time Cedric submitted his little scheme…the Indian Gaming Commission accepted it . Cedric”s Gaming Commission consists of Markie the Harding, his faithful sidekick of late, himself and some poor patsy from the Council who will be outvoted by them should he or she ever disagree.
Cedric did his best to blow this thing up as though the federal government was sanctioning his rag tag slot dump. There was a critical part of the letter that was left out of the news story. Here’s what it said.
” It is also my understanding that the Tribe has not yet acquired Indian lands as defined by IGRA. It is therefor important to note that approval is granted only for gaming on Indian lands, as defined in IGRA, over which the tribe has jurisdiction.”
Translation….” Your little Commission doe not mean a damned thing without land in trust.”
Or ” Who are you kidding submitting this without land in trust?”
Or ” You really are as ridiculous as they say you are.”
Cedric is trying to divert attention away from the fact that the tribe is facing another lawsuit for ghetto business practices. The deed restrictions prevent him from moving forward. How could he make the same mistake twice….with so called professionals guiding him this time? Incompetence is obviously a prerequisite for hiring and being part of their team.
Aho bro.
You can't submit without the LIT !
” It is also my understanding that the Tribe has not yet acquired Indian lands as defined by IGRA. It is therefor important to note that approval is granted only for gaming on Indian lands, as defined in IGRA, over which the tribe has jurisdiction.”
Translation….” Your little Commission doe not mean a damned thing without land in trust.”
Or ” Who are you kidding submitting this without land in trust?”
Or ” You really are as ridiculous as they say you are.”
Cedric is trying to divert attention away from the fact that the tribe is facing another lawsuit for ghetto business practices. The deed restrictions prevent him from moving forward. How could he make the same mistake twice….with so called professionals guiding him this time? Incompetence is obviously a prerequisite for hiring and being part of their team.
Aho bro.
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