White man speak with forked tongue
Governments have been breaking promises made to the Wampanoag nation for the last 400 years.
Mashpee Wampanoag tribe loses exclusive rights for a Southeastern Massachusetts casino
If a commercial license is awarded and the tribe secures federally protected land in the future, the tribe could build a casino without state oversight or revenue sharing
The unanimous decision was made by the five-member commission not to wait any longer for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust in Taunton.
Gaming Commission votes to open Southeast Mass. to commercial casino bidders
Commission decides not to wait for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust
The unanimous decision from the five-member commission not to wait any longer for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust in Taunton for the development of a casino also carries implications for the state budget, with millions in shared revenue agreed to by the tribe at stake should a commercial casino be built in the region.
The commission met in Palmer on Thursday afternoon, discussing the southeast region at length after weeks of seeking public comment and delaying a decision to gather more information as it weighed the pros and cons of proceeding with commercials bids.
Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby this week published a message on the commission’s blog acknowledging that the state’s gaming law sought to have only one casino in southeastern Mass., but provided for commercial bids if it appeared unlikely the Mashpee tribe would be successful in obtaining federal protected land.
If a commercial license is awarded and the tribe secures federally protected land in the future, the tribe could build a casino without state oversight or revenue sharing.
The commission would be “shirking its fundamental responsibilities”
Crosby wrote that that commission would be “shirking its fundamental responsibilities” if it did not consider alternatives, knowing that the tribe’s ability to secure land “cannot be predicted with certainty.”
The commission has not ruled out giving the sole license in Region C to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, and said it would consider the status of the tribe land application when it came time to make a final decision. Despite interest from some developers in potential casino sites in New Bedford and elsewhere, it remains to be seen who will be willing to bid knowing the tribal casino is still in play.
“The Gaming Commission's decision for a fourth casino jeopardizes projects in every region"- Cromwell
“The Gaming Commission's decision today to pave the way for a fourth casino in the state and two in Southeastern Massachusetts not only undermines the Governor and legislature but also jeopardizes projects in every region,” said Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, in a statement after the vote.
Members of the commission said they felt the Mashpee tribe was still in a solid position to win the license in southeastern Massachusetts if it can successfully obtain land, and anticipate that the Legislature will still move forward with its consideration of a new gaming compact agreed to between the tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick to share revenue from a tribal casino. Lawmakers have not shown an interest in tackling the compact quickly.
Under the terms of the renegotiated compact, the tribe would share 17 percent of its casino revenue with the state if it is one of three operating casinos in Massachusetts, but would not have to share any money if a commercial casino opens in the same region.
There were “a lot of reasons” to wait- Patrick
Patrick, who appointed Crosby to chair the Gaming Commission, said last week there were “a lot of reasons” to wait and give the tribe more time. He urged the Legislature to take up the revised gaming pact quickly.
"The saturation in the region is not good. It's not good for the state. It's not good for the competitive private facilities. There's a lot of reasons the Legislature should move this compact soon and the commission should wait, but I don't get a vote,” Patrick said.
MGM Resorts International, which is seeking to develop a casino in Springfield, argued against opening the region to commercial bids, worried that if the tribe were to ultimately get land and build a fourth casino it would dilute the market and the value of a license in other regions.
Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, also asked the commission to wait on opening the region, suggesting it went against the intent of the Legislature, which has the authority to change the gaming law at any time.
Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, a Taunton Republican, noted in a letter that lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have specified a date for the tribe to obtain land in-trust before the commission pursued commercial developers, and she said the tribe has complied with every requirement of the 2011 gaming law.
Local lawmakers have been supportive of the commercial bidding process
Other lawmakers in the region, however, have been supportive of the commercial bidding process, not wanting that region of the state to get left behind while other casinos are licensed and the tribe moves through the federal approval process.
Rep. Christopher Markey, a Dartmouth Democrat, said there remains too much uncertainty around the compact and the tribe’s land application to wait any longer.
“The intent of the Legislature was to instill fairness in the process, but that right and benefit will continue to elude southeastern Massachusetts if we are forced to once again draw up a compact that may or may not be acceptable to the Federal Government, further delaying any opportunity for development,” Markey wrote to the commission
Tribe will not be deterred in its effort to build a resort casino in Taunton
Cromwell said the tribe will not be deterred in its effort to build a resort casino in Taunton, where local voters have already given their approval.
“Over the last 400 years, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has experienced a long succession of broken promises by the government, from the loss of our land, our personal freedom, and our aboriginal rights, to name just a few. We believe, however, that we have found trusted partners in Governor Patrick and the legislature, as shown in their decision to work with us to ensure hundreds of millions of dollars for Massachusetts while respecting our rights as a federally recognized tribe,” Cromwell said in his statement.
Unanimous decision vote not to wait any longer for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust in Taunton
The Gaming Commission voted Thursday to open southeastern Massachusetts to bids for a commercial casino development, angering the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and creating a new dynamic for developers as they seek to win casino licenses in other parts of Massachusetts.Commission decides not to wait for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust
The unanimous decision from the five-member commission not to wait any longer for the tribe to secure federal land in-trust in Taunton for the development of a casino also carries implications for the state budget, with millions in shared revenue agreed to by the tribe at stake should a commercial casino be built in the region.
The commission met in Palmer on Thursday afternoon, discussing the southeast region at length after weeks of seeking public comment and delaying a decision to gather more information as it weighed the pros and cons of proceeding with commercials bids.
Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby this week published a message on the commission’s blog acknowledging that the state’s gaming law sought to have only one casino in southeastern Mass., but provided for commercial bids if it appeared unlikely the Mashpee tribe would be successful in obtaining federal protected land.
If a commercial license is awarded and the tribe secures federally protected land in the future, the tribe could build a casino without state oversight or revenue sharing.
The commission would be “shirking its fundamental responsibilities”
Crosby wrote that that commission would be “shirking its fundamental responsibilities” if it did not consider alternatives, knowing that the tribe’s ability to secure land “cannot be predicted with certainty.”
The commission has not ruled out giving the sole license in Region C to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, and said it would consider the status of the tribe land application when it came time to make a final decision. Despite interest from some developers in potential casino sites in New Bedford and elsewhere, it remains to be seen who will be willing to bid knowing the tribal casino is still in play.
“The Gaming Commission's decision for a fourth casino jeopardizes projects in every region"- Cromwell
“The Gaming Commission's decision today to pave the way for a fourth casino in the state and two in Southeastern Massachusetts not only undermines the Governor and legislature but also jeopardizes projects in every region,” said Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, in a statement after the vote.
Members of the commission said they felt the Mashpee tribe was still in a solid position to win the license in southeastern Massachusetts if it can successfully obtain land, and anticipate that the Legislature will still move forward with its consideration of a new gaming compact agreed to between the tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick to share revenue from a tribal casino. Lawmakers have not shown an interest in tackling the compact quickly.
Under the terms of the renegotiated compact, the tribe would share 17 percent of its casino revenue with the state if it is one of three operating casinos in Massachusetts, but would not have to share any money if a commercial casino opens in the same region.
There were “a lot of reasons” to wait- Patrick
Patrick, who appointed Crosby to chair the Gaming Commission, said last week there were “a lot of reasons” to wait and give the tribe more time. He urged the Legislature to take up the revised gaming pact quickly.
"The saturation in the region is not good. It's not good for the state. It's not good for the competitive private facilities. There's a lot of reasons the Legislature should move this compact soon and the commission should wait, but I don't get a vote,” Patrick said.
MGM Resorts International, which is seeking to develop a casino in Springfield, argued against opening the region to commercial bids, worried that if the tribe were to ultimately get land and build a fourth casino it would dilute the market and the value of a license in other regions.
Sen. Marc Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat, also asked the commission to wait on opening the region, suggesting it went against the intent of the Legislature, which has the authority to change the gaming law at any time.
Rep. Shaunna O’Connell, a Taunton Republican, noted in a letter that lawmakers rejected an amendment that would have specified a date for the tribe to obtain land in-trust before the commission pursued commercial developers, and she said the tribe has complied with every requirement of the 2011 gaming law.
Local lawmakers have been supportive of the commercial bidding process
Other lawmakers in the region, however, have been supportive of the commercial bidding process, not wanting that region of the state to get left behind while other casinos are licensed and the tribe moves through the federal approval process.
Rep. Christopher Markey, a Dartmouth Democrat, said there remains too much uncertainty around the compact and the tribe’s land application to wait any longer.
“The intent of the Legislature was to instill fairness in the process, but that right and benefit will continue to elude southeastern Massachusetts if we are forced to once again draw up a compact that may or may not be acceptable to the Federal Government, further delaying any opportunity for development,” Markey wrote to the commission
Tribe will not be deterred in its effort to build a resort casino in Taunton
Cromwell said the tribe will not be deterred in its effort to build a resort casino in Taunton, where local voters have already given their approval.
“Over the last 400 years, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has experienced a long succession of broken promises by the government, from the loss of our land, our personal freedom, and our aboriginal rights, to name just a few. We believe, however, that we have found trusted partners in Governor Patrick and the legislature, as shown in their decision to work with us to ensure hundreds of millions of dollars for Massachusetts while respecting our rights as a federally recognized tribe,” Cromwell said in his statement.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment