There's on so much lipstick you can put on a pig....it's still a pig!

Foxwoods, David Nunes and Milford Officials who supported this fiasco should be ashamed!

Foxwoods has made a mockery of the project and process.
No water! Oops! Wetlands! Oops! No financing! What are a few felons in our midst?

Disgraceful!

Friday, November 15, 2013

In Milford, Foxwoods should fold

The choice to embrace or reject any specific gaming proposal rests with the host community that will be most affected by it, whether that's for richer, poorer, or some combination of the two. But this week's surprising news that the applicant for a Milford casino, Crossroads Massachusetts LLC, has not yet identified an equity owner for 55 percent of the project, should give voters serious pause.

The revelation emerged during a hearing in Boston held by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, and comes just days before Milford voters are slated to decide whether to give the go-ahead to the project, which would be operated by Foxwoods.

Voters should reject the proposed host community agreement at the polls next Tuesday.

We have taken a very dim view of expanded gaming in Massachusetts, believing that gambling is a regressive form of economic development for most communities, with social costs that far outweigh any economic benefits.

But even if the proposal in Milford had nothing to do with gambling, it fails to meet the basic standards for financing, transparency and business reputation that should characterize any major economic development

In their background review of the applicant, state gaming officials identified concerns about financing, the suitability of David Nunes, the principal organizer of Crossroads Massachusetts LLC, and the possible role of current or former officials with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council of Connecticut, three of whom have been convicted of crimes.

For now, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission considers the Foxwoods proposal for Milford incomplete, in light of the failure to secure a majority equity stakeholder.

While the proponents insisted Wednesday that could change soon, there are simply too many unanswered questions and risks to Milford and surrounding communities for voters to say yes to this plan.

By this point in the process, a serious proposal would have lined up full funding, exhibited transparency in all its business operations, and inspired confidence in all observers that it could fulfill its promises should it be granted a license.

We don't see those conditions in place. If Foxwoods Massachusetts isn't willing to fold its hand, voters should end the game on Tuesday.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20131115/NEWS/311159953/0