Senator Joan Menard Amendment Debate 07-01-2010 from FallRiver Kidz on Vimeo.
Showing posts with label Senator Joan Menard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Senator Joan Menard. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Senate’s casino projection estimates don’t add up
Regardless of how you do the simple arithmetic, the numbers simply don't add up. Beacon Hill's occupants continue to mislead the public and themselves.
LETTER: Senate’s casino projection estimates don’t add up
With the senate version of the casino bill out, and the projections of gross revenues ranging from $1.6 billion to $1.8 billion, the question becomes — where are they getting their figures from, and how did they get to those numbers? The answer to the former is: from the gambling industry itself.
The Legislature has no expertise in calculating anything like this, so they’re relying on a group that has only a self-interested business motive for providing market figures.
As to how the numbers are being calculated — that is the mystery. The governor’s commission in 2008 calculated that $700 million could be pulled back from the Connecticut and Rhode Island casinos. The projected hit on the state lottery has been estimated at 3 to 8 percent, and based on the most recent revenues, at 5 percent, that’s $225 million; at 8 percent, that’s $360 million.
So where is the remaining $800 million to $900 million coming from? Massachusetts residents? No, especially with the lack of population growth. From other states? Think again. Maine already has a slot operation in Portland, and they will expand to the Freeport area if we go this way. New Hampshire has said they’ll go slots if we go casinos.
So how do we make up the local aid loss from the lottery hit? Our legislators are grasping for anything that provides money, but the long-term damage to local aid and elsewhere will be irreversible.
Sherman Everhart
Middleborough
Senators: You simply must read this!
Our dear friend from Carver has debunked the Massachusetts Senate's incorrect understanding. What a pity it requires citizens who have done their homework to point out the Senate's flaws!
State of Irresponsibility or Stupidity - You Decide
State of Irresponsibility or Stupidity - You Decide
While you're at it, check out United to Stop Slots in Massachusetts.
The site contains a great deal of information and facts that Beacon Hill doesn't find the need to consider when making their flawed decisions.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Senator Menard: Ever Faithful Supporter!
This was posted as a 'comment' but deserves to stand alone to watch the discussion, as well as the Senate President's admonishment about raising this issue.
Joan Menard Senate Casino Amendment Debate 06/30/2010 from FallRiver Kid on Vimeo.
June 30, 2010. MA State Senator Joan Menard told her fellow senators that she said she knew nothing (a la Sergeant Schultz) about the casino restriction on the 300 acres of land that she herself was instrumental in getting set aside for biotech development. In addition, her claim that this is not a Article 97 issue is not based on fact.
Joan Menard Senate Casino Amendment Debate 06/30/2010
OR -
http://www.vimeo.com/12993675
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Phhffffeeeeettttttt!
Regarding the inaccurate information stated by Senator "Not Rocket Science" Rosenberg, a friend and regular reader responded --
In the Middleboro region we were lied to by "competent attorneys" also who failed to mention the Carcieri challenge which they knew about.
Before Carcieri v. Salazar, the state had an Indian gaming attorney testify at the 2008 casino hearings, and the best she could say was that in her mind, it was possible. IGA's make their money on Indian gaming and do not want to believe they could find themselves without half of their potential clients.
The BIA is staffed almost completely by Indians, and have repeatedly failed to acknowledge the Hawaii SCOTUS decision.
The Tribe is trying to scare the state, and the State eagerly complies.
I can't speak for Senator Spilka but Senator Morrissey was clueless about Carcieri v. Salazar at a late 2008 debate in New Bedford. He even admitted it once we clued him in.
Being an Attorney means nothing. We've been lied to by plenty of attorneys. There are competent attorneys who helped file and argue Carcieri v. Salazar.
The Mashpee can open a bingo hall (class II - on their own reservation land - if they have reservation land - which they don't) But what is the financial incentive? The Seminoles could not make a good profit with bingo and repeatedly tried to get slots, ad their nearest competitors were 600 miles, not 2 hours, away.
We've researched this exhaustively for 3 years - we are stakeholders - and others have researched it for 20.
It's not a difference of opinions - it's a senator who provides other senators with inaccurate information to fuel his private agenda.
In the Middleboro region we were lied to by "competent attorneys" also who failed to mention the Carcieri challenge which they knew about.
Before Carcieri v. Salazar, the state had an Indian gaming attorney testify at the 2008 casino hearings, and the best she could say was that in her mind, it was possible. IGA's make their money on Indian gaming and do not want to believe they could find themselves without half of their potential clients.
The BIA is staffed almost completely by Indians, and have repeatedly failed to acknowledge the Hawaii SCOTUS decision.
The Tribe is trying to scare the state, and the State eagerly complies.
I can't speak for Senator Spilka but Senator Morrissey was clueless about Carcieri v. Salazar at a late 2008 debate in New Bedford. He even admitted it once we clued him in.
Being an Attorney means nothing. We've been lied to by plenty of attorneys. There are competent attorneys who helped file and argue Carcieri v. Salazar.
The Mashpee can open a bingo hall (class II - on their own reservation land - if they have reservation land - which they don't) But what is the financial incentive? The Seminoles could not make a good profit with bingo and repeatedly tried to get slots, ad their nearest competitors were 600 miles, not 2 hours, away.
We've researched this exhaustively for 3 years - we are stakeholders - and others have researched it for 20.
It's not a difference of opinions - it's a senator who provides other senators with inaccurate information to fuel his private agenda.
A promised chairmanship perhaps?
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Senator Menard: Ever Faithful Supporter!
Senator Joan Menard, the every-faithful supporter of bringing Malaysian Investors to Fall River offered the Amendments below. It is unclear whether either is enforceable under Federal law.
Adopted
REDRAFT - Clerk #105
Rules, Regulations and Payments
Ms. Menard moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2495), in Section 69, subsection (c), by striking out clause (i), in lines 2786 through 2789 inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-
(i) the tribe shall be subject to all laws, statutes, and bylaws of the commonwealth, the host community, and any other properly constituted legal body, including chapter 23K of the General Laws; provided, however, that a fair and comparable payment in lieu of taxes may be substituted for any tax or fee required by the commonwealth; and
CLERK 106
Indian Rights
Ms. Menard moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2495), in Section 13 by striking out in lines 920 to 922 the following words:- “and whether the tribe has entered into an agreement with the commonwealth to waive its rights under the Indian Regulatory Gaming act, 25 U.S.C. sections 2701, et. seq.”
Adopted
REDRAFT - Clerk #105
Rules, Regulations and Payments
Ms. Menard moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2495), in Section 69, subsection (c), by striking out clause (i), in lines 2786 through 2789 inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following clause:-
(i) the tribe shall be subject to all laws, statutes, and bylaws of the commonwealth, the host community, and any other properly constituted legal body, including chapter 23K of the General Laws; provided, however, that a fair and comparable payment in lieu of taxes may be substituted for any tax or fee required by the commonwealth; and
CLERK 106
Indian Rights
Ms. Menard moves to amend the bill (Senate, No. 2495), in Section 13 by striking out in lines 920 to 922 the following words:- “and whether the tribe has entered into an agreement with the commonwealth to waive its rights under the Indian Regulatory Gaming act, 25 U.S.C. sections 2701, et. seq.”
Saturday, June 12, 2010
The Death of Las Vegas: What Beacon Hill Wants to Copy?
The homeless population is out of control.
So, Beacon Hill:
The Stunning Crash And Burn Of Las Vegas
Michael Snyder
There are quite a few U.S. cities that are complete and utter economic disaster zones in 2010 (Detroit for example), but there is something about the demise of Las Vegas that is absolutely stunning.
In recent decades, Las Vegas has become a symbol for the over-the-top affluence and decadence of America. But now it is a microcosm of the economic nightmare that has gripped the entire nation. When the subprime mortgage crisis stuck, no major U.S. city was more devastated than Las Vegas. When the recession went from bad to worse, Americans decided that they really didn't need to gamble so much and casino revenues plummeted. Suddenly unemployment started to increase dramatically in Vegas and even today it continues to soar. Like so many other cities that are highly dependent on tourism and entertainment, Las Vegas has gone from boom to bust. Local officials are hoping that the worst will soon be over, but the truth is that the worst is yet to come.
As the U.S. economy continues to unravel, average Americans will be spending what little money they do have to put a roof over their heads and to feed their families. The truth is that the glory days of Las Vegas are over and they are not coming back.
Already, the number of unemployed in Las Vegas is reaching unprecedented levels. Unemployment rates for the state of Nevada and for the city of Las Vegas both set new records during the month of April. In Las Vegas the unemployment rate in April was 14.2%. For the entire state the unemployment rate was 13.7%.
Of course those are just the "official" numbers. We all know that the "real" unemployment numbers are much higher.
For example, the "official" unemployment figure is about 14 percent in the state of Michigan right now. But if you actually believe that 86 percent of able-bodied workers in the state of Michigan are employed, then perhaps you would be interested in an offer to purchase the Golden Gate Bridge as well.
Elliott Parker, an economist at the University of Nevada, Reno says that the record-setting unemployment numbers in Nevada are just part of a larger trend....
"Nevada has been losing jobs since March 2008, and we are continuing to do so."
But where the state of Nevada and the city of Las Vegas have really been hammered is in the housing industry.
It is estimated that a whopping 65 percent of all homes in the state of Nevada are underwater.
Let that sink in for a bit.
65 percent of all home owners with a mortgage in the state of Nevada owe more than their homes are worth.
Talk about an implosion.
Nationally, the number of homes that are "underwater" is about 24 percent. That is an all-time record for the entire nation, but it doesn't come anywhere close to the nightmare that is unfolding in Nevada and in Las Vegas.
And the number of foreclosures taking place in Nevada is absolutely breathtaking.
According to RealtyTrac, Nevada is still ranked number one for foreclosure filings. In fact, one out of every 79 Nevada homes received a foreclosure filing in the month of May alone.
Nevada’s foreclosure rate is now five times the national average.
By just about any measure, the economy of Nevada is a complete and total disaster.
A reader recently sent an email describing the economic horror that is unfolding in Las Vegas. No matter what you may think about the city, the truth is that it is sad to see any great U.S. city fall to pieces like this....
"Las Vegas is a goner. The homeless population is out of control. The real estate is far worse than I have seen in the media (no surprise there). The towers of condos are ninety five percent vacant with zero activity. The streets and parks are in decline. Local governments are busy making cuts and fighting unions. When I ride the streets they are deserted, a big change from 2006. The major casino companies have all but moved the casinos out of Nevada. Rooms and restaurants have been closing for years, even while they finished the new projects. The entire town is a skeleton staff providing substandard service and decaying properties. I still work for one of the majors which is in bankruptcy. When the next wave hits there is nowhere to cut. It will be a game of dominoes with the Wynn properties the only ones left standing. I see the ninety nine cent breakfast making a comeback. The bullet train a day late and a few billion dollars short."
So is there any hope for Las Vegas?
Well, if the U.S. economy gets back up off of the operating table and roars back to life there is little doubt that millions of Americans would once again soon be flying there to gamble away their discretionary income.
But the truth is that any "revival" that is going to happen in Vegas is going to be very short-lived.
The U.S. economy as a whole is caught in a death spiral, and we are about to see a repeat of the housing crash that devastated Las Vegas so badly the first time around.
No, there really isn't any way that the death of Las Vegas can be avoided. Just like the U.S. economy as a whole, it is inevitably doomed. The numbers don't lie.
The grand total of all government, corporate and consumer debt in the United States is now equal to 360 percent of GDP. That is a far greater level than the U.S. ever approached during the Great Depression.
The entire U.S. economy is a house of cards built on a gigantic pile of debt and paper money, and it is only a matter of time until it all comes crashing down.
But of course that isn't stopping the U.S. government from spending even more money and getting us all into even more debt.
According to a recent Treasury Department report to Congress, the U.S. national debt will top $13.6 trillion this year and climb to an estimated $19.6 trillion by 2015.
But as many of you who have experienced this on a personal level know, getting into continually increasing amounts of debt never ends well.
Nowhere is Casino Capitalism and the Something for Nothing Scheme written larger than Las Vegas with high crime, poorly performing schools, high dropout rates, low college graduation rates and the ultimate price of Gambling Addiction, a high suicide rate.
Is it any wonder that the Predators of Las Vegas are salivating to suck the life out of the Massachusetts economy?
So, Beacon Hill:
Is this what you want to emulate?
Senate President "Cha Ching" Murray, Senator "Lap Dog" Rosenberg, Senator "Airhead" Menard:
We should follow Las Vegas?
The Stunning Crash And Burn Of Las Vegas
Michael Snyder
There are quite a few U.S. cities that are complete and utter economic disaster zones in 2010 (Detroit for example), but there is something about the demise of Las Vegas that is absolutely stunning.
In recent decades, Las Vegas has become a symbol for the over-the-top affluence and decadence of America. But now it is a microcosm of the economic nightmare that has gripped the entire nation. When the subprime mortgage crisis stuck, no major U.S. city was more devastated than Las Vegas. When the recession went from bad to worse, Americans decided that they really didn't need to gamble so much and casino revenues plummeted. Suddenly unemployment started to increase dramatically in Vegas and even today it continues to soar. Like so many other cities that are highly dependent on tourism and entertainment, Las Vegas has gone from boom to bust. Local officials are hoping that the worst will soon be over, but the truth is that the worst is yet to come.
As the U.S. economy continues to unravel, average Americans will be spending what little money they do have to put a roof over their heads and to feed their families. The truth is that the glory days of Las Vegas are over and they are not coming back.
Already, the number of unemployed in Las Vegas is reaching unprecedented levels. Unemployment rates for the state of Nevada and for the city of Las Vegas both set new records during the month of April. In Las Vegas the unemployment rate in April was 14.2%. For the entire state the unemployment rate was 13.7%.
Of course those are just the "official" numbers. We all know that the "real" unemployment numbers are much higher.
For example, the "official" unemployment figure is about 14 percent in the state of Michigan right now. But if you actually believe that 86 percent of able-bodied workers in the state of Michigan are employed, then perhaps you would be interested in an offer to purchase the Golden Gate Bridge as well.
Elliott Parker, an economist at the University of Nevada, Reno says that the record-setting unemployment numbers in Nevada are just part of a larger trend....
"Nevada has been losing jobs since March 2008, and we are continuing to do so."
But where the state of Nevada and the city of Las Vegas have really been hammered is in the housing industry.
It is estimated that a whopping 65 percent of all homes in the state of Nevada are underwater.
Let that sink in for a bit.
65 percent of all home owners with a mortgage in the state of Nevada owe more than their homes are worth.
Talk about an implosion.
Nationally, the number of homes that are "underwater" is about 24 percent. That is an all-time record for the entire nation, but it doesn't come anywhere close to the nightmare that is unfolding in Nevada and in Las Vegas.
And the number of foreclosures taking place in Nevada is absolutely breathtaking.
According to RealtyTrac, Nevada is still ranked number one for foreclosure filings. In fact, one out of every 79 Nevada homes received a foreclosure filing in the month of May alone.
Nevada’s foreclosure rate is now five times the national average.
By just about any measure, the economy of Nevada is a complete and total disaster.
A reader recently sent an email describing the economic horror that is unfolding in Las Vegas. No matter what you may think about the city, the truth is that it is sad to see any great U.S. city fall to pieces like this....
"Las Vegas is a goner. The homeless population is out of control. The real estate is far worse than I have seen in the media (no surprise there). The towers of condos are ninety five percent vacant with zero activity. The streets and parks are in decline. Local governments are busy making cuts and fighting unions. When I ride the streets they are deserted, a big change from 2006. The major casino companies have all but moved the casinos out of Nevada. Rooms and restaurants have been closing for years, even while they finished the new projects. The entire town is a skeleton staff providing substandard service and decaying properties. I still work for one of the majors which is in bankruptcy. When the next wave hits there is nowhere to cut. It will be a game of dominoes with the Wynn properties the only ones left standing. I see the ninety nine cent breakfast making a comeback. The bullet train a day late and a few billion dollars short."
So is there any hope for Las Vegas?
Well, if the U.S. economy gets back up off of the operating table and roars back to life there is little doubt that millions of Americans would once again soon be flying there to gamble away their discretionary income.
But the truth is that any "revival" that is going to happen in Vegas is going to be very short-lived.
The U.S. economy as a whole is caught in a death spiral, and we are about to see a repeat of the housing crash that devastated Las Vegas so badly the first time around.
No, there really isn't any way that the death of Las Vegas can be avoided. Just like the U.S. economy as a whole, it is inevitably doomed. The numbers don't lie.
The grand total of all government, corporate and consumer debt in the United States is now equal to 360 percent of GDP. That is a far greater level than the U.S. ever approached during the Great Depression.
The entire U.S. economy is a house of cards built on a gigantic pile of debt and paper money, and it is only a matter of time until it all comes crashing down.
But of course that isn't stopping the U.S. government from spending even more money and getting us all into even more debt.
According to a recent Treasury Department report to Congress, the U.S. national debt will top $13.6 trillion this year and climb to an estimated $19.6 trillion by 2015.
But as many of you who have experienced this on a personal level know, getting into continually increasing amounts of debt never ends well.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Alice's Rabbit Hole and Senator Menard
In the wake of Beacon Hill's recent Hack-O-Rama that just might convince voters that certain folks are incapable of leading or managing, up steps Senator Joan M. Menard to convince voters they've suddenly fallen down Alice's Rabbit Hole of Unreality.
She's probably a nice lady and surely has done noteworthy things for her district and constituents, but this is a real boner that threatens to over-shadow it all.
Take for instance the comment below posted here:
shamrockblogga
----------------------------
I think it is wonderful that, in Joan Menard's last months in office, she finally concerned about getting people jobs, even though they aren't related to her:
Daughter:
University of Massachusetts, Menard Jennifer J., Director of Economic Develop, 37.50 hours, 2008 -$67,291.40, 2009 - $73,348.77
Daughter:
Trial Court Menard-Parece Jody M, Acting Clerk Magistrate, 37.50 hours, 2008 - $110,221.00, 20009 - $110,051.18
Son-in-law
Lottery Commission, Preble Sean S, Field Technician MSLC, 40.00 hours, 2008- $48,418.80, 2009 - $49,477.67
http://www.heraldnews.com/news/x289806931/Casino-could-trump-BioPark
And this from the Brockton Enterprise --
Menard described a hybrid plan to open a commercial complex that would roll over into a tribal casino, if and when the land is taken into trust.
Someone needs to tell Senator "Airhead" Menard that she needs to INFORM herself. The Commonwealth can't re-write IGRA. Doesn't the Agreement the Tribe has with the Malaysian investors need to be approved by the BIA? Doesn't any Land into Trust application need to include "historical ties" the Tribe has with the community?
Senator, Did you notice that the Tribe's historical ties to Middleboro were disproven?
Hybrid?? Where is that provision in IGRA? What about the Hawaii decision?
Tribal leaders would not comment on the Fall River negotiations, the status of the land in Middleboro or whether they plan to amend their application before the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Tribal leaders CANNOT amend an application. Nice try!
[City Councilor Eric] Poulin estimates between 3,000 and 5,000 jobs could be generated by a Fall River casino.
Oh! Just pick a number out of the air! Or simply make it up and then add some political manure! Where's your proof Mr. Poulin? Where's the report that substantiates your figures?
Mr. Poulin, would it be more reasonable to believe these numbers? How much sense does it make to pursue low wage dead end jobs and chase away Bio Tech? Where is a report that considers the costs and impacts on Fall River? What will the increased crime cost? What will the increased public safety costs be? Surely, you have a Study Committee considering your costs, right?
If you don't have an attorney who specializes in Gaming Law negotiating this Agreement, how dumb is that? Is it even enforceable? Who are you negotiating with? The Malaysian Investors?
Who is asking questions? Where is the proof?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Fall River Herald News: Boo! Hiss!
Note: On my way to a meeting in Fall River, I got lost as I generally do and was reminded of what an impressive city is to our south. That their misguided Mayor would seek to destroy it with a Malaysian Slot Parlor is baffling.
There are subtle things within the Casino Playbook that go unnoticed, but the pathetic silencing of Casino Opposition is consistent.
In Fall River, a meeting was held last evening by a newly formed group called Citizens for the Common Good that opposes the proposed Malaysian Casino. (Some may recall that since SCOTUS decisions [see Hawaii] prevent the Mashpee Wampanoags from pursuing the Middleboro Folly, the Malaysian investors will use the Tribe to threaten Fall River, with the support of Senator Joan "Airhead" Menard.)
A common complaint was that the local rag that no one ever heard of, the Fall River Herald News doesn't print letters to the editor from the opposition.
Exercising their own form of tyranny, they also deleted my comments in their forum.
Boo! Hiss!
Given the choice between high paying bio-tech jobs that provide a future and benefits and low wage dead end casino jobs that offer a Something for Nothing Scheme, Fall River folks are pretty savvy.
Now the Fall River Herald News just needs to figure this out.
Note to Editor: Get a life! There are Grassroots organizations forming around the state and around the country to oppose this Something for Nothing Scheme. Voters recognize the folly of this proposal. Now you and the legislators whose egos are being stroked by well paid lobbyists need to wake up.
The comments below were posted on Blue Mass Group --
No one ever heard of the Fall River Herald News until
they were suddenly the focus of another Casino Feeding Frenzy.
Ill-equipped with the information and facts, they opined here:
http://www.heraldnews.com/opinions/our_view/x227913534/OUR-VIEW-Rolling-the-dice
When I posted my comments, they were removed.
I don't generally save my comments, but for some reasons, saved these and simply re-posted.
At one point, the Gremlin even blocked my login.
This has remained --
What I find curious is that the Fall River Herald News Gremlin seems to delete my comments that don't violate their rules or policy.
My comments merely point out factual information that prove Glorified Slot Parlors by the euphemistic labels the Industry employs, such as "Destination Resort Casinos" are not what Casino Cheerleaders claim.
Slot machines are not economic engines or job creators. They mere;y [sic] enrich the already wealthy.
Slot gambling is extremely profitable which is why they can afford to employ lobbyists and monopolize the discussion.
There is no indication that Fall River has employed a Gaming Attorney familiar with the Industry to negotiate this agreement. The terms of the Agreement have not been released.
The Fall River Herald News is failing its readers and its responsibility to provide insight into the issues surrounding the proposal.
Slot parlors increase crime within a 50 mile radius.
An examination of Atlantic City indicates that poverty is higher now than pre-casinos.
Simply because "Everyone Else Is Doing It" is no reason the Commonwealth has to copy their mistakes.
Few are familiar with the Fall River Herald News, but their 5 minutes of fame is almost gone.
Their tactics are comparable to the Middleboro process in which the local weekly newspaper lost emailed 'letters to the editor' written by opponents, but magically received letters from proponents.
The Brockton Enterprise followed a similar editorial policy and opposition was silenced.
The Middleboro Board of Selectmen should bronze the gavel used to silence opponents because of its historical significance in the rise of tyranny.
If you had such a wonderful product that promised Fools Gold would fall from the heavens to solve your fiscal problems, why would you silence the opposition unless you had something to hide?
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