When Glenn Marshall raised the specter of Middleboro's Mega Monster and promised to pave the streets with gold, create financial prosperity for all and many other things never committed to writing or enforcement, residents who asked questions were graveled to silence, deals made behind closed doors, and Glenn Marshall landed in federal prison.
Did I mention that the unions genuflected and grovelled at Glenn's promises even though there is no assurance of union hiring included in the IGA?
The flawed and inadequate IGA (InterGovernmental Agreement) the Town of Middleboro presented to town meeting voters, for most, was handed to them on the hot summer's day that they were to vote on it.
It was negotiated AFTER the poorly advertised land sale - kinda like negotiating the sales price of your house AFTER conveying the title, conducted by now retired Town Manager, Jack Healey.
Jack had been negotiating with Stephen Graham, Abramoff sidekick and Mashpee Wampanoag mouthpiece prior to the fateful 'auction' that cheated taxpayers out of a reasonable sales price at the height of the real estate bubble. Jack pretended he was 'saving the town the expense of an auctioneer' who would have widely advertised the auction and the Board of Selectmen blindly believed.
And then, there was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen at the time, Wayne Perkins who had convinced himself that 'towns with casinos don't pay property taxes.' (Mr. Perkins patted himself on the back in 'tough contract' negotiations for garnering pay raises of 36%, 3%, 3%, all while telling town residents he negotiated 3%, 3%, 3%.)
That might have convinced some that the Middleboro Board of Selectmen were without competition for the Darwin Awards.
Not so!
The Town of Mashpee sits smug, convinced of their wisdom of 'PROTECTION.'
The Town of Mashpee negotiated an 'Agreement" with the Tribe that, initially, the Town wouldn't oppose federal recognition if the Tribe agreed not to pursue the land claims that had tied up Cape land for years and, more importantly, that the Tribe wouldn't construct a gambling facility in Mashpee.
Once the Tribe gained recognition, the not-so-bright tribal leaders said "Pound Sand! We're Sovereign!" until a wiser person informed the Tribe they needed the Town of Mashpee to support or at least not oppose their land-into-trust application.
The Town of Mashpee again negotiated an "Agreement" with the Tribe duplicating the first "Agreement" that was approved by Town Meeting Voters.
Now the Town of Mashpee believes they have a valid, binding "Agreement" with a Tribe that has proven less than honorable....except the "Agreement" was never ratified by Congress!
Amelia Bingham's words were telling after her failed land challenge:
...she isn't likely to appeal the ruling. She said it's time for the tribe to assert its rights.
"We've opened the door part way. We have all the documents necessary," she said. "It's time for the so-called leaders of our tribe to take some action."
Once the land the Mashpee Wampanoags own in Mashpee is placed in 'trust,' it's time for the Town of Mashpee to once again 'pound sand' because they have no valid agreement with a "Sovereign Nation." (Incidentally, the land is Mashpee is the only land the Tribe owns.)
Watching this parade of not-very-bright, might lead you to believe it couldn't be 'bested.'
Not so!
Fall River has exceeded all expectations!
Did I mention that the unions genuflected and grovelled at Glenn's promises even though there is no assurance of union hiring included in the IGA?
The flawed and inadequate IGA (InterGovernmental Agreement) the Town of Middleboro presented to town meeting voters, for most, was handed to them on the hot summer's day that they were to vote on it.
It was negotiated AFTER the poorly advertised land sale - kinda like negotiating the sales price of your house AFTER conveying the title, conducted by now retired Town Manager, Jack Healey.
Jack had been negotiating with Stephen Graham, Abramoff sidekick and Mashpee Wampanoag mouthpiece prior to the fateful 'auction' that cheated taxpayers out of a reasonable sales price at the height of the real estate bubble. Jack pretended he was 'saving the town the expense of an auctioneer' who would have widely advertised the auction and the Board of Selectmen blindly believed.
And then, there was Chairman of the Board of Selectmen at the time, Wayne Perkins who had convinced himself that 'towns with casinos don't pay property taxes.' (Mr. Perkins patted himself on the back in 'tough contract' negotiations for garnering pay raises of 36%, 3%, 3%, all while telling town residents he negotiated 3%, 3%, 3%.)
That might have convinced some that the Middleboro Board of Selectmen were without competition for the Darwin Awards.
Not so!
The Town of Mashpee sits smug, convinced of their wisdom of 'PROTECTION.'
The Town of Mashpee negotiated an 'Agreement" with the Tribe that, initially, the Town wouldn't oppose federal recognition if the Tribe agreed not to pursue the land claims that had tied up Cape land for years and, more importantly, that the Tribe wouldn't construct a gambling facility in Mashpee.
Once the Tribe gained recognition, the not-so-bright tribal leaders said "Pound Sand! We're Sovereign!" until a wiser person informed the Tribe they needed the Town of Mashpee to support or at least not oppose their land-into-trust application.
The Town of Mashpee again negotiated an "Agreement" with the Tribe duplicating the first "Agreement" that was approved by Town Meeting Voters.
Now the Town of Mashpee believes they have a valid, binding "Agreement" with a Tribe that has proven less than honorable....except the "Agreement" was never ratified by Congress!
Amelia Bingham's words were telling after her failed land challenge:
...she isn't likely to appeal the ruling. She said it's time for the tribe to assert its rights.
"We've opened the door part way. We have all the documents necessary," she said. "It's time for the so-called leaders of our tribe to take some action."
Once the land the Mashpee Wampanoags own in Mashpee is placed in 'trust,' it's time for the Town of Mashpee to once again 'pound sand' because they have no valid agreement with a "Sovereign Nation." (Incidentally, the land is Mashpee is the only land the Tribe owns.)
Watching this parade of not-very-bright, might lead you to believe it couldn't be 'bested.'
Not so!
Fall River has exceeded all expectations!
The City, lacking adequate funding because of many flawed decisions and some really poor management faces a major financial crunch that the juvenile Mayor Flanagan hasn't yet noticed.
The Mayor, more focused on photo ops and preening before cameras has frittered away limited funds in a quest to give away land to wealthy investors, repeating fanciful promises and hasn't noticed that there is NO AGREEMENT WITH THE TRIBE FOR FUNDING!
There is NO indication that any of the attorneys the City has retained have any expertise in IGRA, LIT, or Tribal Casinos.
To all of the wonderful people I have met since Malaysian Investors began foaming at the mouth for cheap land and tax free profits to ship overseas, I am truly sorry!
Until proven otherwise, Fall River's Mayor and the RDA have topped the Darwin list! Maybe some day this not very bright Mayor will even figure out that the City would get a Destination Resort Slot Barn and nothing more!
And maybe someday, the Fall River Herald News might actually raise pertinent factual issues.
There is NO indication that any of the attorneys the City has retained have any expertise in IGRA, LIT, or Tribal Casinos.
To all of the wonderful people I have met since Malaysian Investors began foaming at the mouth for cheap land and tax free profits to ship overseas, I am truly sorry!
Until proven otherwise, Fall River's Mayor and the RDA have topped the Darwin list! Maybe some day this not very bright Mayor will even figure out that the City would get a Destination Resort Slot Barn and nothing more!
And maybe someday, the Fall River Herald News might actually raise pertinent factual issues.
Kudos to Appeals Court Judge Kafker and to Attorney Lesley Rich of Somerset!
Appeals Court judge upholds injunction against Fall River casino land deal
Fall River has many gifted, smart and dedicated individuals who would proudly serve the City and work in its best interests. There's always the next election and an opportunity to make better choices.
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