Feds reverses itself on timing of trust decision on Mashpee tribe

The timing of a decision on whether the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s land application will be either approved or rejected remains a mystery despite indications by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the contrary that were unveiled earlier this week.

By George Brennan
gbrennan@capecodonline.com

Posted Aug. 29, 2015

MASHPEE – Not so fast.

The timing of a decision on whether the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s land application will be either approved or rejected remains a mystery despite indications by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to the contrary that were unveiled earlier this week.

The decision has implications for whether the tribe will be able to build a $500 million casino in Taunton and may ultimately decide the fate of a commercial casino proposed for Brockton Fairgrounds. It's unlikely the Massachusetts Gaming Commission would license a casino in the same region because of a tribal-state compact that would set the tribe's contribution to the state at zero.

In an Aug. 26 letter sent to Mashpee officials the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs sought to clarify the process leading up to the decision. The BIA is currently reviewing the tribe’s request for a “reservation proclamation,” according to the letter.

“We write to clarify that we are inviting comments for a 30-day period on the tribe's request to issue a reservation proclamation, that the tribe's request is under review, and that no date has been identified in which a reservation proclamation will be issued by the Department of the Interior,” Randall Trickey, acting regional director of the agency's eastern region, wrote. “Issuance of a reservation proclamation is a separate and distinct action from acquiring land in trust...”

A separate letter dated Aug. 21 and signed by a different acting regional director, made it appear that a decision on taking land into trust was imminent because the agency’s own guidelines dictate that a proclamation of reservation wouldn’t be made until the land into trust issue is settled.

“Please note that to be proclaimed an Indian reservation, it is requisite that lands be held in trust,” acting regional director Johanna Blackhair wrote.

Confused? So, it appears, is the BIA.

Nedra Darling, a spokeswoman for the BIA, could not immediately shed any more light on why the letter sent Aug. 21 was so unclear.

“It was not intentional,” she said.

In a follow up email, Darling wrote that the proclamation that designates trust land to be a “reservation” is not a “proclamation of trust” status.

“Land has to be in trust before a proclamation can be issued,” she wrote. “The trust application is still under review and there is no date set when a decision on that will be issued.”

Blackhair's letter specifically stated, “this letter is to provide a 30-day notification of a proposed action by the Secretary of the Interior to proclaim lands held in trust by the United States of America as a reservation for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.”

The letter repeated in another section that a reservation proclamation was not possible unless the land into trust issue is settled first.

“If a decision denying the acceptance of the Tribe’s lands into trust is made by the Assistant Secretary, no reservation proclamation will be issued,” Blackhair wrote.

It is unnecessary for the host communities to comment or take action, Blackhair wrote.

But the new letter from Trickey, who is the BIA’s realty officer, specifically invites comments on the tribe’s request to proclaim the approximately 321 acres as an initial reservation.

The notice initiated a 30-day comment period on the proposed reservation proclamation to begin as of the date of the Aug. 21 letter, Darling wrote.

As for having two different acting regional directors, Darling said it's likely that each is just filling in, as needed, before a permanent director is on board in Nashville, Tennessee.

Trickey's letter was provided by Mashpee Town Manager Rodney Collins shortly after it arrived Friday.

Estele Borges, president of the Taunton City Council, said she had not yet seen a copy of the newest letter. Taunton City Hall closes at noon on Fridays.

Tribe leaders, through spokesman Sean Gonsalves, said they would have no further comment.

A statement issued earlier this week by Chairman Cedric Cromwell still applies, Gonsalves said.

“We have always been confident in our prospects,” Cromwell said. “However, this letter is not a final decision, but an indication that the process continues to move forward.”

Kathryn Rand, an Indian gambling expert at the University of North Dakota School of Law, wrote in an email that the regional and national offices will likely review comments before a final decision is made by the BIA’s main office in Washington, D.C.


http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150829/NEWS/150829362/101015/NEWSLETTER100

Mashpee Wampanoag Debt

CHECK OUT: REEL WAMPS

Tribe members urged to question finances

Wampanoag budget up for vote at Sunday meting

A group describing themselves as “concerned members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe” sent an automated message urging fellow tribe members to attend Sunday’s tribal body meeting to discuss tribe finances.


By George Brennan
gbrennan@capecodonline.com
Posted Jan. 5, 2015 @ 6:20 pm

MASHPEE – A group describing themselves as “concerned members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe” sent an automated message urging fellow tribe members to attend Sunday’s tribal body meeting to discuss tribe finances.

The two-minute call, which came through on an Oklahoma City phone number, went through a variety of tribe financial concerns, including the borrowing of $100 million in pursuit of a Taunton casino project and $374 million in additional borrowing the group says is planned by the tribe’s gaming authority.

Tribe sources confirmed the authenticity of the call and the information in it.

The money borrowed thus far is from affiliates of Genting Group, a Malaysian casino giant that helped to fund Foxwoods in Connecticut. The tribe pays 16.5 percent interest on the debt, according to documents provided to the Times in the past.

Sunday’s phone message went through a series of “facts” and urged the tribal members receiving the message to “alert your family” and attend the meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Mashpee Wampanoag Community and Government Center at 483 Great Neck Road South.

The tribe’s $12.5 million operating budget is subject to a vote of the tribal body Sunday. “The majority is spent for salaries and luxury travel,” the message stated. More than 150 telephone numbers received the message, a tribe source said.

Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell did not respond to a request for comment through the tribe’s public relations firm, Regan Communications. In the past, Cromwell has declined to discuss tribe finances with regard to Project First Light, saying those numbers are proprietary in nature.

He has publicly said the tribe is only responsible for repaying the money borrowed if a casino is built, though that’s disputed in the phone message to tribe members.

“Our research shows that the tribal families are responsible for any debt owed,” the automated message stated.

The tribe’s gaming authority consists of Cromwell, treasurer Robert Hendricks Sr., council member Charles “Bobby” Foster, council member Trish Keliinui, council member Yvonne Avant and project associate Melissa Hill, according to the tribe’s website.

Putting $374 million of borrowed money in the authority’s hands with no oversight is wrong, said one tribe member, who asked that his name not be used.

“We should all get a vote on that,” he said.

Other tribe sources contacted Monday also declined to comment on the record for fear of retribution. When two tribal council members, Carlton Hendricks Jr. and Laura Etta Miranda spoke to the Times in October about their concerns with the tribe's borrowing, they were criticized by Cromwell and there was a lengthy discussion at a tribal council meeting about possible sanctions. Ultimately, Hendricks and Miranda were not punished.

Sunday’s meeting comes with just one month until the tribe’s annual election on Feb. 8. The candidates haven’t been finalized yet, but six seats will be on the ballot — an election that could alter the balance of power on the council depending on who runs and wins. No tribal officer positions – chairman, vice chairman, treasurer or secretary — are on the ballot, however.

Candidates have until Sunday’s meeting to turn in their nomination papers.




http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20150105/NEWS/150109706/101015/NEWSLETTER100

Genting making its presence felt in US landscape

Genting entered Massachusetts without scrutiny as the GENEROUS SUGAR DADDY for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

No one even asked questions about this:

Genting Connected to Islamic Extremists?


Genting making its presence felt in US landscape

 

 

 

Jeremy Au Yong

The Straits Times

Wednesday, Dec 31, 2014

In the large ongoing shake-up of the United States gaming landscape, one household name in Singapore has been quickly making a name for itself: Genting.

Though the Malaysian company that runs Resorts World Sentosa still has a relatively small footprint in the US compared with the likes of Las Vegas Sands or Caesars, it is making its presence felt, especially in newer US markets.

Florida-based Genting Americas currently runs two gambling operations - a racecourse-video lottery casino combination near John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, and a casino resort in Bimini, the Bahamas, off Miami.

While its ambitious plans have been hit-and-miss so far, Genting's aggressiveness has certainly got noticed. It has been spending aggressively and has also assembled a well-connected group of lobbyists.

For instance, Genting reportedly told the New York casino board that it would pay US$450 million (S$596 million) for a state gambling licence - a shocking sum, given that state officials announced the price would be between US$20 million and US$70 million.

Mr James Featherstonhaugh, president of pro-casino lobby group New York Gaming Association, said in a radio interview that the fee was Genting's version of "shock and awe".

Genting has also donated US$340,000 to a New York state school district where it wanted to build a casino, and promised at least US$50 million to the town if it wins a casino licence.

A report by the New York Public Interest Research Group published in July found that "Genting Group spent more than any other bidder on both lobbying and campaign contributions" over the two years from 2012 to last year.

The report estimated that it spent US$2.4 million on lobbying efforts alone, four times more than any other operator. Genting Americas declined to comment when approached by The Straits Times.

Of the 16 proposals that the New York Gaming Commission considered, two were from Genting and a third was from Empire Resorts, a US gaming company with deep ties to Genting.

The most ambitious of the three, and also the one that most upset residents, was a US$1.5 billion, 97ha integrated resort at the site of a ski centre at Sterling Forest, just an hour's drive from New York City. The proposal drew fierce objections from residents worried about the impact of a resort on the surrounding forest as well as the social problems a casino might bring.

The New York casino board eventually rejected Genting's proposals about two weeks ago and approved the one by Empire Resorts.

Genting had faced similar problems in Florida where it hoped to build what it touted as the world's largest casino. In 2011, despite little certainty that the state would approve a casino in Miami, Genting paid US$400 million for land and donated more than US$500,000 to political parties.

With Florida seemingly unlikely to legalise gambling in Miami any time soon, Genting has had to downsize its plans, saying it will now look to build condominiums and a luxury hotel there.

Where it has had success is in Las Vegas, and it is going all out there. In May, the Las Vegas Gaming Commission gave Genting the preliminary green light to begin construction of a US$4 billion mega-resort on the Las Vegas strip. Even Nevada Gaming Commission chairman Peter Bernhard described it as a "game-changer" for Las Vegas.

And it now remains to be seen where Genting goes from here.

JEREMY AU YONG

http://business.asiaone.com/news/genting-making-its-presence-felt-us-landscape

SO YOU THINK YOU'RE SAFE FROM CASINOS in MA 'CAUSE THEY WON"T BE IN YOUR BACKYARD OR TOWN??? WRONG!

SO YOU THINK YOU'RE SAFE FROM CASINOS in MA 'CAUSE THEY WON"T BE IN YOUR BACKYARD OR TOWN??? WRONG!

ANSWER # 1. - Once the door is opened for just one casino in Massachusetts, Federal Law allows recognized Indian tribes to build their own casinos without approval from the State or Gaming Commission. If the casino law isn't repealed, tribes on Martha's Vineyard and in Taunton could soon launch their own competing casinos. Additionally, Indian casinos are not bound by the same rules and are allowed to pay reduced tax rates, negating the benefit to the State. For more info go to Mass Yes-OnThree.

Mashpee Wampanoag Disarray

CHECK OUT REEL WAMPS FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Tribal Leaders Respond To Accusations Of Financial Mismanagement
GEOFF SPILLANE
Friday, October 10, 2014


It has been a tumultuous three weeks for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.

Two tribal council members, Carleton H. Hendricks Jr. and Laura E. Miranda, have publicly accused tribal leadership of accumulating massive debt from casino investors and paying themselves inflated salaries as full-time tribal employees. They also raised concerns that repayment responsibility of the debt amassed in recent years could be passed on to future generations of the tribe should a destination resort casino in Taunton not be realized.

The two tribal council members held a meeting last Saturday, October 4, at the Mashpee Wampanoag Rod and Gun Club to line up opposition support for the current administration. Paul E. Mills, a tribal elder, said that approximately 70 to 80 tribal members attended.

A Mashpee Enterprise reporter was denied access to the meeting.

In an interview on Tuesday morning, October 7, at the tribe’s community and government center, tribal chairman Cedric Cromwell and vice chairman Jessie (Little Doe) Baird addressed the accusations head-on.

Mr. Cromwell and Ms. Baird expressed concern and disappointment that the two tribal council members—as elected government officials—had violated tribal law by releasing confidential financial documents to the media and others.

“They are hurting the tribe,” Mr. Cromwell said, noting that it was too early to speculate as to whether the actions of Mr. Hendricks and Ms. Miranda would result in their removal from the tribal council.

They also said that recent tribal council meetings have become so contentious and out-of-order that many families, especially those who bring children because they do not have childcare, have stopped attending.

Mr. Cromwell and Ms. Baird, citing confidentiality agreements, said that they could neither confirm nor deny published reports that the tribe has to date borrowed $90 million at 16.5 percent interest from Genting Group, a Malaysia-based casino developer. They did, however, reference figures spent by Mohegan Sun and Wynn Resorts to prepare plans, hire professional consultants, and bid for a resort casino in the Boston area that were near or over the $100 million mark.

Mr. Cromwell also said that the two council members clearly know that, should a casino not be built in Taunton, the tribe is not obligated to pay back the funds borrowed from Genting. As for claims that there is a lack of financial transparency in the gaming arm of the tribe, he also noted that the two councilors are welcome to attend meetings of the Mashpee Wampanoag Gaming Authority, and were even asked to become members.

“We are developing a business and there is a provision in our agreement that should the business not be developed, then the tribe is not responsible for the debt. What they are saying is simply not the case. My children and their children will not be responsible for the debt. As councilors, they are given the meeting minutes. They know that we have no obligation to repay that debt if the resort does not get developed,” Ms. Baird said, further noting that as elected council members, she does not believe Mr. Hendricks or Ms. Miranda have the best interests of the tribe at heart.

Mr. Cromwell also stressed that the tribe continues to have a solid and sound relationship with Genting.

“We at the Genting Group remain extremely enthusiastic about the tribe’s resort casino project in Taunton, and we support the tribe in its effort to complete the project. We have met in person with the tribal council and the tribal membership on numerous occasions to present information about our role and the project, we have answered, and will continue to answer questions as necessary to ensure the tribe is fully informed,” Michael Speller, president of Resorts World Massachusetts, a Genting subsidiary, said in a written statement.

Mr. Cromwell and Ms. Baird also said that the accusations made against tribal leadership are politically motivated, with six council seats—including those of Mr. Hendricks and Ms. Miranda—up for grabs in the tribal election in February.

They also said that Mr. Hendricks and Ms. Miranda are closely aligned with the previous, scandal-ridden administration of Glenn A. Marshall. Mr. Marshall spent three years in federal incarceration on charges that he defrauded the tribe and the federal government. He was released from prison in 2012.

“There is an election coming up that will require candidates to stand on their record of accomplishment, and if you haven’t accomplished anything, you can only go on the offensive,” Ms. Baird said.

Mr. Hendricks and Ms. Miranda are among three of the 11 council members that are not employed full time by the tribe, nor are they required to work for the tribe, but Ms. Baird would like to change that.

“In most governments, if you’re elected to be a legislator it is a full-time job, so I have proposed an initiative that all council members should be full-time employees. The chairman can’t assign a duty to non-employees, so if you’re willing to sit on the council, you should be willing to sit in this building as an employee,” Ms. Baird said.

Mr. Hendricks did not respond to a request for an interview, but Mr. Mills, who supports the opposition movement against the current leadership, explained concerns of some of the rank-and-file tribe members and most of it involves a lack of transparency.

“Unfortunately the general public knows almost as much as we do. The machinations of our government have been secret for a while—not everything, but issues associated with the gaming authority. We don’t know what happens once the money is approved and borrowed from Genting. When we go to vote on the tribal budget in January, two-thirds of it will belong to the gaming authority. People are concerned because this was, in Cedric Cromwell’s words, supposed to be the most open and transparent administration ever,” he said.

Mr. Mills also said there is concern about the salaries of tribal leaders, which he believes are out of proportion to the tribe’s resources.

“We have very little income other than grants and casino backers. Our income is almost nil. Before the casino pursuit, most of our income came from the powwow, now we turn a loss at it. The tribal leaders have been very extravagant with a lot of things, and it is upsetting to other tribe members who are not doing as well,” he said.

According to Mr. Mills, there is also concern among the opposition that the 2009 Carcieri ruling is a “brick wall” facing the tribe’s casino hopes, and that the chances are remote that the tribe will have land placed into federal trust, not to mention that it is not the best time to enter the casino gambling business.

He also said that many members of the opposition speculate that there may be improprieties with the allocation of the Genting funds, but they do not have definitive proof.

Ms. Baird did note that while she feels that a majority of the tribal community is coming under attack from the recent allegations, she agreed that tribal leadership could be communicating better about progress being made on several fronts.

“Culturally we are not raised to pat ourselves on the back but as council members we are so ‘heads-down’ working that maybe we don’t stop enough to communicate. People could stand to hear more from us,” she said.

http://www.capenews.net/mashpee/news/tribal-leaders-respond-to-accusations-of-financial-mismanagement/article_87fba474-507d-11e4-8463-27fd4e088b8b.html

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: Sources say critics might be punished

By George Brennan

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

October 10, 2014

 

MASHPEE — Two Mashpee Wampanoag tribal councilors who spoke out about the tribe's growing casino debt face possible sanctions for speaking out, according to multiple tribe sources.

 

At a highly anticipated meeting of the tribal council Wednesday night, most of an executive session was about what council members Carleton Hendricks Jr. and Laura Etta Miranda said in an interview last week with the Times, sources said. The council then resumed its regular session with discussion of how to punish Hendricks and Miranda, according to multiple sources who were at the meeting.

Related Stories

• Mashpee Wampanoag council to meet on finance complaints
• Alarms raised on tribal council spending

 

In a story published Oct. 2, Hendricks and Miranda said they wanted to make fellow tribe members aware of the extent of borrowing and spending on a proposed $500 million casino in Taunton.

 

As of last week, the tribe had borrowed $90 million and was paying 16.5 percent interest on loans from affiliates of Genting Group, a Malaysian casino giant, Hendricks and Miranda told the Times.

 

Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a response at the time that tribe finances are proprietary and called the reporting of them by councilors "irresponsible."

 

On Wednesday night, the tribe council voted to borrow another $9 million, taking $2 million off the top to pay interest on the loan, sources said. The vote was 8-2 with Miranda and Hendricks opposed, sources said.

 

Wednesday's meeting attracted an overflow crowd that sources estimated at 75 to 100 people with some watching on a screen in the building's gymnasium. By the time a vote was taken six hours later on whether to sanction Hendricks and Miranda, an estimated 15 tribe members remained in the audience, sources said.

 

After the executive session, the tribal council as a whole discussed how to punish the two elected tribal councilors, according to multiple sources who were at the meeting. But a motion made by tribe Secretary Marie Stone to expel them — seconded by Councilor Trish Kellinui — never made it to a vote.

 

"It was a charged atmosphere," a tribe source said. "The room went crazy." At one point members of the audience said, "Go ahead, expel them," and then vowed to oust tribal councilors who did so in an upcoming election, the source said.

 

Ultimately, the tribal council voted unanimously to support an amendment by Miranda to rescind Stone's motion to expel and instead meet with the tribe's traditional leaders — the chief and medicine man — to work together, sources said.

 

The press is not allowed into tribal council meetings. Though it is a government meeting, the tribe is a sovereign nation and is not subject to the state's Open Meeting Law.

 

Hendricks declined to comment Thursday and Miranda could not be reached. A source said the two councilors fear repercussions because of how close they came to being expelled.

 

Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell issued a statement Thursday declining to discuss details of the meeting and rejecting comments that leadership is attempting to silence dissent.

 

"As with any family there are differences of opinion, and we have a fair and open process for dealing with those differences, which includes calling on the wisdom of our elders," Cromwell said. "Of course, there are certain strategic details that are better kept in-house as we work toward goals that will enhance the economic prospects of each of our tribal citizens."

 

Several tribe sources contacted by the Times Thursday said they were shocked that Miranda and Hendricks could face sanctions for speaking out.

 

"That would have been a violation of their civil rights," one said.

 

In the days leading up to the meeting, Cromwell warned on the tribe's website that participants in Wednesday's meeting would be subject to the tribe's laws of decorum and anyone causing a disturbance would be removed by police.

 

The post was later taken down, but Wednesday's meeting began at 5:30 p.m. with a large police presence. Two marked police cruisers were parked near the entrance to the tribe's headquarters.

 

Inside, up to five police officers were present, said Police Chief Rodney Collins, who was there briefly.

 

Collins said the tribe hired two detail officers, but that he decided to deploy more after hearing from sources about potential trouble at the meeting. He said he also spoke with Cromwell during the day.

 

Police were there to diffuse any conflicts, Collins said. In one instance an officer, who is also a tribe member, was able to calm a family member, he said.

 

"I am pleased that there was no disturbance, no arrest and cooler heads prevailed compared to some reports of potential problems earlier in the day," Collins said.

 

Some tribe members complained that the police presence was meant to intimidate.

 

Cromwell defended the police presence. "Just as there are police officers at municipal government meetings everywhere, there is nothing untoward or unusual with public safety officers being present at our tribal council meeting," he said.

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20141010/NEWS/410100307

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: Sometmes ya stop digging!

Tribe switches architects for Taunton casino

 

By George Brennan

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

July 26, 2014

 

A Las Vegas-based architectural firm that has worked on some of the largest casinos in the world has been hired to design the proposed Mashpee Wampanoag casino in Taunton.

 

Steelman Partners LLP, which designed the $4 billion Resorts World Las Vegas for Genting Group, was hired by the tribe's gaming authority. Genting is the parent company of Malaysian investors loaning money to the tribe for the Taunton project.

 

Tribe leaders confirmed the hiring of Steelman, but declined a request for an interview and instead issued a statement.

 

"The tribe recently engaged Steelman Partners of Las Vegas, a firm that is known for its outstanding track record in the design of destination resorts. We have been impressed with their interior design concepts, and have asked for their recommendations in creating a 'wow factor' for Project First Light," Mashpee Wampanoag Chairman Cedric Cromwell said. "With the environmental review process winding down, it is important that we start the next phase of design and examine ways to create a first-class environment for those who will be visiting our facilities in Taunton."

 

One of the projects Steelman has on its resume is the MGM tower at Foxwoods in Connecticut. The company also has designed casinos in Asia, including the Sands Macau. Paul Steelman, the company's principal, is described by Global Gaming Business Magazine as being "responsible for

many of the most striking designs in the casino business."

 

Tribe sources now put the tribe's debt at $90 million after borrowing $8.6 million, in part, to hire Steelman. The tribe lopped $1.6 million off the top of that loan to pay interest on its debt to Genting, sources said.

 

The architects will be paid $900,000 per month and a total of $14.5 million, according to the sources.

 

The tribe paid JCJ Architects, which has a Boston office, in excess of $13 million for designs that were presented to Taunton city councilors in May 2013 and are now being scrapped.

 

At the time, a Genting executive told Taunton city councilors the curved designs of the JCJ design added a "wow factor" to the project.

 

"We're paying again for new designs and going deeper into debt," one of the tribe sources said.

 

"Why?"

 

This would be the third iteration of the Mashpee Wampanoag casino proposal in Taunton, once the plans are complete.

 

"I'm aware they've switched," Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. said Friday. "(Steelman's) reputation in the field is superior."

 

Hoye said he doesn't expect the size of the project, which is slated to be built in phases with two hotels and a water park, will change, but the "curb appeal" will improve with a Steelman design.

 

As soon as designs are complete, Hoye said he expects the tribe to go before the City Council to review them.

 

Officials for JCJ did not return repeated calls seeking comment. The firm still lists the Mashpee Wampanoag's Project First Light as one of its projects on its website.

 

Kama Star, a spokesman for Steelman, said the firm's principal was traveling and unavailable for comment.

 

The city and the tribe have an agreement for the tribe to pay at least $8 million per year plus more for infrastructure to help with city services once a casino is up and running. It's been two years since a citywide vote was held that overwhelmingly approved the casino deal.

 

Progress has been slow on the tribe's application with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to have the land taken into trust for the casino. The Final Environmental Impact Statement is under review, but it's unclear when that will be acted upon.

 

Meanwhile, the tribe faces potential competition in Southeastern Massachusetts from commercial bidders, though that process hasn't been much quicker. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission recently extended a key application deadline until Dec. 1. The commission has opened the region to additional bidders and hopes to issue a license by August 2015.

 

 

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140726%2FNEWS%2F407260332%2F-1%2Frss01

 

 

Mashpee Wampanoag Propaganda

Wampanoag chief has mixed feelings on casino bid

By By Bob SalsbergJuly 20, 2014

MASHPEE, Mass. (AP) — In the centuries since its ancestors greeted the Pilgrims in 1620, the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe has struggled to overcome financial hardship, recover lost land and even reclaim its nearly forgotten language.

The tribe's 92-year-old traditional chief, Vernon "Silent Drum" Lopez, says much has changed since the days of his youth when members mostly lived off the land. He supports the tribal council's bid for a $500 million casino in Taunton, but acknowledges some mixed emotions.

He says there are pros and cons to casinos and worries about the potential for debt or corruption.

 

Video: Atlantic City’s Revel Casino Seeks a Savior

Council chairman Cedric Cromwell says a casino would be an economic boost for the tribe, which recently opened a new headquarters in Mashpee and operates an oyster farm at nearby Popponesset Bay.



http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2014-07-20/wampanoag-chief-has-mixed-feelings-on-casino-bid

Impact of casino repeal on tribal plans uncertain

Impact of casino repeal on tribal plans uncertain

With voters to consider repealing Massachusetts' controversial casino law in November, local officials and gambling experts say there's still uncertainty around what becomes of plans floated by two federally recognized American Indian tribes.

By Associated Press Posted Jul. 5, 2014 

BOSTON (AP) — With voters to consider repealing Massachusetts’ controversial casino law in November, local officials and gambling experts say there’s still uncertainty around what becomes of plans floated by two federally recognized American Indian tribes.

The Mashpee Wampanoags want to build a $500 million resort casino in an industrial park in Taunton, a city 37 miles south of Boston, assuming it gets federal approval to take the land into trust. The Aquinnah Wampanoags, meanwhile, want to turn an unfinished community center on its tribal lands on Martha’s Vineyard into a gambling hall with high stakes bingo and poker machines.

Repeal the Casino Deal, the anti-casino group that proposed the ballot question, says it’s confident a successful repeal of the law would spell the end for these tribe-backed plans.

The group says the 2012 casino deal reached between the Mashpee tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick’s administration includes language specifically negating the plan if slot machines and table games like blackjack, craps and roulette become illegal again as a result of a successful repeal of the 2011 casino law. The law authorized the opening of at least three Las Vegas-style casinos and one slot parlor in the state.

As to the Aquinnah, Repeal the Casino Deal says the tribe long ago forfeited its rights to open a casino.

Under a 1983 accord, the tribe took ownership of 400 acres on the western tip of Martha’s Vineyard but agreed that the state’s jurisdiction would never be “impaired or otherwise altered” and the tribe would not “exercise sovereign jurisdiction” over the lands. That agreement is central to the state’s pending federal lawsuit seeking to block the tribe’s casino plan.

Casino opponents say voters should have the chance to weigh in on the casino law, which was approved by the legislature and signed into law by the governor.

Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, chairwoman of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Gaming Corporation, declined to speak on the record this week. But in a statement, she declared that the repeal question has “no direct impact” on the tribe’s plans. “We will continue with our casino project and look forward to the opportunities it will provide for our tribal members and the local community,” Andrews-Maltais said.

Cedric Cromwell, chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag, also declined to be interviewed, saying the tribe is still reviewing the implications of the court’s decision.

The state is similarly reserving comment. State Attorney General Martha Coakley deferred questions to Patrick’s office, which said it will “assess any ramifications of a repeal” on the Mashpee compact.

But Taunton Mayor Thomas Hoye, who supports the tribe’s casino plan, is confident his city will have some form of American Indian-owned gambling facility, regardless of the outcome of the repeal. “The question,” he said, “becomes what type of gaming will be allowed.”

Hoye says a repeal would rule out familiar, coin-based slot machines and tables games. Federal law allows tribes to offer those games — officially called Class III games — only if local law permits it in the rest of the state.


But games in which players compete against one another (rather than against the house) are permissible, Hoye says. Those include poker, bingo and their electronic counterparts.

Cezar Froelich, Taunton’s Chicago-based outside legal counsel on casino matters, says electronic versions of Class II games look and feel similar to typical slot machines.

And Clyde W. Barrow, a gambling expert at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, suggests they can be just as lucrative as for the tribes. “The Seminole Tribe of Florida built a $2 billion a year gaming empire on Class II gaming,” he said. “And Oklahoma is now the fourth largest gaming venue in the U.S., based on revenue, built entirely on Class II gaming.”


http://www.enterprisenews.com/article/20140704/NEWS/140708253/12146/NEWS#NEWS/?Start=2&_suid=140456041738808598952448915959

 

Gaming panel issues new casino deadlines

The only sensible solution!

Gaming panel issues new casino deadlines

By George Brennan

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

June 27, 2014

 

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has extended the deadline to issue a commercial casino license in Southeastern Massachusetts until the end of March and will accept bids from new casino companies until Dec. 1.

 

During their meeting Thursday, commissioners never mentioned the effort to repeal the casino law, which is now on the Nov. 4 ballot, but the new deadlines give potential applicants time to see how that plays out. Earlier this week, the state Supreme Judicial Court ruled that voters should have an opportunity to vote on the repeal question.

 

The lone applicant in the region, KG Urban Enterprises, has not provided information about investors for a complete background check and was unlikely to meet the current Sept. 23 deadline or a July 12 deadline to have its suitability considered, Karen Wells, director of the commission's investigation and enforcement division, said.

 

With the new deadlines, commissioners are requiring KG Urban and any new applicants to provide "substantially complete" information for background checks by Dec. 1.

 

The deadline extension also could allow the loser in the Boston market — either Wynn Resorts or Mohegan Sun — to attempt to cut a deal in Southeastern Massachusetts, commissioners said.

 

KG Urban officials declined to comment and instead referred to the company's letter to the commission in anticipation of Thursday's vote.

 

"Allowing new applicants to late file a (phase 1) application would be unfairly prejudicial to existing applicants," Barry Gosin, one of the principals of KG Urban, wrote.

 

In his letter, Gosin supported an extension of the deadline, but for only 90 days and not the six months approved by the commission.

 

The commission also voted to allow applicants to include capitalized interest in the calculation of their minimum $500 million capital investments, noting the competitive nature of the region with a slot parlor slated for Plainville and two casinos in nearby Rhode Island. Commissioners stopped short of a proposal to include the purchase of land as part of the overall capital investment.

 

The decision to, in effect, lower the capital investment for a casino in the region had some commissioners wondering aloud if a casino can make it in Southeastern Massachusetts.

 

"If the market can't sustain a casino, then, we weren't told we had to do a casino here. It said we could do up to three," Chairman Stephen Crosby said. "Then the tribe comes along someday and, maybe, it pays us 17 percent rather than nothing."

 

Southeastern Massachusetts, known as Region C in the legislation that established gaming in the Bay State, is already behind two other regions of the state in the licensing process, in part, because of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's efforts to build a $500 million Indian casino in Taunton.

 

"The tribe remains focused on Project First Light," Paula Gates, a spokesman for the Mashpee Wampanoag, said in response to the commission vote.

 

The tribe is awaiting word on its application to have land in Mashpee and Taunton taken into trust.

 

The uncertainty has made it difficult for KG Urban to find financial backers and for a landowner in Bridgewater to attract a casino developer.

 

If a commercial casino is licensed in the region and the tribe gets federal permission to build a casino, the commercial venue would be at a competitive disadvantage. Commercial casinos are required to pay the state 25 percent of gross gambling revenue to the state.

 

Under a compact reached between the Mashpee Wampanoag and the state, the tribe would pay 17 percent of its gross gambling revenue to the state if it has the only casino in the region. If there is competition, the tribe pays zero.

 

The deadline extension buys the tribe time to get through the tangle of federal hurdles.

 

The commission received nearly a dozen comments from stakeholders in the region, the majority of them in favor of extending the deadline.

 

The Mashpee Wampanoag did not submit comments, but Cezar Froelich, an attorney for the city of Taunton, urged the commission not to extend the deadline or to open the region to potential bidders.

 

The market has shown that commercial casino companies are reluctant to enter the region with the tribe still a player.

 

"The winds are squarely behind the tribe's efforts to have its land-in-trust efforts approved," Froelich wrote. "There is nothing that has come before the commission other than the opinion of several 'experts' that could reasonably lead the commission to conclude the tribe will not have its application approved by the department."

 

City officials in New Bedford and Fall River supported deadline extensions, as did officials and the landowner in Bridgewater where there is no concrete proposal on the table. Both Fall River and Bridgewater officials suggested a tweak to the total investment required of potential developments, as well as a lowering of the application fees. New Bedford wanted the deadline to be after Nov. 14 so it could hold a citywide vote on Election Day, Nov. 4.

 

Follow George Brennan on Twitter: @gpb227.

 

 

 

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140627/NEWS/406270335/-1/NEWSLETTER100

 

 

Cuomo now hates Genting

Remember, Genting is the financial backer of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe in Massachusetts.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Cuomo now hates Genting

From Capital New York:

Two years ago, Andrew Cuomo made the Malaysian gambling conglomerate’s agenda his own, putting his full rhetorical and political might behind its ambitious plans for a $4 billion convention-center complex there—a complex the company also hoped would come complete with a full-scale casino. Now, the political darling has become an outcast, with its ambitions of being in on the ground floor of New York’s coming casino boom in doubt.

“Andrew hates them with a passion,” said one knowledgeable source, referring to Genting. “I think that he felt that they didn’t negotiate in good faith.”

The two parties are “on the outs,” said another.

Cuomo declined to comment for this story.

Genting spokesman Stefan Friedman, without getting into specifics, said, “Genting’s relationship with the state is strong, and the people of New York are the beneficiaries of that relationship.”

But you don’t have to be a Cuomo insider to read the tea leaves.

In early January, Cuomo made the convention center idea the centerpiece of his State of the State economic development strategy, relying on what some sources described as an unbinding memorandum of understanding between the state and the gambling company. In that same speech, he said he would seek to legalize casino gambling in New York State.

Given the still-preliminary nature of the negotiations with Cuomo, executives at Genting were taken aback to find their proposal center-stage at the State of the State. But by publicly committing himself to a still half-baked idea, Cuomo had given them leverage to negotiate, and they used it.

In the ensuing weeks, details about the Genting-Cuomo negotiations leaked out, and despite Cuomo’s protestations, those negotiations clearly linked the full-scale casino to the convention center. Not only did Genting want a lower tax rate for its gambling operations, but it also wanted regional exclusivity for its full-scale casino. Goode, the Genting lobbyist, even went on the record arguing: “The state has provided exclusivity to other projects. It’s a logical path. We don’t want to cannibalize our own market.’’

And then, somehow, everything fell apart.

 

 

 

http://queenscrap.blogspot.com/2014/05/cuomo-now-hates-genting.html

Gambling Commission ignores legislation to protect Casino Vultures....Hmmm....

Gaming panel alters casino investment threshold

By Wicked Local Newsbank

April 18, 2014

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted Thursday to alter how much money a company would have to initially invest for a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts but decided to hold off on deciding any changes to the region's gaming licensure timeline until at least May 1.

The commission voted 3-2 to allow applicants to count some on- and off-site infrastructure costs as part of the $500 million minimum capital investment requirement in the Bay State's southeastern area, known as Region C in the 2011 legislation that legalized gambling in the commonwealth.

Commissioner Enrique Zuniga presented an analysis showing less market potential in Region C because of demographics, geography, out-of-state competition and the prospect of a Mashpee Wampanoag tribal casino in Taunton.

Zuniga expressed concerns that because of market limitations and risks within Region C, "setting the bar as high as we have" could scare investors away.

Commissioners Gayle Cameron and James McHugh argued against changing the investment requirement.

The commission also said Thursday that it plans to revisit the Region C timeline at a May 1 meeting, when it is also scheduled to take up the city of Boston's request for host community status for the Mohegan Sun casino proposal in Revere and the proposed Wynn casino in Everett.

The panel previously voted on April 3 to push back the second-phase casino license application deadline for Region C from July 31 to at least Sept. 23.

The city of New Bedford and KG Urban, an applicant that hopes to build in that city, have requested a deadline extension. Fall River, which is working to strike a casino deal with Foxwoods, opposes altering the timeline.

There is uncertainty in the Region C market because of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's pursuit of a casino. The tribe, working through a separate federal process, is awaiting a decision from the Department of Interior on whether it meets the requirements to acquire sovereign land.

The tribe has a compact with Massachusetts that would see the state collect 17 percent of tribal casino revenue, but that share would drop to zero if a commercial casino were approved in Region C.



http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140418/NEWS/404180334/-1/NEWSLETTER100

Salivating to suck discretionary income from Massachusetts.....

Gaming application deadline extended for Southeast

By George Brennan

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

April 04, 2014

 

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is extending the deadline for commercial casino applicants in Southeastern Massachusetts at least until Sept. 23 partly because the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe remains a player for an Indian casino.

 

The deadline for Phase 2 applications in Region C was July 23, which would have required referendum votes in cities where the casinos are proposed by mid-May.

 

None has been scheduled.

 

At its meeting April 17, the commission may consider extending the deadline even longer. The commission also will consider a change in the $500 million capital requirement after a potential applicant in the region said it's too high for the congested market.

 

The tribe's $500 million casino proposal in Taunton was front and center in Thursday's debate. One year ago, the commission opened up the region to commercial casinos, citing the federal hurdles to the tribe's proposal.

 

The tribe still is awaiting word from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs on its application to have 155 acres in Taunton and 170 acres in Masphee taken into federal trust.

 

By extending the deadline, the commission may know the bureau's outcome before issuing a license, Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby said in support of extending the deadline for commercial casinos.

 

"Every day that goes by, we're one day closer to it," he said.

 

Discussing the land-in-trust question, Crosby made a comment that likely sent shock waves through the Southeastern Massachusetts market.

 

"Maybe what we ought to do is wait until that decision is made," he said. "Until that issue is resolved, I don't think anything's going to change. Time isn't going to help."

 

Tribe leaders reacted to the commission's deadline extension saying they remain focused on their own project.

 

"We are well along in our planning and approval processes, and our compact with the commonwealth is approved," Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said. "We're very pleased with the support we've received from the Legislature, the governor, the congressional delegation and the Obama administration, and we're making real progress."

 

Under a compact approved between the tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick, an Indian casino in the region would pay 17 percent of gross gambling revenue to the state. But if a commercial casino is licensed in the same region, the tribe would pay zero, according to the compact.

 

Earlier in Thursday's meeting, the commission rejected an idea floated by casino mogul Steve Wynn, who is seeking the Boston area license. He suggested the commission seek a change in the state law that sets the tax rate for commercial casinos at 25 percent and ask to have it match what the tribe would pay.

 

Mass Gaming & Entertainment LLC, an affiliate of Rush Street Gaming that originally applied for the state's lone slot parlor license, asked for the change in the capital requirement, saying the marketplace is too competitive and has too many variables, such as the tribe, for that much of an investment. The company, which has not yet filed a formal proposal in Region C, requested a deadline extension until the end of the year.

 

The company wants off-site infrastructure costs, preopening interest expenditures and upfront mitigation costs to be calculated as part of the $500 million investment, according to the letter.

 

KG Urban Enterprises, which hopes to build a casino on the New Bedford waterfront, requested the extension to September, in part, to reach a deal with New Bedford leaders on a host community agreement.

 

"We support an extension for Region C," Andy Paven, a spokesman for KG Urban, said.

 

There are substantial costs for KG, including the cleanup of the New Bedford site, that are not part of the capital requirement, so a change in that formula would help their project, too, Paven said.

 

Meanwhile, Foxwoods and Fall River, which are also late to the game, wrote letters to the commission asking it to keep the deadline where it is, though commission ombudsman John Ziemba said officials have since conceded they could use more time.

 

Commissioners pointed out questions were raised about the financing for Foxwoods, which had a proposal rejected by voters in Milford, during last fall's suitability hearings.

 

Karen Wells, director of the commission's Investigations and Enforcement Bureau, said Foxwoods has not submitted any additional information to date.

 

Crosby called it a "long shot" that Foxwoods and Fall River could meet the current deadline given how the company's initial suitability hearing went.

 

A spokeswoman for Foxwoods could not be reached for comment.

 

 

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140404/NEWS/404040325

 

 

Federal opinion backs tribe's claims

Federal opinion backs tribe's claims

 

 

 

By George Brennan

gbrennan@capecodonline.com

March 19, 2014

 

A legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior on what it means to be under federal jurisdiction bolsters the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's claims that a high court ruling does not apply to its plans for a $500 million casino in Taunton.

 

"It's very exciting and epic the way this is coming out," Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell said Tuesday night.

Related Links

• Read our ongoing coverage of the casino debate

 

The opinion, issued late last week, defines "under federal jurisdiction" and provides the legal standard the Interior Department secretary will use to decide whether to take land into trust for an Indian casino.

 

At issue is a 2009 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court known as the Carcieri decision, which called into question the authority of the Interior Department to take land into trust for tribes recognized after the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934. The Mashpee tribe was federally recognized in 2007.

 

The court left open the possibility that Carcieri wouldn't apply to tribes able to show they were under federal jurisdiction, even if not formally recognized. The Interior Department has taken this position before in taking land into trust for the Cowlitz Tribe in Washington, but this latest legal opinion solidifies that stance.

 

The legal opinion presented by federal Solicitor Hilary Tompkins at the National Congress of American Indians appears to be consistent with the analysis provided by the Mashpee Wampanoag to the Bureau of Indian Affairs in support of its land application. In it, the tribe claims to have been under federal jurisdiction, in part, because some tribe members were sent to Bureau of Indian Affairs schools — something Tompkins specifically cites as a way for tribes to show they were under federal control.

 

"Some tribes may be able to demonstrate they were under federal jurisdiction by showing that federal government officials undertook guardianlike action on behalf of the tribe, or engaged in a continuous course of dealings with the tribe," Tompkins wrote.

 

Among the things the tribe cites in its so-called Carcieri analysis are children who were sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. It also cites a 1763 land deal it had with King George III of England that it says is akin to a treaty.

 

"It's totally consistent with our legal analysis," Cromwell said of the legal opinion. "It's important to set the record straight. It's what we've been saying all along. It's great that they've come out and said this."

 

The federal bureau has not yet acted on the tribe's Carcieri analysis, even though at one point it told the tribe to expect a result in early 2013.

 

Whether and when the Mashpee tribe might be able to get its land application approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs is part of the reason the Massachusetts Gaming Commission opened Southeastern Massachusetts, known as Region C, to commercial casinos.

 

On Thursday, the commission is expected to debate whether to extend the deadline for Phase 2 applications in the region. At least one developer, KG Urban Enterprises, which hopes to build a casino on the New Bedford waterfront, filed a letter by Tuesday's deadline seeking an extension until Oct. 23. In that letter, KG Urban cites the Indian casino process.

 

"KG's development efforts have been hindered by certain misconceptions held by the gaming industry concerning the commission's delay in opening the region to commercial bidders and the likelihood of a tribal casino operating in the region," the letter from Barry Gosin, a principal of the company, stated.

 

A delay would give the company time to address those concerns, Gosin wrote.

 

Meanwhile, Foxwoods is seeking to build a commercial casino in Fall River.

 

Elaine Driscoll, a spokesman for the Gaming Commission, said Tuesday she's not sure how many comments the commission received by the deadline. Those will be made public at Thursday's commission meeting, she said.

 

Cromwell said the tribe didn't bother to weigh in.

 

"We're focused on what we're doing," Cromwell said. "If there were naysayers on the commission, hopefully they'll see we'll have land into trust. We'll have our casino in Taunton. We'll have our revenue sharing for the state. We hope they understand."

 

Licensing a commercial casino in the region would drop the tribe's payments from 17 percent of gross gambling revenue to zero under the terms of compact between the tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick that was approved by the bureau.

 

A commercial casino would pay a 25 percent tax.

 

"It would be unfortunate if they breached our contract by having a commercial casino in the same region," Cromwell said. "There's no way a commercial casino could compete in the same region, if we're paying zero. We would just give it back to the customer in comps."

 

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140319/NEWS/403190325/-1/NEWSLETTER100

 

 

 

No More Casinos Coalition

No More Casinos Coalition

Henrietta Town Board to oppose proposed casino

Tom Tobin, Staff writer 6:52 p.m. EST March 7, 2014

 

Henrietta Supervisor Jack Moore Friday declared his opposition to a proposed Seneca Indian casino in the town, along with three other Town Board members.

 

Moore said he will introduce a resolution at the March 19 Town Board meeting expressing opposition to the "establishment of a gaming casino in the town of Henrietta and urging those state and federal officials who have decision-making authority to deny permission for casino gaming in the town of Henrietta."

 

Philip Pantano, a spokesman for the Seneca Gaming Corp., said the company was surprised and disappointed by the announcement. But he gave no indication how the statement would affect the corporation's plans for the 32 acres of land on Clay Road it bought for $2.75 million.

 

Monday: Senecas buy 32 acres in Henrietta for possible casino

Wednesday: Casino critics overwhelm Henrietta Town Board meeting

Tobin: Senecas' land purchase raises eyebrows

 

"We were not afforded the opportunity to present a full discussion on our vision, which included millions of dollars in private investment, 2,000 good-paying jobs and countless partnership opportunities for local companies," Pantano said in a statement issued Friday evening.

 

Town Board members reached Friday said that the residents they have spoken to are worried about the impact of a casino on the community's lifestyle and on adjoining roads and existing businesses.

 

Many people, they said, feel casino gambling leads too often to addiction.

 

Residents packed a Town Board meeting Wednesday to register their concerns. The No More Casinos Coalition issued a statement this week urging the board "to immediately take action to prevent a Seneca Nation casino in Henrietta."

 

The coalition, which has financial support from Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. and Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track, said it has 1,728 names on a petition opposing the casino.

 

"I've never seen a delegation of community members so opposed to a proposal," Town Board member Rick Page said Friday. He said the board registered opposition when it had discussed the casino in the past.

 

"I can't speak for other board members, but I expect there will unanimous support for this resolution when it comes up," Page said.
 

Board member Kenneth Breese said he has talked to people in the community and gathered sentiments similar to those Page obtained.

"Among those I've spoken to, there are people who support it. But they are very few," Breese said.

Board member William Mulligan Jr. said he has received a mix of views about the casino — not all against — but that he supports Moore's resolution. "Our job as town board members is to reflect the community," Mulligan said. "And a majority of people here oppose this."

Board member Janet Zinck could not be reached for comment.

The board members said they didn't know how the Senecas would react to the resolution.
"They bought the land," Breese said. "They took a gamble, so to speak."

In his statement, Pantano said the corporation's process for siting a casino "was based on gathering community input to develop a plan that would best complement the surrounding community. We were working toward that end, but apparently will not have that chance in Henrietta."

Despite the town's response, "... ours is a vision for economic growth and job creation, and it is a vision that still fits within Monroe County," the statement said.
TTOBIN@DemocratandChronicle.com


http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/money/business/2014/03/07/henrietta-town-board-opposes-casino-proposal/6180081/

 

 

A casino costs how much again?

Through our relationship with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Reed Construction Data tracks down the construction project leads that you need to grow your business in today's competitive marketplace. This is a sample project from our database of active commercial construction projects available through our subscription project lead services for the state of Massachusetts. For more project leads like these, just complete the information request form below to get information about subscription project lead services available from Reed Construction Data.

FIRST LIGHT RESORT & CASINO PHASE 1

Project Overview

Last Updated:	2014-2-1
Stage:	Schematics
Status:	Bid Schedule Not Set
Estimated Value:	$884,110,000 (Confirmed) - a more accurate cost estimate is available from RSMeans Online
Conditions:	Invited Bidders Only

Project Description:

Entertainment,Casino,Parking Garage Atrium,Dining,Display,Food Preparation,Food Storage,Gaming,Restroom,Sales,Vehicle Parking Casino 150,000 Sq. Ft. 3,000 slots 150 table games 40 poker tables Restaurants Food Court - 7 to 10 food outlets International Buffet Two Fine Dining Restaurants - Steakhouse / Seafood - Asian Restaurant Center Bar with lounge seats and small stage Retail Space - 10 retail stores Parking - 2,500 to 3,200 space parking garage and 2,085 surface parking spaces


http://www.reedconstructiondata.com/project-leads/sample-leads/2014/02/01/1001275601/


Guaranteed by FNMA?   Ahhhh....your tax dollars at work for Genting?  Huh?










REPEAL THE CASINO DEAL makes sense!


Join RTCD! Support it! Protect Massachusetts Communities and Massachuetts' Future!

Wynn provides another reason to REPEAL THE CASINO DEAL!

Wynn may walk if state doesn’t play ball on tax rate discrepancy
Saturday, February 1, 2014

By:

Bob McGovern

 

 

Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn suggested during an investor call he would walk away from his billion-dollar Everett casino proposal if the state hits him with a higher tax rate than the Mashpee Wampanoags — as is currently mandated under state agreements.

“It would be folly to have (two) casinos competing with one another where one person pays 50 (percent) more in taxes than its neighbor,” Wynn said during an earnings call Thursday. “That person would go broke, and it won’t be me, I can assure you, nor Wynn Resorts. It will not be us.”

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe — which is seeking to build a casino in Taunton — would pay a 17 percent state tax on gambling revenue, while Wynn would have to pony up 25 percent, he told investors on the call, complaining the proximity of the two facilities would put him at a major disadvantage.

But Michael Weaver, a Las Vegas-based Wynn spokesman, said his company doesn’t expect tax disparity to be an issue down the road because the Wampanoag are “in the middle of a very complicated process right now. It just doesn’t seem like an issue.”

The tribe faces an uphill battle for federal authorities to designate its property as sovereign land on which to build the casino.

Weaver said the tax concerns aren’t Wynn’s alone.

“Regardless of who the operator is, it’s not about just us. No operator would want to be in that circumstance, and if Massachusetts wants to have best-in-class operators, they’ll probably want to take that and other issues into consideration,” he said.

Wynn’s comments came in response to a question from an investment adviser about a Herald report Thursday indicating that Wynn was angling for a tax cut to give him parity with the Mashpee Wampanoags.

The Gaming Commission, which hasn’t finished reviewing the applications, would have to go through a “very long and detailed process” before it would recommend a lower tax rate to state legislators, according to spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll.

http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/local_coverage/2014/01/wynn_may_walk_if_state_doesn_t_play_ball_on_tax_rate_discrepancy

 

Letter explains feds' default casino approval

Letter explains feds' default casino approval

January 14, 2014

 

MASHPEE — The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's compact with Gov. Deval Patrick for a $500 million casino in Taunton violates an aspect of federal Indian casino law, but that was not enough for the federal government to reject the deal, according to a Jan. 6 letter to the tribe from the assistant secretary of Indian Affairs.

 

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs allowed the 45-day review period to lapse without issuing a decision on the compact, approving it by default.

Related Stories

• Casino issue belongs in federal court, island tribe says

According to Kevin Washburn's letter, released by the bureau Monday, he had concerns with the state's attempt to regulate a Class II casino, which is high-stakes bingo or so-called bingo slots.

 

Federal law gives tribes and the National Indian Gaming Commission the authority for such facilities.

"We caution the parties that, in implementing the compact, they should avoid applying its provisions in a manner that does not directly relate to the operation of Class III gaming activities, and thus avoid any potential violation of (the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) regarding the limited scope of tribal-state gaming compacts," he wrote.

 

If the state were to license a commercial casino in the same region, according to the letter, the tribe would be entitled to offer Class III games, which are Las Vegas-style slots and table games, without paying the state any revenue.

 

Washburn did praise both the tribe and the Patrick administration for their "diligence and hard work" in addressing concerns he raised in the 2012 rejection of the first compact. The tribe's land application remains under separate review by the bureau.

 

GEORGE BRENNAN

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140114/NEWS/401140316/-1/NEWSLETTER100

 

 

Tribal council members face five challengers

 

January 14, 2014

 

MASHPEE — Four incumbents on the Masphee Wampanoag Tribal Council will face five challengers in the tribe's Feb. 9 annual election.

 

Incumbents Winnie Johnson Graham, Yvonne Avant, Carlton Hendricks Jr. and Cheryl Frye Cromwell are on the ballot. Frye Cromwell is tribal council Chairman Cedric Cromwell's wife.

 

The five challengers looking to join the 11-member council include former Vice Chairman Aaron Tobey Jr., who was ousted from office in last February's election by Jessie "Little Doe" Baird.

 

Along with Tobey, challengers are Marcy Hendricks, Winona Pocknett, Robyn Tobey Stamps and Laverne Jackson.

 

A candidate forum is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 25 at Mashpee High School. It is open to tribe members only, according to the Mashpee Wampanoag website.

 

GEORGE BRENNAN

 

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140114/NEWS/401140321/-1/NEWSLETTER100