Quote of the month:

$20 million is the price to trump moral scruples

"The bottom line: This agreement provides less than half of the money we need. The only acceptable deal would include a percentage of the gross slot revenue. The going rate for selling an idyllic small town is north of $20 million dollars." Mark Belanger

Reminds me of the punchline of the world's oldest "dirty" joke. "I've already established what you are, now we're just dickering over price."

Selectman vote to approve agreement

2/24/07 Last night the Middleboro Board of Selectman, voted unanimously to approve the contract with the Mashpee Wampanoag after a power point presentation by Adam Bond, remarks by Wayne Perkins and questions from audience members.

The meeting was held at the high school auditorium to accommodate larger than normal crowds, but many more seats were empty than occupied.

Adam Bond's presentation was highlighted by the presentation of a decision matrix which graphically showed that whether or not the tribe built a casino here a no vote resulted in either a lose-lose result or a single lose for the town.

A primary spokesperson against the casino, Mark Belanger, asked the most pointed question, whether any tribe had succeeded in opening a casino after a town voted against it.

One of the main claims the anti-casino group is making attempts to counter the pro-casino argument that if the town votes the agreement down there is a serious risk the casino will be built anyway and Middleboro will get nothing. Attorney Dennis Whittlesey answered that one would have to go back some time to tribes in Oregon and Washington to look at instances where there were legal battles to stop tribes against tribes.

He noted the expense of such litigation on both sides. He said that anti-Indian rights groups such as Citizens Equal Rights Alliance (CERA) had been involved in the legal fights. These organizations are national in scope and attempt to thwart the attempts of tribes to gain and benefit from sovereignty all across the United States and Canada. (See reference for more information.)

Adam Bond said that his impression having been closely involved with the tribe it that they definitely plan to come to Middleboro.

Pictures.

For undecided's, a week to weigh the pros and cons

7/22/07 Expect both sides to make their case for and against a casino in a big way this week. Each side may claim the other is issuing propaganda. It is up to undecided voters to compare what each side has to say. To get an objective analysis, turn to the casino impact study group's report. Read hopefully unbiased sources such as some of the newspapers which finally seem to be devoting the time and energy to covering the substantive (read, less sensational) aspects of the debate.

This website has never said that locating a huge destination resort - casino in Middleboro wouldn't change the town, or cause a number of problems. Some, probably most, can be addressed, mitigated, or solved. Others, should the casino come, people will have to learn to live with.

Those who haven't made up their mind must balance the benefits of having a partnership with the Mashpee Wampanog in a casino (see outline of agreement at right) with the impacts they personally identify as negative. Obviously what is a negative impact to one is not a negative impact to another.

I trust that undecided's will put aside feelings about personalities, and the tactics or behaviors of a few people on each side, and make their decision dispassionately.

I also hope that those in a quandary about which way to vote do not fall prey to a common human failing of not appreciating their own uniqueness - in this case the uniqueness of the townspeople of Middleboro. I believe that we have proved during the past months how resourceful and creative we are. This goes for those active on both side.

As if residents don't occupy a unique enough position in that they will be voting on something that will impact the town for decades, they also have another very unusual opportunity. Those who don't trust the Board of Selectmen to adroitly handle the revenue a casino deal will bring will have the chance to replace a majority of the Board of Selectmen in September.

If the resort -casino comes to Middleboro there are many people who have never been actively involved in town affairs until now who can and should offer their talents, time and energy to assure that the partnership with the Mashpee Wampanoag is an unprecedented success.

(by Hal Brown, Editor)

Click here to follow the most recent newspapers articles about the casino

7/22/07 CasinoFacts.org has issued a press release about a forum that they will be holding on July 25th, available here. They are encouraging all concerned citizens in Middleboro and surrounding communities – as well as the press – to attend.

What's this about giving away 68% of a casino's hotel rooms to big spenders thus avoiding paying Middleoro its promised room tax?

by Joe Freitas and Hal Brown

7/25/07 Richard Young brought this up at the Selectman's Meeting to challenge the figure of $4 million derived from a room tax. He wouldn't tell where he got the number. Now it is clear why. The figure is based on Atlantic City (Reference). As it happens, New Jersey charges room tax on complimentary hotel rooms, or "comp rooms". (Reference) Massachusetts has a similar law requiring tax be paid on comp rooms (Reference). However, tribal enterprises aren't taxed.

Since the tribe estimated they would pay us a "tax" on rooms and “conservatively estimated” it to be $4 million in their joint press release, one would assume this means they would pay us the tax on all rooms, and keep their comp levels low. The Atlantic City frenzied competition in a very small area does not exist in the current market in Middleborough, so it is distinguishable on that ground, and no other markets with this comp level have been identified. Before throwing out last minute allegations to embarrass the Selectmen and tarnish the reputation of the tribe, it would behoove the anti-casino forces to stop mutilating the facts to support their cause.

As the day of the vote approaches and there is less time to rebuttals lies and distortions, expect more outlandish false claims.

You can see some of these, and our rebuttals, on the Letters to the Editor page.

Tribe and town negotiation roller coaster ride ends with agreement

7/20/07 (Updated 3:45 PM) This is the press release from the Mashpee Wampanoag:

Intergovernmental Agreement reached between Town of Middleborough and Mashpee Wampanoag tribe

$250 million in infrastructure and $11 million annual payment

Middleborough: Today, the town of Middleborough and the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation announced, subject to authorization by the Town and the Mashpee Tribal Council, an “Intergovernmental Agreement”, which will bring a destination resort casino to the town.

The agreement, which is the richest ever reached between a tribe and a host community, provides for $250 million in infrastructure to support the destination resort casino proposed by the Mashpee. It also provides for an annual payment to the town of no less than $11 million.

"Rather than negotiating a lifeless contract, we have formed a long lasting living document", said Selectman Adam Bond.

"Through this agreement we have made good our commitment to offset the impacts of the destination resort, but we have also shown our commitment to the financial security of the Town of Middleborough", said Glenn Marshall, Mashpee Tribal Council Chairman.

In addition to the above, Scott Ferson speaking for the tribe, added that there will be an annual $250,000 payment to the town for planning until the resort - casino opens. Also prior to its opening there will be an initial payment of $40,000 to a local organization (yet to be named) to address compulsive gambling, and $20,000 thereafter.

In addition to the earlier promise to give preference to hiring (after tribe members) to Middleboro residents, there will be preference given to local vendors.

The payment listed above of $2 million will allow the now unmanned fire station to be opened.

Latest news: Tribe approves agreement

Casino Impact Study Committee Report

Editorials

Resort - casino supporters care about people too.

and

A call for CasinoFacts to repudiate bigotry, prejudice and hate and any connection with a national group called by a major Indian magazine "The Ku Klux Klan of Indian country",

7/21/07 These are two important issues: CONTINUED >

7/21/07 - In an OpEd Tony Lawrence responds to CasinoFacts' complaints about the agreement

Will the hotel soar 150 stories?

7/21/07 Editor's commentary:

We ate out last night. I had the cell phone on call forwarding. I got a call from someone who said, I think, he was Bill. He was calling to talk to people who were against the casino.

I wanted to hear his pitch so I said I hadn't really decided and wasn't even sure if I was going to bother going to Town Meeting.

I said I'd just heard about an $11 million dollar deal and asked what he thought of that since it seemed like the town could really use the money.

He said "but do you want a 40 story hotel" and I said well, maybe that wouldn't be so bad if we got a lot of money. Then he said, you know they could build one that was 150 stories.

I expressed surprise and said that I'd heard about a forty story hotel but this was the first I'd heard of a 150 story hotel. He said "oh yes, its their land and they could build a 150 story hotel if they wanted". I said "but that's, like, three times as tall as the Hancock Building".

He repeated with some certainty that indeed they very well might build a 150 story building.

Then I said, well I'm glad you made it clear to me that this is what you're telling people because you happen to be talking to the editor of Casino-Friend and I'll be putting this on the website.

He said abruptly "that's good" and hung up.

I wish I had my statistics when he called. Boston's Hancock Tower is 60 stories, so this would really make our's almost three times as tall, and not just the tallest skyscraper in New England but the tallest in the world!

While the tallest building, Taipei 101 is tallest it has 101 stories, the most stories is the Sears Tower at 110.

Now at 150 stories that would really put us on the map. On a clear day not only could we see Boston, we could probably see New York City. It would be a great place for a revolving restaurant.

On some cloudy days we'd even be above the clouds.

Addressing Arguments against the Casino

Many, perhaps all, of the arguments made by opponents of a Mashpee Wampanoag resort casino in Middleboro can be classified into two major groups.

One is speculation based on what happened or has been reported by some to be detrimental effects to have happened to communities hosting tribal casinos.

The other is a more generic argument based on the moral and social ramifications of compulsive gambling.

We will endeavor not to be dogmatic, or state statistics as facts when they are really speculation.  We will avoid using anecdotal reports as proofs no matter whose side they support.

We respect those who oppose our viewpoints and we will do our best to respond to their questions and concerns.

Middleboro and the Mashpee Wampanoag doing it right.

Just because other communities have had problems associated with large Native American gambling facilities located nearby doesn't mean this must happen to Middleboro.

Dire predictions, voiced as if they are unavoidable, are predictions and we urge people not to be swayed by worst case scenarios and what has come to be fear mongering. We shouldn't wring our hands in desperation at the mere thought that they will come to pass. Instead we should do our best to assure they don't come to pass.

In order to minimize the negative impact of each of the major concerns we heard expressed at the meeting at the Nichols School and in letters to the editor, our town officials and concerned citizens can and must work closely with tribal representatives to come up with creative, sensible, proactive and ongoing plans and programs.

 Crime

Much has been made of the increase in crime in other communities where casinos have been built. We don't have to reinvent the wheel to come up with ways to fight crime as it is now, or as it may increase because of a resort casino.

The Middleboro Police Department is drastically understaffed as it is. It makes no sense that the Mashpee Wampanoag want to assure Disney World level security on their property and leave the rest of Middleboro under-policed and less safe for the citizens. For one thing, many of their employees, including tribe members, will live in Middleboro.

We are trusting the tribe to act in good faith on their promise to help the Middleboro Police in any way they can. Everyone realizes this will mean increasing funds for law enforcement, including funding police units to deal with specific crimes associated with having a nearby gaming facility.

This is Police Chief Gary Russell's view, from The Providence Journal:

He expects traffic to be the biggest problem a casino causes.

With an expanded staff, help from the Massachusetts State Police barracks in town and a tribal security department, he foresees little disruption to the town's tranquil nature. Reference

Traffic

It's in the best interest of all concerned to assure that traffic flows in and out of the facility smoothly. It is also in everyone's interest to make sure that this traffic doesn't cause traffic problems elsewhere in Middleboro.

For some this will be an unavoidable consequence of having a casino and we fully expect many of these residents to be strongly opposed to a casino. We understand this and sympathize with those who purchased houses on streets that they thought would never have more than residential traffic.

The "fact" is that nobody knows for sure what traffic patterns will be on a specific side street at present. If certain streets do have a significant increase in through traffic there are probably ways to mitigate this.