Editorial
Last minute thoughts
7/27/07 - I have always believed that there are very good reasons why some people oppose the casino and these have to do with the impact of gambling on vulnerable people, their families and on the general immorality of making money from people's belief that they can beat the odds.
There are people who do not bend or distort the facts on one side or exaggerate the benefits on the other. I think they are in the silent majority on both sides. Based on objective study, you either believe that the pros do not outweigh the cons or vice versa.
The casino isn't the devil in disguise. The casino isn't the Horn of Plenty either. As a revenue source for Middleboro, it won't solve all of our fiscal problems and our town will have to be very prudent in spending the money.
It is too bad that the tribe, town, and state couldn't make as much from a resort without gambling, but we aren't Hawaii.
If a 30 story Indian hotel and convention center with a water park and two golf courses were planned for this property some might object. However I don't think there would have been the intense level of debate we're been having.
Those in the leadership against the casino for whatever reason have had the "perfect storm" of negative factors to exaggerate, many having to do with worst case scenarios which could have been concocted by Stephen King. It's anybody's guess what the real motivations of those in the leadership of the anti-casino group are. But a professor of social psychology would have to give them an "A" in exploitation.
What to expect in the next 24 hours
Because of the nature of the media in Middleboro expect to see anti-casino forces trying to get what they think are their most effective arguments to undecided residents out in many venues.
Their most effective tool will be with media where they can make unchallenged claims. That makes letters to this website the least effective.
I received a phone call with a recording in which a woman stated unequivocally that a "no" vote will mean the tribe won't build a casino here. This mirrors the strongly worded statement Mark Belanger made at the Selectman's Meeting. It is probably their best argument for swaying undecided voters even though they must know it is a tenuous one.
It is ironic that they are claiming that pro-casino forces are using a false scare tactic when their own campaign has been a litany of hyperbolical claims designed to frighten residents.
With so many newspapers and television stations sharing the Middleboro audience, expect that anti-casino spokespersons will try to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to make media statements they know to be distortions hoping their pro-casino counter-parts aren't able to offer more credible counter-point.
The battle for the votes of the undecided will culminate at the Town Meeting when each side will offer their most persuasive arguments.
Then it will be over and most people will make peace with each other. If there is a "yes" vote, it will remain to be seen whether or not the anti-casino forces accept this gracefully as the will of the majority. After all, most of us remember how outraged they were when they demanded the issue be decided by a town vote.
Of course they could decide to continue to their fight at the state and federal levels and ally themselves with national anti-Indian sovereignty groups like CERA which are the only entities that could afford such legal fees.
If there is a "no" vote, then we will discover whether or not the anti-casino forces are right and we see that acreage used for something else. If they are wrong and a casino comes anyway, we will be back to square one with our fiscal crisis.
continued on top of page
Finance Committee votes funds for Town Meeting
by Peg Holezmer, correspondent
7/26/07 Last night the Finance Committee voted to allow funds in the amount of $40,000 to be allocated for the special town meeting. The Chairman broke the tie vote by voting in favor for the request made by Selectman Marsha Brunelle. Prior to the vote, Finance committee member Joe Thomas stated he personally could not support the total amount of $40,000.
Other monies will come out of the Select man’s budget for the Agreement, Election & Registration committee will issue funds from the upcoming recall election in September, Conservation, COA & the School department for transportation, Treasures Fund for mailing, Police and Fire department for overtime labor costs with security, the IT department for printing 15,000 copies of the agreement for the special town meeting requested by State Treasurer Galvin along with the printing of Australian ballot, a small amount from the DPW and donations. The tents for the public are $35,000. The Boy Scouts have donated tents to cover the selectmen. There will be three ambulances, one on the field and two in parking lot, funding for this will come from mutual fund agreement with surrounding towns with no additional cost. All departments will be replenished in the fall at Town meeting.
The Secretary Of State okayed everything so far. His main concern was the process of getting people to the town meeting.
There will be six stations set up in the gym for the different precincts manned by 30 people and a separate table for people who may need to show ID’s.
Also over 60 people have volunteered to help. One member wanted information regarding security and was annoyed when Ms. Brunelle stated she could not go into the details of that operation because of security but reassured every one that it was tight.
The question of holding a Referendum vote for or against the Casino, in place of the special town meeting came up but Ms. Brunelle reminded everyone that you had to have a town meeting to vote on holding a Referendum vote. She called this a “ catch 22” situation.
Regarding a normal election process falls under the Home Rule Charter Act. Authority would come from a town meeting then would have to go to the legislature, however they are not in session.
A special town meeting has been done before, but not in the capacity of this one.
The only thing not covered is thunderstorms. Rain is forecast for Saturday at noon.
Glenn Marshall answers question number one
by Tony Lawrence, correspondent*
7/28/07 Mashpee Wamapanoag Tribal Chairman Glenn Marshall spoke to residents of Oak Point last night. He was asked the question everyone is asking.
It was the very first question, from a woman who asked:
"Months ago you said if you were not welcome, you'd go somewhere else."
Casino opponents have insisted that a "no" vote will result in the tribe no building any kind of casino in Middleboro
Marshall replied that first, the vote is about the contract. But, he does feel welcome. He said he was welcomed by the police, the fire department, the school committee and a poll that said 67% of the community wants him to come. He then said:
"We do feel welcome. That's your answer."
* Tony Lawrence is a resident of Oak Point and attended the meeting.
Editorial continued:
What to expect in the first year after a "yes" vote
This is a subject that hasn't received much attention but deserves to be considered.
While Middleboro won't be receiving multi-million dollar payments until the resort opens, I think it is likely we will see other businesses eyeing Middleboro in a new way.
It wouldn't surprise me to see several businesses open here which prior to the casino we'd consider huge boons to our economy and job market. In addition I'd expect bank loan officers to be generous to small business entrepreneurs who can make a good case that having a casino in Middleboro will make their planned enterprises a success.
Adam Bond's "Power Point" presentation from the July 23rd Selectman's Meeting
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.
Draft agreement between Middleboro and the Mashpee Wampanoag This is a link to the Town website. It is a long pdf file and depending on the speed of your connection may take a few minutes to open. |
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Archives for previous front page
The above page includes the editor's original pro vs. con discussion od having a casino in Middleboro.
Editorial
CERA rears its ugly head. Win or lose, it is time for CasinoFacts to disavow them and their message once and for all!
7/27/07 (updated 7/28/07) I had no intention of writing another editorial today, but after reading an article in The Enterprise today I feel compelled to do so.
I didn't think the reporter planned to quote me in an article about CERA. Had I been asked I surely wouldn't have bothered talking about Harry Potter when asked what I planned to do at the Town Meeting.
That is hardly the important part of this article.
The article said that the national president of CERA, Elaine Willman had been talking to members of CasinoFacts. I had no idea that Elaine Willman was either here or talking on the phone to CasinoFacts. If she was here it shows how important they think this is. This woman is considered by those who study anti-Indian sovereignty groups like Public Eye and the Montana Human Rights Network to be notoriously anti-Indian rights. Some Indian publications go as far as to liken them to hate groups.
It also said that Carol Kelly (or Kelley) was coming to meetings, and we know this to be true. If Carol Kelly had been involved with CasinoFacts members, formally or informally, this should be forthrightly admitted. Since the article said she plans to be at the Town Meeting (or try to be there) holding a sign it certainly seems to me that the member of a group identified as being racist certainly is trying to create a presence. One person, if that person is unique in who they represent can in my opinion be a presence.
The quote from Carol Kelly that CERA has no position on the casino and no plans to get involved is an outright lie as she has been a supporter of the anti-casino group and has come to a number of meetings here and expressed positions against the tribe's desire to have a casino in Middleboro.
CERA is known nationally for getting involved in communities where tribes are attempting to develop casinos as a way to get their anti-Indian sovereignty message noticed.
I question the attempt at distancing CasinoFacts from CERA coming from Jim Reynolds saying that his organization "has no official connections to CERA, but he wouldn't be surprised if there were some “instigators” at the meeting." If CasinoFacts felt strongly about CERA they would have done what I urged in an editorial (link below), that is, repudiated their racist message and stated unequivocally that they had no association PERIOD with them. From this Enterprise article, they do have an "association" with them. The question is how deep does it go?
Read:
Here's a reference I just found: The New Terminators: A Guide to the Anti-Sovereignty Movement
Latest news: Tribe approves agreement
Casino Impact Study Committee Report
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 punch line 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
7/24/07 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.