Mere hours after I posted “When Elephants Speak”, the Enterprise posted yet another casino related article that in my eyes, really showed the Tribe’s and investors true colors. They have made it perfectly clear how much they care about the host community of Middleboro by excluding them in the negotiations and their actions left me thinking “this is proof positive they don’t care at all about any of us”.The Tribe had planned on hand delivering a letter to Governor Deval Patrick this morning, formally asking to begin compact negotiation talks….it seems they forgot to mention one tiny little request that has not sat well with some….
The tribe’s seven-page formal letter to the governor, scheduled to be hand-delivered today, makes no provision for a representative of Middleboro to be at the bargaining table.
Middleboro Chairman to the BOS, and avid casino proponent, Adam Bond, had a few things to say this morning on his blog about the exclusion of Middleboro in the letter. I read his blog and I could have sworn that Hell had frozen over because I found myself not only agreeing with him, but actually outraged for him , his Town and for all the good (and not so good) folks who have supported this Tribe’s plan from day one. No….I don’t agree that the casino is a good thing, nor do I agree with his and others infallible support of this project, but I most certainly do agree that the Tribe had an agreement with the Town and they had better damned well stick to it! I mean, how dare they attempt to ignore provisions in the IGA and exclude Middleboro? Makes one wonder how many other provisions in that agreement they may attempt to ignore in the future if that land is ever actually placed in trust.He calls on the tribe to “repair the wound” caused by the lack of an invitation to the bargaining table and wrote: “If it doesn’t, is there any reason to continue to support an illusory partnership?”
Yes…why support an illusory partnership? I guess when you have been sucked into the illusion long enough, you actually start to believe it is real. I hope this is a wake up call for all the pro casino people out there. I am not saying its time to stop supporting the casino, I am merely saying that it is time to hold the Tribe accountable for all the promises, written or said, public or private that were made. Hold them accountable and don’t let them continue to bamboozle you too.
And the saga continues. This is Middleboro, you know….
I just finished reading the latest installment of the Casino Chronicles in the Enterprise and in the course of minutes my outrage had morphed into….you got it….jaw dropping amazement. It has been a matter of hours since the first article came out and it is now being reported that the Tribe had every intention of including Middleboro in the letter and it is so unfortunate that the letter they gave the press was a draft….yes…..a draft letter and they hadn’t yet finished the final letter – the one that will include Middleboro – the one that wasn’t delivered today, and it is unclear when the revised letter will be delivered to the Governor.
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe says a letter floated yesterday requesting official compact negotiations with the state about a proposed casino was just a draft, and tribal leaders are now revising it to include a representative of the town of Middleboro at the bargaining table.
Hmmmm…..I see a pattern here. Poor Mr. Hendricks, his legs must be exhausted from all that back- peddling he has done today. Funny thing about this “draft” letter…..it was signed by Mr. Hendricks in the presence of the media. Now why in the world would he sign a draft letter and give it to the media?
Anyone?.....anyone?.....
On a brighter note, it seems that our Governor has seen the light and is now clearly not ready to pull the rope for the Tribe. Be sure to watch the video...
On a brighter note, it seems that our Governor has seen the light and is now clearly not ready to pull the rope for the Tribe. Be sure to watch the video...
He said the tribe needs to get a hold of the land first before formal negotiations can really take place. "We want to be constructive, we need to be responsible. We don't want to be hasty," he said.
The governor said any talks right now would be hypothetical. "I respect the tribe, and I respect their interests, but until the land and trust is sorted out, there's not a whole lot that's meaningful about those conversations."
Finally!! Our Governor seems to be working in our best interests. Thank you Governor Patrick…..haste makes waste!
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. ~James D. Miles
- be the change you want to see in the world -
8 comments:
Well said CC and nice comment on Adam's blog.
So why the desperate play to start negotiations? Was this the LIT equivalent of a "Hail Mary" pass? Maybe the Tribe was tipped off to the dire condition of their LIT application?
CFO and the bloggers telling it like it is and the press and politicians are reading and listening. I'm pretty sure that DiMasi puts more stock in CFO and the blogs than in Ferson press releases
The blogs made a huge impact yesterday.
They're definitely being read by the press and politicians. I'm sure they are confirming all of the FACTS, but the important thing is that you're getting the FACTS out there!
When I heard a reporter mention the lawsuit in RI yesterday....I new they had gotten the info from all of your wonderful blogs.
Yes, Carverchick - do remember to say something nice about Adam, because the poor lamb needs all the help he can get to make people forget he is a crass, lying, underhanded, town-selling, bullying, ego-maniac.
Without you, the media and the Governor would continue to repeat the same Inevitability mantra. Your involvement and your comments are appreciated. Thanks for being on our side. We're paying attention and it's nice to know someone is reading what you post.
Great job, CC.
You have now officially joined the exclusive club of "people who have made a difference".
Now if you could only do something about the price of gas....
Tracy
I always envy your great work.
The tribe seems to be in such a rush. You would think that if this was such a "done deal", they could wait it out and just follow the process. But alas, from day one they have done nothing but try and manipulate it instead.
Keep pushing rope.
Glenn Marshall is a convicted rapist so why should we be surprised the Tribe is trying to rape the Town of Middleboro.
Ferson's so desparate that he was quoted by Andrea Estes in the Globe as reverting to his threat to build a bingo hall if the state doesn't negotiate a compact. It appears that Ms. Estes isn't reading CFO and is still drinking the KoolAid.
The investors won't build a bingo hall because the revenues aren't high enough to make it profitable, well, that is if the land ever goes into trust. This whole land into trust deal is so questionable for reasons you keep listing, not the least of which is that the tribe has NO historical ties to Mboro.
And the reality of the investors to mess with the state? There's a little matter of infrastructure improvements that requires state approval and cooperation. It's only the reading public that Ferson's rhetoric was intended to intimidate. Next time around, Ms. Estes needs to do some homework, like the rest of the media has been doing recently.
Threaten all you want, Mr. Ferson, but the bloggers have had a major impact on preventing this from being the rushed deal you forced on Mboro. Maybe Ms. Estes won't buy your KoolAid next time.
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