What can one expect from a lawyer and now ex-Middleboro BOS selectman who spent the past year and half as the number one cheerleader for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s push to build a mega casino in Middleboro. If you support an irresponsible project without doing any research and push for an inadequate intergovernmental agreement, get your votes to accept said agreement using scare tactics and the myth of inevitability, then expect that you are going to be criticized when you turn around after the fact and say it isn’t good enough….and then quit under the guise of doing what’s best for your tribe. To hell with everything else your town faces, the rest of the board doesn’t agree with you, so get up and walk out in a blaze of glory. That’s about as close as any of us will get to justice in Middleboro where town politics has become a soap opera. I am not criticizing Mr. Bond for quitting his post as chairman of the board of selectmen, I am just questioning his reasons behind it. Can anyone say....draaaammaaaa.... The really sad thing about all of this is that when I read the comments sections on blogs from residents who have been wronged by him over this casino trainwreck, I read about how gallant he is….he shows true leadership….he has support for renegotiating the contract...he has done the right thing, we need to renegotiate in case it comes - when the reality of the situation is, there is no point in renegotiations and no point in Mr. Bond quitting his post in the manner that he did. Attempting to re-negotiate the IGA is a waste of time, effort, energy and money….it is an exercise in futility.
Here is the thing folks….the IGA that was voted in at the TMFH is the one that was submitted with the Land in Trust Application which means it is the only one that legally counts. The BIA is very clear on one issue. Once a LIT application is submitted it cannot be changed. There can be no additions or deletions made to the application package by the Tribe. Period.
I have been through the BIA’s checklist for gaming. Under the section entitled Request for Approval of Acquisitions. Here is what is says:
The information required under 25 CFR PART 151 should be organized to provide a complete picture of the tribe's request. Tribes should be encouraged to submit their requests in a manner which will facilitate the analysis of the request request. At the onset of a request, a tribe should be instructed on the nature of the requires submissions which support the request. Documents received from the tribe should be kept intact. NO ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE TRIBE'S APPLICATION PACKAGE. ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED BY THE BIA OFFICES TO SUPPLEMENT OR CLARIFY THE TRIBE'S APPLICATION SHOULD BE MAINTAINED SEPARATELY AND IDENTIFIED IN A MANNER THAT WILL ENABLE THE READER TO READILY MAKE A DETERMINATION AS TO WHICH OFFICE OBTAINED OR PREPARED THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
The point I am trying to make here is that the tribe is not allowed to send anything in after the application has been submitted. They cannot rescind the old IGA and replace it with a new one. The only way information or documentation is added to an application is when they are asked for more documentation from a reviewing department who needs clarification on specific parts of an application. This is called Technical Assistance.
So, in a nutshell, the tribe has to be asked for more documentation. They cannot send anything in after the fact or update their LIT application. Mr. Bond is a day late and a few million dollars short here. Middleboro negotiated a contract with the Tribe. The Tribe submitted that contract as part of it’s LIT application. The Town has made it’s bed…now that is what I call a done deal.
This is a federal process people. There is nothing in the law or federal code that will allow a re-negotiated contract to be submitted at this point. I would have thought that Mr. Bond, being an attorney and all, or at least Mr. Whittlesey would have known that.
“I believe they've shown joyful willingness to support the tribe's interests over the town's," Bond said of his board. "From their actions, they've shown the town is desperate for a casino, and by doing that, they've rung a bell that can't be un-rung. In my mind, they have irreparably harmed the people of Middleborough." – Adam Bond quoted in the Boston Globe
Hey, I can relate to this statement….it’s just that in this chick’s eyes, Mr. Bond himself along with the Middleboro BOS have already irreparably harmed the people of Middleboro…as well as the people from the surrounding communities in the summer of 2007. So thanks for the concern, but the damage has been done and a done bun can’t be undone.
For those who feel that Mr. Bond did the right thing and honestly think that there is a chance to get more money from the Tribe…well by all means, please go on thinking that, but you may want to shift your focus away from wasting money renegotiating with the Tribe itself and hope like hell the State will make up that $18 million plus deficit you are now worried about. Good luck with that.
The only thing talks of re-negotiation will accomplish is to help the Tribe show efforts at mitigation from financial concerns raise during the EIS scoping session. It would only serve to provide the Tribe with more “proof” that the community at large supports this project, when in reality it doesn’t – as shown in Article 3 from the TMFH. I think Gladys Kravitz made this point quite well in her blog. The fact of the matter is, the only IGA that counts is the one in the application and the application can’t be changed or modified by the Tribe. Huh….I wonder why Mr. Whittlesey hasn’t pointed that out to anyone but instead supports Bond in his futile efforts at saving the town….
Dennis Whittlesey, the Washington attorney who helped negotiate the agreement on behalf of the town, had agreed with Bond. He urged selectmen to call for a meeting to "discuss the specific agreements made and the foundations upon which they were made." - Boston Globe articleSo, if the bigwig DC Indian gaming lawyer Dennis Whittlesey couldn’t negotiate a fair agreement back in 2007, then what hope is there for the residents of Middleboro now – especially since the enlightened ex-selectman is still all for the casino project, the current BOS hasn't even bothered to read the indictments against the man they negotiatied with while some board members allegedly have private pow-wows of their own with key tribal officals and casino investors. I fear that the the only way Middleboro is going to get out of this with any money left is if this application is flat out denied by the SOI…or if the Supreme court rules in favor of Carcieri.
Live by the semantic sword, die by it also.
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it without a sense of ironic futility - Errol Morris
- be the change you want to see in the world -
29 comments:
Thank you carverchick!!
FINALLY!
Do you know how frustrating it is listening about Bond and Belicose Bumpkin, going on & on, spinning those wheels, beating that dead horse, when all these two, (thought they were smart), had to do was some reading of the USC 25, CFR 151: Request for approval of acquistions first? Thats all it would have required not to have them start this unceasing wrong dialogue. I guess they should have done the research first! A no brainer.
Thanks to you and Gladys Kravitz for showing what "small town mentality" can do! I hold you both forever in my gratitude!
Great explanation!
Your well organized and clearly worded explanation of the law are always greatly appreciated.
There's clearly more to the Draaaamaaa than there appears on the surface.
If the application can't be modified, can the town withdraw its support?
Well CC, it seems we've made a case here for NOT renegotiating the IGA.
A.) As you've pointed out here, it's a waste of time, energy and money.
B.) As I've pointed out, it would almost certainly be seen as sufficiently 'mitigating' opposition concerns in the EIS, while not actually doing so.
C.) Also, it could potentially create the need for the opposition to litigate for another decade just to prove that we are right - because the Federal Government doesn't always follow their own rules.
When in doubt, I would recommend casino opponents do the following - recall the day in July 2007 when you stood for NO CASINO - and just keep doing that. You were right the first time.
Another "Golden Moment" of the truth.
I had to check this out, not that I doubted you, wanted to prepare myself for todays questions from co-workers. Once I found the correct areas I spent most of the night going through the BIA's/DOI's regulations, and cross ck.ing,(now I'm hooked), and yes, the criteria is there, no gray area, you can't put your own spin on it, it's STATED! Your so right,(again).
Why is Middleboro in such denial????
Thank you carverchick for the very educational but mental work out.
ps found so much other interesting information about this process.
Please,keep going, so much material to use! Pro's have it all wrong, (don't they read?).
The BIA is very clear on one issue. Once a LIT application is submitted it cannot be changed. There can be no additions or deletions made to the application package by the Tribe. Period.
NO ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE TRIBE'S APPLICATION PACKAGE.
The point I am trying to make here is that the tribe is not allowed to send anything in after the application has been submitted
I would agree that the application cannot be changed. Nowhere does it say that the IGA can't be altered - it just says that the application package can't be altered. Talk of re-negotiaing the IGA are just that. Nobody is suggesting that LIT will be affected or that the application should be changed. By this logic, people should stop calling on the town to tear up the IGA and oppose LIT - which is what I would prefer.
The application is the application. The BIA has decided that all financial impacts to Middleboro are irrelevant since we signed an IGA. Negotiating for more money won't affect anything one way or the other. The only reason for the urgency now is a belief that the tribe will be more willing before LIT is accepted.
If the town does nothing, LIT will either be accepted or not - and I'm leaning toward not. I don't see how Bond(and me) squawking about more money helps the LIT process - quite the opposite - I think the the very public discussion of the financial inadequacies of the deal do a fair amount of harm and I'm quite surprised that the tribe isn't taking steps to hush things ups.
So while I would agree with your assessment that the LIT application can't be changed - I disagree that the town and Tribe are not able to make changes to the IGA. If the document is altered, scrapped, improved, or burned at the stake, it will have no bearing on the tribe's LIT application packet.
What is interesting about this discussion is that Mboro is left with 4 addle brained selectmen, too lazy to read the indictment, the IGA, or anything not handed to them in their selectmen's packets. Most of the time, it's clear, they're too lazy to do that as well. Their knee jerk response was to defend and protect the 'tribe,' whoever that is at this point, pending further indictments.
The BIA has apparently NOT decided that all concerns about the "process" in Middleboro leading up to and after the IGA, and the environment are irrelevant. They are noted in the summary EIS.
And another thing .....
This is a typically excellent well researched post - as usual CC. The point that the LIT application can't be altered is very key. Forget about the stuff with the IGA, Bond, and myself.
The LIT application will stand or fall on it's own merits and there is no re-writing history. If the tribe comes up short in mitigation, or historical ties to Middleboro, LIT will be denied.
BB is correct, supporting a new IGA doesn't give the impression that the community wants a casino.
And the EIS comment period doesn't mean squat because the impacts will be summarized by recommendations for impact mitigations, not by specific objections from the community. The SOI will never see any objections to the LIT that were gathered during the public comment period for the EIS, and he won't even review the EIS information because that task is delegated elsewhere in the process. They only way that information will be scrutinized will be if an impact was identified but not addressed through mitigation.
But BB is also incorrect when he says that we can still negotiate a new IGA.
BB, if you understand the tribes application won't be altered or effected by a new IGA, why don't you also see that it won't be recognized or enforced? To reiterate, nothing can be added or altered. This means that no agreements or contracts contained in the application can be changed, altered, or added. I'm not trying to pick on you, but as you yourself have pointed out many times, there is a lot of misinformation being generated here. I don't care who says it, everything should be verified for accuracy. People do make mistakes. Even lawyers.
I understand why Mr. Bond may not be aware of this. The rule isn't outlined in IGRA or in 25 CFR 151, assuming Mr. Bond has read both. But I doubt ANY research was done by the decision makers in our community, because this very important rule in the DOI/BIA's department manual would have made it clear that negotiating an agreement with the tribe was a one shot deal. The only way a new agreement with the town will be part of the tribe's application is if the NIGC asks for one.
But that's won't happen, because it's assuming much that the application will even get that far.
Carverchick,
Excellent post.
I agree with you on all points except that arguing for a better financial deal was a COMPLETE exercise in futility.
It got the Middleboro BOS in a huff and it resulted in Bond quitting
-so let's just say it wasn't COMPLETELY futile.
It worked (at least at the local level) to create complete chaos.
NO CASINO!
Bumpkin, I respect your opinion and your fight for a better deal. I really do. Your right, re-entering into negotiations with the Tribe will have no effect on the LIT package. The thing is, even if talks are started to renegotiate a contract, the only contract the Tribe has to abide by is the one in the LIT application.
I am not concerned about the DOI seeing comments from the EIS. My concern is that if the Town and Tribe talk renegotiating, they will use these talks as a mitigation measure to help pass the EIS, and will be seen by the BIA as the Town wanting a casino...and remember, the BIA makes recommendations on if an appliaction should or should not be accepted so perception is everything. It is a catch 22 because by not arguing for more money, it appears the same way. It is a no win situation for your Town and nothing but a win situation for the Tribe. Get used to it, especially if that casino comes.
Did I say squawk?
Great Blog, CC! I love that you always report the facts as they are, and not how you wish them to be. It can't be easy, always being the messenger!
Love the title, and it's true enough. However, I am very troubled to have all my initial concerns confirmed; the BOS never did any research on the law or the process that brings a casino into the community. I don't know, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree, thinking that a little research might have been necessary? Or maybe I'm just going overboard here, expecting the elected officials in my community know more than how much money the tribe was going to give us. Yeah, call me crazy to expect more than that.
Gladys, I hate to burst your bubble, but there was never a summary EIS. What you saw was the compilation of the comments and letters gathered during the public comment period. And the information you saw doesn't go the the SOI. An EIS doesn't prevent a project from happening, nor does it give permission for a project to move forward. All that is required is the an EIS is completed, and completed means that all of the issues are addressed and mitigation is presented. In fact, mitigation is the only thing that's officially reviewed in the EIS. Sad but true.
All most makes you wonder: What's the point?
Dear Anon 7:26.
Thank you for the kind words. I may not always get it 100% right, but at least I take the time to research it. As far as the EIS goes, none of us here ever had fantasies that it would stop the project. Glady's point has been lost a bit I think. Say for example this LIT does get approved (which it won't)and the IGA has been re-negotiated....we have an opportunity to challenge the DOI's decision in a court of law. It will certainly not help our case if the Town renegotiates because efforts at renegotiating for more money shows community support for the project. Talking about financial concerns brought up at the scoping hearing through "renegotiation talks" will show mitigation efforts on behalf of the Tribe which will help push the EIS along at a faster rate. I don't know about you...but I plan on doing everything I can to stop/stall/kill this project long before it gets to any approval stage. This is not a game and we have but one chance to show that we do NOT want a casino in our community. Supporting efforts for more money does not help that cause and it confuses the message.
Did I mention that it is a waste of time and money too??
Is what you're saying that Bond sucked in prominent casino opponents to support re-negotiations to scuttle future court challenges?
Casino supporters seem opposed for fear of loosing what they preceive as a "great deal" that will bankrupt Mboro and the only
one(s) supporting re-negotiations are 2 casino opponents, that I know of.
It looks like they're being used by the "opportunist." Maybe he's not so dumb after all.
Hi CC-
I'm happy to see that understand why EIS won't stop this project, but I'm a little confused on why everyone thinks that renegotiating the IGA would have any bearing on a court case based on the SOI deciding to put the land into trust. The effecitve way to challenge that decision is to challenge the historical ties to the land. Actually, it's even easier than that because you don't need to go to court.
We won't have to blindly create the arguments against any decision because all we have to do is refute the evidence. It gets even better, because all we really need to do that is the Office of Federal Acknowledgement's definition of Mashpee's historical tribe (which you put in a blog a while back). And the icing on the cake is that we can challenge during the 30 day comment period that comes after the decision is published in the Federal Register.
So it appears to me that the anti casino side has become as ineffective as the pro side. Neither side is interested in the actual process, and we have all begun to make our opinions, wants and/or wishes the reality that is our situation. I'm used to seeing that in the pro side. It's very disturbing to see on the anti side.
Let's compare our activities:
During the EIS hearing, one of the pro groups showed up with a form letter to support the project. We were amused and knew it to be a waste of time and not the type of information that would be cataloged during the EIS process.
And yet, we are instructing people to do the same thing now when we tell them to write the SOI.
We ridicule Adam Bond because he stuck his neck out advocating an action that will be ignored in DC.
And yet, we say that this invisible action will be used to show community support to the people who will be ignoring the new IGA in the first place?
We were amused when we saw that it was incorrectly reported that the summary report was the draft EIS and the other side was rejoicing because they believed we had moved another step closer to a casino.
And yet, we give that report the same weight when we use that information to guide our actions now.
Ditto to the concerns that attempted renegotiation will help show mitigation in the EIS. The only way that would happen is if the BIA had to show community support for the project. BUT THAT ISN'T THE PROCESS FOR AN INITIAL RESERVATION APPLICATION.
We really need to be careful about how we advise the public on what we need to do to prevent a casino here.
And it's easy, too, because all we really need to do is be sure we don't get Class III gaming in MA, and to watch the process to be sure that the government is sticking to procedure. Inducing panic over government corruption won't help because we don't have the same risks that other communities have had when faced with the prospect of a casio. And while yes, corruption exists, we also have to realize where the transparencies are and capitalize on those to ensure that the laws are upheld. We also have to be sure that we aren't reacting to things that are meant to distract us from fighting this properly.
I thank you for all your hard work, CC. You truly have a talent for understanding a complicated law and an equally complicated process and bringing peace of mind to those of us who understand (thanks to you) why we aren't getting a casino in Middleboro. I am proud to call you my friend.
Signed,
Tracy
Tracy,
Your efforts at providing insight and substantiation for the issues surrounding the monster should be applauded as well.
But my belief is that maybe we should separate issues:
1. the casino
2. the dysfunctional town government Mboro is stuck with without protest
It appears at this time that there are a number of serious ethical violations that are worthy of investigation and ultimately legal pursuit leading to fines.
It has little to do with preventing a casino or altering the prospects, but it has the potential of altering the current makeup of the BOS, always a positive thing. And it sends a loud and clear message to their successors.
Mr. Bond announced during a BOS meeting that, having checked the Ethics statutes, he was returning a 'gift' sent to him by the Tribe since it exceeded the legal limit. Is it reasonable to assume that each of the BOS members, and perhaps others, also received a comparable gift? Did they also return the 'gift'?
It is also apparent from Glenn Marshall's plea bargain that additional indictments will follow.
Anticipating indictments and being a reasonable person, one might assume that phone records are being examined and phone lines might be recorded. That a town resident is communicating with a potential candidate for indictment is certainly curious. But if a member of the BOS was or is in contact with that person, as voters, we should challenge the judgement of the Selectman.
There are many more issues that have been raised that I won't enumerate, but this has to do with tolerating the method by which we got here with no public input.
Our silence seems to be tacit approval.
Anon 9:58
Thank you. But for you, no applause; you my friend, get a standing OV!
You are correct, the issues are not the same, and we to separate them to put our house in order.
I sincerely hope that the citizens of Middleboro will see the wisdom in your words. Nothing will change if we don't focus on the underlying problems.
Tracy
the only bond you should be trusting in now are printed by the federal government
In my opinion it seems that more indictments are sure to follow and the more slickery future co-defendants are trying to establish a viable defense now. "I was working in the best interests of the town. We were not conspiring to use strong arm tactics to influence voting or trample on the Constitutional rights of American citizens. I was not involved in backroom politics, see, I quit and am now working on renegotiating a deal that is more lucrative to keeping my ass out of jail."
anon 7:53,
The feds may be 'nice guys,' but after reading about the unraveling of the Abramoff style corruption and convictions around the country, is it reasonable to assume the feds reduced Glenn Marshall's sentence from about 30 years to 3 1/2 years because they liked his pony tail?
If you read the indictment and plea bargain, there are allusions to the future that we can only speculate about.
That gossamery intuition tells me that we'll all be surprised by the outcome, so assessing blame is premature.
Anon 9:58 focused on the need to separate the issues.
#1 We need to support efforts to prevent slot machines in the Commonwealth, not simply because of the Mashpee Monster, but because it's morally bankrupt.
That my friend, means writing a check (because gambling interests have unlimited resources), writing letters to the editor and writing to your reps. It means making your somnolent friends, relatives and acquaintances in other parts of the state aware of the risks of Class III gaming. Maybe it even means sacrificing some of your weekend to talk to strangers.
#2 Addressing the second portion of the equation to move the Town forward and prevent a repeat of the scenario that allowed the Monster requires more than blaming a single individual.
If only 5% of registered voters cast ballots for Selectman, each of us needs to accept the blame and vow to prevent its continuance.
That means supporting any viable candidate, not currently on the BOS, signing nomination papers, writing a check, posting a lawn sign, and talking to friends and neighbors around town to ensure their election. It means actually watching or attending BOS meetings that are frequently boring. It means volunteering for a committee or board in your town. You can't complain that the same people are on every board unless you're willing to add your name.
It means attending town meetings.
Other towns have some impressive numbers attending their meetings, but not Mboro.
If each of us turns our simmering anger into action, can you imagine the impact?
Write some checks (whatever you can afford). Get off the couch and get involved. You'll meet some new friends and get to know your neighbors. Get involved and take back your town.
For all the bravado and distraction of the past few weeks,
has anyone figured out that, were the IGA renegotiated, we'd have to have another town meeting?
The Internet Avenger said...(A.K.A. Adam Bond & Blogger Shark???)
"Adam Bond's theatrics don't interest me in the slightest. But I do find the refusal of the BOS to answer a private citizen's question about Mr. Bond's allegation that the BOS is co-opting with the tribe troublesome..."
It seems to me that Bond's allegation refers more specifically to the BOS being co-opted by the Investors, not the Tribe. Isn't Steve Graham directly employed by the investors, not the Tribe? I don't doubt Bond's allegations for a second. He is a lawyer and smart enough not to make a potentially libelous statement in a public forum without concrete evidence to back up his claims.
There is no question that Adam Bond became a thorn in the investors' sides, because he clearly was a tough negotiator on behalf of the Town. When he wanted to revisit the agreement in light of the indictments, I think it is entirely conceivable that the investors may have used their influence with certain BOS members to instigate a coup against Bond. His departure certainly makes life a lot easier for them - now doesn't it?
I find it very troubling that certain bloggers are making light of threats against Mr. Bond and his family - implying that Bond is making it all up. Clearly, something DID happen outside the public eye or we wouldn't have plain clothes Policeman from different jurisdictions shadowing Bond at his last BOS meeting. The Police obviously know something the public doesn't. I think it is unconscienable that people would criticize Bond's "irratic, dramatic" behavior at such a time. How would you act if people were threatening your life, or the safety of your family? Shame on them all - particularly Hal Brown, who I consider to be a disgrace to his profession.
IMO, Brown who once had so much to offer, has behaved like a reckless busybody continually attempting to insert himself into private situations that do not concern him. Brown seems to have become so consumed with the casino issue and his fantasy life as a journalist/photographer that I think he's the one in need of a shrink at this juncture. And the next time Mr. Brown wants to insinuate that others are "racists" - he may want to revisit his own derrogatory and prejudicial commentary that targets people from New York. What's the matter, Hal? Are you prejudiced against New Yorkers?
The "Tribe" as we know it is clearly in a transitional state with a new leadership about to emerge. People should not underestimate them. While some BOS members may be very cozy with the Investors, I'm not so sure the Tribe feels the same way. Will the new Tribe leadership be eager to negotiate with the likes of Mimi & Wayne? I wonder. Should be VERY interesting to watch.
Mimi and her pals may think they've really accomplished something here. As I see it, the town has lost its primary point person, it's best contact, with the Tribe. They've also managed to alienate the only "free" lawyer the town had. Who does that benefit?
Vegas Val (A.K.A Victoria Bond???.
Another town meeting to approve a new IGA??
First they broiled us. Now they'll freeze us.
Maybe we should try something new....let's have a drive through ballot box.
I like that idea. At the first window, we get the IGA with a ballot conviently tucked inside (maybe they'll even mark it for us!) and at the next window, we stuff our ballot in a box. Yeah, I know we need some sort of security meansures, so a person can sit at the ballot box and ask each voter for an I.D. Of course, they've never asked for one before, so you see, this will be an improvement over the current process.
If I ask them to supersize it, will I get TWO ballots?
rapalmer,
I don't think the internet avenger or blogger shark is Adam Bond....and I am quite certain our pal Val is not Victoria Bond. As far as Hal Brown goes, he should take the time to know what happened to those citizens in New York - then maybe he wouldn't be so quick to call them racists. In fact, he loves to call a good friend of mine, who is from New York and is a member of CERA a racist. All I have to say to that is when his house is targeted to be burned down by a greedy Tribe, his phone is tapped and he has his home of 20+ years taken away from him with no compensation, then maybe he has the right to make judgement. But again, he is the perfect example of certain pro casino/pro tribe people who don't bother to learn about these things. It is just easier to call an elderly woman and anyone who disagrees with having a casino on sovereign land, run by a defunct tribe, a racist. BTW - if Hal had taken the time to learn about CERA, he would know that the organizaton was founded by a native american and is anything but a racist organization....good lord, how dare anyone stand up and fight for equal rights in America!
In the past two years I've looked at a lot of LIT cases across this country. Most come down to litigation. Actions and wording are important. The Federal government often does not follow it's own rules, and to depend on the notion that is will is fool hardly.
To attempt to renegotiate an agreement will be seen as mitigating issues with the process.
Since I've been fighting this project as well as level 3 gambling, I have had countless people on both sides tell me with absolute confidence that the best way to fight is ____________ (fill in the blank)
What I've learned, in reality, is that the best way to fight this, is to fight it. Period. There is no proof that someone won't read a letter. There is absolutely no proof that focusing on one part of this issue will win it for us. There is no proof that influence isn't being peddled right now behind closed doors to lose it for us.
I also hate to burst anyone's bubble, but that is the real reality, and cases like ours generally end up in court, and they have been won on something as simple as the wording of a phrase.
And cc, I am also proud to call you my friend for many reasons that have nothing to do with casinos - but I'm proud to call you my colleague because, despite your extensive research of the regulations, you also understand human nature.
Because that, ultimately, is the bottom line.
Hal Brown has long since discredited himself.
I witnessed people asking him not to take their photos, to which Mr. Brown responded by blathering on about the law and taking their photos.
To me that represented the utmost in his disrespect for people on a very personal level.
He disrupted meetings by climbing over furniture and cameras of the real media in his fantasy photo escapade.
Mr. Brown is a buffoon with little credibility who should be ignored, as anyone else who promotes increased gamblilng as a method of funding addiction treatment.
We need to return to a discussion of why it's important and how to defeat Class III gaming, which includes revealing the impact of lobbyists and investors on legislators.
We need to return to the issues.
Unfortunately anon 11:44, it is people like Hal who cloud the issue. Casinos are bad economics...casinos ruin lives...casinos create compulsive gamblers. Saying that money from casinos will mitigate addicted gambling and will fund programs for addicted gamblers while filling the state coffers to help communities and create jobs for high school graduates, women and people of color is...well, downright stupid and quite offensive.
The problem we face right now is that several of our own State leaders are buying into this insanity and are pushing for slots at the racetracks while some even have the gall to call a certain Town Moderator and try to threaten and intimidate him into shutting down a community forum with the RTF, and let us not forget about our Governor who thinks it is in good taste to "joke" about all of it.
Talk about the dumbing down of America....
Arrrrgh!!!
cc,
You must be referring to Senator "But For" who never stops talking long enough to hear what anyone else has to say. In a conversation with him, I refuted every issue he raised, not that he listened. He repeated the investors' canned spam verbatim.
If there were ever any credible candidates to run against these people, they'd be out of office for their refusal to do their homework on this issue and their denial of the infringement on our rights.
Dear anon 5:10,
that is exactly who I am talking about. What a piece of work he is.
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