The Beneficent Oz has every intention of granting your requests...but first you must prove yourselves worthy by performing a very small task.- The Wizard of Oz
We’ve known since the beginning that if the land in Middleboro isn’t placed into trust, then a casino will not be built there. There will not be a class 2 bingo hall. No one’s going to put 70+ million dollars into infrastructure improvements in order to build a bingo hall when two of the World’s biggest casinos are less than two hours away.
The Governor, as part of his own agenda to build three commercial State–controlled casinos, and to dampen the fierce opposition that has been established on the South Shore, has denied the Mashpee Wampanoag’s application for a Middleboro casino. Just one more reason (despite assertions from the ever-skulking Indian Gaming Attorney, Dennis Whittlesey, that this is only the merest bump in the road) for the Tribe’s investors to fold 'em and walk away.
Let’s face it, the Legislature still hasn’t voted to approve legalizing Level 3 gambling, and may not even vote on it this year. Meanwhile, the Statewide grassroots opposition against opening the door to slots is beginning to take off.
Even the town of Mashpee went and opened a can of worms regarding their own special agreement with the Tribe.
And while it’s true that the Tribe can go the commercial route, the very notion offends their concept of sovereignty, not to mention alleviates their investors of their competitive advantage.
Things are looking grim for the future of Glenn Marshalls casino.
So, how can we help to close the door, burn the bridges and salt the earth on the concept of that casino so that it never, ever, ever darkens our doorway again?
With a letter.
That’s all.
Sure, it’s not quite as easy as clicking your heels together three times, but let’s face it, it’s certainly worth your time to write a letter to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior explaining why the land in Middleboro should not be placed into trust.
There is no need for a vast understanding of Constitutional law, a career in Environmental Engineering, an advanced degree in Economics, or an expansive knowledge of American History. This letter will be all yours – and if your reason is that you just don’t like gambling – that’s reason enough. The Wampanoag Tribe wants the land in Middleboro for the sole purpose of building a tax-free gambling casino, and the DOI wants to know how the neighbors feel about that.
Finally!
He’s heard from Middleboro, he’s heard from the Tribe, and now the DOI wants to hear from members of the community – and that doesn’t mean just Middleboro. The South Shore is in this too. Our opinions will be given consideration to this process. And if he decides not to put the land into trust, that's when you can pop the cork and pour me a glass of it's over!
We’ve been gaveled, bullied and out-spent. But now, for the cost of a couple stamps and a trip to the post office, you can finally have your say. So have it.
Click here for a link to some helpful guidelines.
Make 4 copies of your letter. Keep one for yourself, and send the other 3 to:
Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs, Carl Artman
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20240
CasinoFacts.org - PAC
P.O. Box 105
Middleboro, MA 02346
But if you can only make one copy - send it to the big guy, Dirk Kempthorne.
The important thing is that we write these letters and send them.
If the DOI receives only two or three letters - it will be a drop in the bucket. But if we all write - we can fill that bucket.
And we've all seen what one bucket of water can do.
Posts
6 comments:
Gladys, you are so (w)right! All it takes is a few minutes out of your day to write a letter and save our community. I say write five, ten, twenty letters...tell the Secretary how long you commute already....traffic will only get worse. Tell him how you like to gaze at the stars and breath fresh air...how you like to canoe in a clean river...how strained your town's budget already is without having to add more services....the list goes on and on!!
Together we can stop the casino!!
And while it’s true that the Tribe can go the commercial route, the very notion offends their concept of sovereignty, not to mention alleviates their investors of their competitive advantage.
They may be able to go commercial - but not in Middleboro. The land would require a change in it's zoning - which would require a 2/3 vote at Town Meeting. CFO is well entrenched and more than capable of beating that vote.
Not to mention the wondrous things that CFO could do with the hypocrisy factor generated by 79 pages of reasons why the Governor doesn't think a casino should be built in Middleboro - if he decides to issue them a commercial casino license for that site.
AAAAh, again the truth comes out. We can stop it & stop it once and for all! I am writing as my neighbors are this weekend. I have made the promise to pick up all the letters Sunday & go to post office Monday to send them on to DC, some are doing cc's to Carl Artman. Thank you for the "heads up" Will call others I know. It will be a "DONE DEAL" if we do nothing. We can win this!!!!
One for all and all for one! Death to the Casino! It took me a couple of days to put my three pager together. It was well worth it. I'm just going to have to write another for all the other reasons I didn't write before.
It was a very useful endeavor, and I am so glad I took the time to write and do my little part in trying to fend off the vultures.
Thanks so much for all of your work in making this easier for citizens to network together.
I will always, always be very worried about what the BOS will do or say next to try and usurp the will of the community.
Post a Comment