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« Photo: Fire damages Providence house | Today | Funeral tomorrow for teen victim of fatal stabbing » March 26, 2008Indian bureau hears Wampanoag casino proposalMassachusetts residents fighting over plans for a tribal casino in Middleboro, Mass., last night aired their views before federal officials who must review the proposal. About 300 people turned out at Middleboro High School for the hearing, many carrying signs supporting one side or the other in the debate over a request by the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe to have the federal government take land into trust for them in this town about 30 miles east of Providence. A decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs favoring the Mashpee Wampanoags is a precursor to the tribe's building a casino resort on more than 500 acres in Middleboro. The tribe is seeking the same trust designation for 140 acres in Mashpee, Mass., for a reservation. The tribe wants to build a casino in Middleboro in two phases. The first phase would include a 600,000-square-foot gambling hall on two levels, with 4,000 slot machines and 200 table games, as well as an array of restaurants, retail shops and an event center. The first phase would also include a hotel with 1,000 to 1,200 rooms -- scaled down from the 1,500 initially proposed by the tribe. The second phase would include a golf course and other recreational facilities. -- Journal Business writer Paul Grimaldi More than 50 people spoke at last night's hearing, putting their views on the trust application record in 3-minute intervals at a microphone set before video cameras, audio recording devices and a dais behind which a pair of BIA officials sat, overseeing the commentary. Their speeches touched on a number of issues, from the historic grievances of the tribe to the potential economic boom a casino would bring to the area, and the possible environmental and societal harms a gambling resort could foster. "This is reservation shopping, pure and simple," said Mark Belanger. "What the Mashpees should get is a Class 2 (slot machine) facility in Middleboro." Virginia Bowman, a recent transplant from San Diego, spoke about how a tribe there handled its casino development. "The impact on the area economically was absolutely of a positive nature," Bowman said. "The people of the area trusted to the Barono Indians to respect the environment, and this they did." Posted by Jack Perry CommentsPost a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006