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Aquinnah Tribe told their casino plan isn't feasible |
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Written by Administrator
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Tuesday, 25 May 2010 |
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Aquinnah Tribe told their casino plan isn't feasible
By Will Richmond
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 24, 2010
 FALL RIVER — The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe thinks the city can have both a casino and a biopark under a plan presented to a City Council subcommittee Monday night.
Tribal gaming leaders told the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism that they would seek to build a destination resort casino on 240 acres owned by a private developer near the Westport and Dartmouth town lines. Their suggestion, however, was summarily decried as impossible by Corporation Counsel Steven Torres and Office of Economic Development Executive Vice President Kenneth Fiola, who told the three-member committee that the Aquinnah’s plan was not feasible due to accessibility issues and difficulties receiving proper permits.
Torres told the group that while the plan already agreed upon between the city and the Mashpee Wampanoags could result in a casino being constructed within the next two years, the complications facing the Aquinnahs would mean work on that site couldn’t happen for at least three years.
“Right now the only viable option, with viable access, financing ability that will get the shovels in the ground is the site we have an agreement on right now,” Torres said.
But Naomi Carney, chairwoman of the Aquinnah Gaming Corporation, told the committee they could present the best option for ensuring the proposed biopark remains within the city, while still enabling the city to get a piece of the gaming pie. She proposed building a self-sufficient destination casino that would include a resort and gaming facility, but not the extra amenities, such as the waterpark and shopping mall that is part of the Mashpee proposal. The site would also include housing for tribal members. She said the facility would be built with domestic funding and the project would start modestly and be built up.
She said the group had sat down with Mayor Will Flanagan on April 22 only to be told to come back in 30 days with a more detailed proposal. Before that time had arrived, however, the city and the Mashpees had announced their agreement on a casino for the 300 acres originally proposed for the biopark.
“If you had no intention of hearing our proposal, you shouldn’t have said come back in 30 days,” Carney said with an eye toward Torres and Fiola.
Despite claims from Torres the Aquinnah proposal was not possible, an attorney representing the tribe called the location a “tremendously viable site.”
Hearing the proposal, Councilor Linda Perreira said the city should first make sure the biopark is not lost and asked that other sites and potential partners for a casino be considered. She also questioned why talks with other groups had not been known when she had heard of interest from the Harrah’s casino group and other Indian tribes.
Despite the reluctance of city officials to recognize the Aquinnah’s proposal, Carney said the group is not prepared to abandon its plans.
“We haven’t thrown in the towel, by no means, so it’s up to the citizens of Fall River that I think most want to keep the biopark,” Carney said after the meeting.
http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x289835283/Aquinnah-Tribe-told-their-casino-plan-isnt-feasible |
