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October 2019 Mittark

Tribe Support Mass Gaming Commission Decision on Region C

On Thursday, September 12, 2019, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, by a vote of 3-1 issued their second public rejection of the project proposed by Massachusetts Gaming and Entertainment (MG&E), and its chairman Neil Bluhm. MG&E, a subsidiary of Bluhm’s Rush Street Gaming, had previously proposed a $677 million resort casino at the Brockton Fairgrounds, but was soundly rejected by the Commission in 2016 by a vote of 4-1. The Commission’s vote on Thursday effectively doubled down on its prior rejection of Bluhm’s proposal by dismissing MG&E’s demand for an automatic casino license contrary to existing law. The Commission confirmed that it had the authority to reconsider Bluhm’s project, but made it clear there are not “sufficient grounds” to grant any such reconsideration for Bluhm. In response to his second public rejection, Bluhm erupted to proclaim he was walking away from Brockton. “I can’t hang around. I’ve been doing this for more than five years”, spouted Bluhm.

Chairman Cedric Cromwell of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, who was quick to point out the irony in Bluhm’s frustration, states “With two flat out rejections of Neil Bluhm by the Commission the reality is pretty clear that Bluhm has not been honest with the people of Brockton and has no real ties to our Commonwealth. Steve Crosby, the former Chairman of the Commission had it right back in 2016 when he said Bluhm’s proposal for a casino in a school parking lot had “a downside of actually undercutting economic development rather than lifting economic development.”

 

Chairman's Column

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Wunee keesuq Tribal family,

We are a strong, resilient and intelligent people. You can’t walk through our land, visit our homes or our Community and Government Center without seeing just how correct that statement is. We are strong. We are resilient. We are intelligent. These are facts that cannot be changed.

Yes, we have differences of opinion. That’s a sign of a healthy community.

 

David Weeden Elected as Mashpee Selectman

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With 804 votes, David Weeden was elected to the Mashpee Board of Selectman to finish an 8-month term during a special election held on October 1. David brings much needed balance to the town board and is the first Mashpee Wampanoag to be elected since Chuckie Green held a seat from 2000-2009.

The unofficial special town election results that were released on October 1 are:

  • Michael Richardson - 571

  • Elana Doyle - 428

  • David Weeden - 804

  • Robert Bono - 70

 

Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark


List of Committee and Board Seat Openings