FALL RIVER – A Superior Court judge in New Bedford is set to assess the suit seeking to stop the land sale of 45 acres to the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe on Tuesday at 2 p.m., The Herald News reported.
Ten taxpayers filed a suit Friday seeking a temporary and permanent injunction “ordering the defendant to refrain from any further and future action relating to the sale of the subject lands for purposes of casino/gaming and related purposes.”
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The $4.7 million sale was approved 3-1 by the Redevelopment Authority. Its opponents claim it violates the Bioreserve Act for the development of 300 acres mostly in Fall River and some in Freetown, The Herald News reported. The approval also gave the Mashpees the option to purchase the remaining acreage for $21 million in addition to a $225,000 deposit.
“My complaint is it’s the cart before the horse,” said Lesley Rich, attorney representing the taxpayer group. His reasoning lies in the fact that the state has not legalized casino gambling, the Mashpees have not received federal sovereign land authorization to use it for that purpose, and that the deed restriction excludes using the land for casino or gambling purposes,” according to The Herald News.
Rich also issued a letter to the Redevelopment Authority on behalf of the Pocasset tribe, which contends that the Mashpee tribe has “no social or political ties” to Fall River and should not be allowed to purchase land “a half-mile from the lands that have been reserved for use by the Pocasset tribe in the Freetown State Forest.”
The Herald News noted that William Kenney, Redevelopment Authority chairman, said that “the risk is on [the buyers]” concerning the prohibition on casino gambling.
“The buyers are taking the title subject to the restriction,” he said.
Beacon Hill politicians misstated the threat of a Tribal Casino, ignoring 2 SCOTUS decisions to suit their purposes and cram through flawed ‘casino’ legislation, while Fall River officials have betrayed the residents and taxpayers of a beautiful City that possesses great potential.
Fall River City Officials have danced around a land sale, ignoring legal opinion from the IG, failing to ensure additional revenues to protect citizens against the increased costs and impacts of predatory gambling.
The land sale hands wealthy investors prime commercial land for $100,000 per acre.
Instead, the Mayor chose to reward wealthy Malaysian investors with a tax free, low cost venture for a profitable Slot Barn deal.
On the right side of the Fall River Herald News article, you will find the injunction issued by Judge Richard T. Moses, the Ten Taxpayers Complaint, the RDA response and the Purchase & Sales Memo.
They are worth reading both for what they contain and what the DON’T contain.
Nowhere is there consideration of monies Fall River will receive from the Tribe, in lieu of taxes. This is a business deal for the City’s future, not a charity.
At the very least, the City should reasonably expect a percentage of slots participation, worth at least $20-$30 million per year to cover additional costs.
Can we blame the failure of leaders, including the Mayor, to conduct public discussions that consider the increased costs to the City solely on ignorance?
When the City is bankrupt by increased public safety costs caused solely by this “Something for Nothing Scheme,” residents will bear the burden.
Can we blame the Fall River Herald News for its failure to ask the right questions?
Foxwoods has defaulted.
Mohegan Sun laid off 350 employees, “redeployed” 120, reduced their workforce by 900, closed restaurants, froze upper management salaries.
Twin Rivers is in bankruptcy.
Casinos around the country are filing bankruptcy. Tribal Casinos have simply stopped making payments.
How is this sensible economic development for Fall River?
Who is protecting Fall River residents while wealthy foreign investors are rewarded?
This could be your town.