Maine: Anti-casino activists bow out of contentious Bangor rally

Bangor Daily News ^ | 11-03-03 | JULIA HALL

[SheLion]

BANGOR - A planned rally in opposition to a proposed Indian-backed $650 million resort casino  in Maine was silenced by the shouts and protests of casino supporters Saturday in front of City Hall.What was supposed to be a public rally on the steps of City Hall featuring Maine Gov. John Baldacci (D)  turned into a small press conference held inside a nearby office. As pro-casino representatives shouted "no more lies" and "yes for jobs," representatives from Casinos No! packed up their signs and left, to the delight of the pro-casino crowd.

"We're not into shouting matches," Janet Mills, a spokeswoman for Casinos No!, said during the press conference. "What we see outside is an example of desperate politics. They know the people of Maine have seen the light."

The latest polls suggest that opposition to Question 3  has reached nearly 60 percent heading into election day, when voters will decide whether to allow the Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe to open a casino in Maine. The projected location for the resort casino is Sanford, in southern Maine.

Dennis Bailey, a spokesman for Casinos No!, said the decision to pull the plug on the rally stemmed from a fear that the safety of anti-casino representatives was at risk.

Despite Bailey's concerns, Sgt. James Owens from the Bangor Police Department said nobody from Casinos No! reported any threats of violence to the officers present at the rally. He also said both groups had permits to hold a rally at that time. No arrests were made.

"We respect their right to say what they have to say, but clearly they didn't respect ours. They were picking a fight," Bailey said. (ahhhhhhhh)

But casino supporters claimed victory after the anti-casino rally was canceled, and the cheers and shouts could be heard from protesters standing outside during the press conference. At a pro-casino rally held earlier in the day, Erin Lehane, spokeswoman for the political action committee Think About It, said casino supporters would continue their efforts until voters go to the polls tomorrow.

"The people are going to win this election. This is about putting people first. Nobody is standing up for the people of Maine. Nobody. We are not going to let the politicians and the millionaires take this opportunity away from the people in Maine," she said.

Supporters of the casino claim it will boost Maine's economy by providing good-paying jobs and $100 million in annual tax revenue to the state.

"Right now our families are working two part-time jobs, so the wage needs to go up," Vi Raymond, spokeswoman for the Maine American Federation of Labor, said during the pro-casino rally. "Labor unions make wages go up, and they bring in benefits and health care."

Debbie Kondilis, spokeswoman for the Penobscot Nation, said the casino would be good for everyone in Maine, not just the tribes.

"We need to put Maine back on the map," she said.

But opponents of the casino say it is not a quick fix to Maine's dwindling economy.

Maine humorist Tim Sample, who was part of the anti-casino press conference, said the proposed casino would ruin Maine's quality of life. (WHAT quality of life?!)

"A lot of people have been misled and have bought the line about jobs," he said. "Whatever the answers are [to Maine's economic problems], they're not simple answers."

Bailey, who calls the proposed casino a "bad deal for Maine," said he is not sure if Casinos No! will try to hold another rally in Bangor before Election Day.

He also said he was reluctant to bring Gov. Baldacci to a public rally because of safety concerns. (He's only 5'4". Wouldn't take much to take him down. heh)

"[The casino supporters] follow us everywhere we go," he said.

Also part of the press conference was former Passamaquoddy tribal Gov. Allen Sockabasin, who said he is opposed to a resort casino in Maine for cultural reasons. ??!!

"It goes against our grain. One of our values is not to take advantage of people," said Sockabasin, who presided over the Passamaquoddy Tribe from 1972 until 1976.

Those at the anti-casino press conference said they were not running away from a debate.

"We've always invited dialogue," Mills said. "This [Saturday's opposing rallies] is a shouting match - that's not what we're about."

[Chad Fairbanks]

THere's no pizza boxes, no... and that's all I'm gonna say on that...

[Devil_Anse]

Well, he's still young enough to be your son!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Well, a revenue generator was voted down, and revenue-eating items passed. Guess Maine IS getting more liberal as time goes on, too.

Too bad. I love that State...

[Chad Fairbanks]

Only exceptional specimens of human kind are allowed to have the name "Chad". Don't hate me because I'm beautiful. ;0)

[metesky]

I hope you lose your ass shirt money. Try the slots they're easy and they pay well...honest. No skill level needed, which should be right up your, uh, alley.
:O)

[metesky]

What's THAT tell ya?

Um, that they'd rather do anything... ANYTHING than spend one more minute with you than necessary.

[Madame Dufarge]

Please make sure you bring armed bodyguards with you lest you mistakenly wander into the horribly blighted areas that inevitably surround casinos.

What breathtaking hypocrisy.

[dennisw]

Many good laughs there Chad. You only confirm what a great game racket the tribes have when it comes to casinos and selling low taxes gasoline on reservations. You only confirm the tribal racket of being sovereign when you want to build casinos and sell gasoline and tobacco. And not sovereign nations when you have so many federal social welfare programs to get money from.

Tribal social welfare programs. Some are available to al Americans and some exclusively for Indians on reservations? Off reservations?

http://www.cfda.gov/query/query.idq?CiMaxRecordsPerPage=10&CiScope=%2F&CiRestriction
=tribal&TemplateName=query&CiSort=rank%5Bd%5D&HTMLQueryForm=query.htm

 

58.	15.033 - Road Maintenance_Indian Roads
	Abstract: 15.033 Road Maintenance_Indian Roads. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Federal Highway Act of 1921, as amended, Public Law 70-520, 45 Stat. 750, 25 U.S.C. 318(a) Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450.OBJECTIVES: To provide li
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15033.htm size 8,424 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:35 PM GMT
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73.	15.146 - Ironworker Training Program
	Abstract: 15.146 Ironworker Training Program. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Adult Vocational Training Act of 1956, Public Law 84-959, 70 Stat. 986, as amended; Public Law 88-230, 77 Stat. 471, 25 U.S.C. 309.
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15146.htm size 7,298 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:28 PM GMT
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74.	15.065 - Safety of Dams on Indian Lands
	Abstract: 15.065 Safety of Dams on Indian Lands. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; Snyder Act of 1921, 25 U.S.C. 13, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208; Indian Dams Safety Act of 1994, Public Law
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15065.htm size 9,004 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:20 PM GMT
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75.	15.063 - Improvement and Repair of Indian Detention Facilities
	Abstract: 15.063 Improvement and Repair of Indian Detention Facilities. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, 25 U.S.C. 450 et seq. as amended, Title IV; Tribal Self-Governance Act of 1994, PubliOBJECTIVES: To provide sa
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15063.htm size 9,121 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:28 PM GMT
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76.	15.040 - Real Estate Programs_Indian Lands
	Abstract: 15.040 Real Estate Programs_Indian Lands. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; 60 Stat. 1097, 25 U.S.C. 176; Indian Land Consolidation Act; Act of March 3, 1901; Act of March 3, 1921; Reo
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15040.htm size 11,045 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:35 PM GMT
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77.	15.038 - Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands
	Abstract: 15.038 Minerals and Mining on Indian Lands. FEDERAL AGENCY: BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR. AUTHORIZATION: Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Public Law 93-638, as amended, 25 U.S.C. 450; Snyder Act of 1921, Public Law 67-85, 42 Stat. 208, 25 U.S.C. 13; Indian Minerals Development Act, Public La
	http://www.cfda.gov/static/15038.htm size 9,659 bytes - 10/22/2003 12:52:35 PM GMT
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[Devil_Anse]

Prematurely?? In your forties?

So this Foxwoods place is a gambling joint? Why do you so often visit with your family at gambling centers (Vegas, etc.)?

[Devil_Anse]

Seriously, ed, if I found myself in a gambling joint on Thanksgiving, I'd have to kill myself. It was bad enough when one Thanksgiving, after we ate, my brother wanted to go to a bar! Ewwww!