Posted on 11/04/2003 4:58:06 AM PST by 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."
But God helps those that helps themselves, and I am trying to help myself by trying to keep Maine's head above water. I am tired of Maine being such a poor and lowly state that we are constantly being laughed at.
But.........it's your world.......I'm just passing through!
How so, if the state has no auditing rights? What ever employment benefits are gained are offset by the under-reporting of taxes that will come because of this.
Just because Baldacci is against it, is not enough of a reason to be for it, IMHO. A stopped clock is right twice a day. Its bound to happen: some Dems can be right on a issue now and then.
I've seen what this exact same measure has done to California. Arnie's trying to get it repealed. I hope he succeeds. If you want casinos, fine. But make it fair to the state. The state must have auditing rights. This is not win-win.
Your saying we don't have all of that in the state of Maine already? You want to see poverty? Come to Caribou and look under the bridge. THEN you will see poverty living.
Alcohol/drug addiction? This state is FULL of drugs. And the deaths we see on Maine highways from drinking and driving is mind boggling. Especially among our youth.
Are you in the right forum??!!
I've had many dealings with Baldacci over the past 12 years. Starting back when he was Senator of Maine. I don't like him and I don't trust him. He is very devious my friend.
Sorry metesky. I missed the ping.
Personally, I'd rather see tax incentives for large companies to relocate to Maine. Boeing quit Seattle, why couldn't it come to Maine? If the Maine legislature makes it attractive for businesses to come here, everything else follows from that.
By which he means that he is ashamed of his culture, for some reason. The Indians in Maine/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick etc... have an eons old tradition of gambling - archeological evidence currently supports this view, and Alan Sockabasin is just being stupid.
If you are going to oppose the casino, the least you could do is use an honest valid reason for doing so, rather than posting untruths. You look foolish.
California tribal gaming has more regulation, more oversight, more rules and laws applying to it than any other jurisdiction in the nation.
There are three levels of regulation to California Indian gaming:
The first is the individual tribe’s tribal Gaming Commission. They’re employees of the tribe, but not the casino. The commission’s job includes background checks on employees, licensing key employees and vendors, addressing player disputes and ensuring game integrity. Each tribe’s technical and internal control standards, from accounting to surveillance, must meet NIGC’s minimum standards. Commissioners also must pass background checks.
Next is the state Division of Gambling Control for the California Department of Justice, which reports to the California Attorney General’s Office and is the state gaming enforcement agency. It is permitted access to all tribal casino license applications and can do its own suitability determination of employees.
If the state determines a person is unsuitable, the tribe must immediately dismiss them from employment. If the tribe wants to appeal, it must do so in state court
The tribes essentially granted the state gaming agency veto power over anybody being granted a license.
Also part of the state layer is the California Gambling Control Commission, a policy-making body that operates through the governor’s office.
The final layer is the NIGC, whose functions include running fingerprints and background checks through the FBI and ensuring compliance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.
The bottom line is, Indian Gaming in California is even more heavily regulated than the white people's gaming in Nevada, Atlantic City etc...
But go ahead, keep posting your outrageous falsehoods. I'm sure someone somewhere will believe you.
LOL! Try coming up here and fighting the traffic for the PHISH CONCERTS! You want TRAFFIC! Come and get it!
Where are you from, and why are you in here bad mouthing Mainers who care?
While I hate to be on the same side as mills, baldacci and the likes, a casino is imorral and for that reason I will vote agasint it as will most other Christians.:When did it become the government's job to make people act like "good Christians"?
-Eric
Huh? Sorry, that just doesn't scan. When have I bad mouthed anyone? Last time I looked, disagreeing with a person's viewpoint was not badmouthing them. Because I don't like the measure, doesn't mean I don't "care" -- or I'm bad-mouthing those that do. That's a bit off the wall. Good Lord, is that what debate has come to these days-- I disagree with you, so I hurt your feelings, so I'm "bad mouthing" you? Oh, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!
Because you quote me suggesting that Maine could do more to bring industry here, INSTEAD of preferrential treatment to one ethnic group for a casino, you imply that you don't want Maine to encourage industry to come here? I would have thought having a nice aerospace giant here would be a good thing. (There's no gambling in it, just high-tech stuff). That idea obviously pissed you off enough, I'll say no more about it.
I see no logic in this current gambling measure. I'm not against gambling per se - if that's what people want, but I want it to be fair to the state -- as I've asked before - what's wrong with a state issued gambling license-- why give preferrential treatment to one ethnic group over another? You don't answer that - so that suggests that you do want preferrential treatment for one ethnic group over another.
I'm in Maine, and I'll be voting NO.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.