Letter to the Editor

75 million dollar expansion… a vote between the ‘haves, and the ‘have nots;

Dear Editor

4/19/2011

I recently read a letter written by Agnes Terrance and I wanted to comment and support her position of ‘being of one mind’, which in my opinion is the only solution to the proposed expansion of the Casino. Maybe her past candidacy should have been taken more seriously by the voters. I don’t feel the answer to this proposal is to character assassinate Tarbell Management. After all, this business is credited with providing jobs to everyone for the last fifty years. The Tarbell family started a retail business when everyone thought it wasn’t worth the trouble. They had enough fortitude to keep the family business running long enough to enjoy favorable Supreme Court rulings in the 70’s and 80’s concerning Native American sovereignty, these rulings helped build the empire they have today. The Tarbell family is a shining example of a free capitalist society, and they should not be lambasted for their hard work. When competition exists, the consumer wins. In order to promote an expansion at the Casino, I don’t think that it’s right to burn a Mohawk family at the stake. We need to make an educated vote based solely upon the merits of the expansion and therein lies the core issue. I hope that the elected body and the Casino respond to this proposal in a more appropriate manner in order to achieve their goal.

There are very difficult questions that need to be answered by both the elected body and the Casino, and the first question has to do with the projected added revenue into the Territory. What is the language in our Compact with the State of New York concerning the distribution of this added revenue? Are the State and the surrounding Counties entitled to an increase in their share? I don’t know about anyone else but I am tired of reading about capital improvement projects being implemented in Fort Covington, Bombay, and Massena, while the Mohawk Nation has little to show for its sovereignty. How many families have suffered grief over the loss of a loved one walking along the side of the road, these victims sole mission was to find their way home. In the meantime, residents in the towns around our Territory enjoy new sidewalks. Critics of my letter would say that it’s impractical to install sidewalks along Rt. 37 and all the secondary roads, but that’s not my point. Mohawk sovereignty just seems to benefit non-native people much better, is that why the Casino and the elected body want an increase in our revenue? So we can improve the lives of our neighbors even more? Why not start a monthly per capita for these entities and just get it over with?

There are still several Mohawk families in Hogansburg who do not have the luxury of a centralized water line to supply clean, safe water to their households, meanwhile Fort Covington, Massena recently upgraded their systems to meet the needs of their residents. These entities have installed waterlines, upgraded sewer lines and resurfaced their roadways. So far, I haven’t figure out why I would vote ‘yes’ for the expansion, what’s the incentive?

The CEO of the Casino, Pat Bassney, needs to provide some statistics for the projected revenues from the Hotel expansion. Why would he lobby for the Tribe to take a risk of putting us in debt 75 million unless he was sure of the Casino’s future? Why would banks help finance this project unless they were sure of their investment? Job creation is the priority coming from Albany and Washington, are we getting any Stimulus money for this endeavor? How many jobs will this hotel provide? What is the ratio of the Native vs. non-Native employment at the Casino since it opened ten years ago? 50/50? 60/40? 70/30? Can we expect the same from the Hotel expansion? There are many Mohawk single heads of household families that pay rent or have HUD mortgage payments. They need entry level jobs with benefits, will this expansion address this area?

If the vote were to take place tomorrow, I would encourage voters to go to the polls and show their unhappiness and vote ‘no’. If you’re a single parent with multiple dependents and pumping gas with no benefits, vote ‘no’. If you’re a Mohawk homeowner of Hogansburg without safe, clean water from the Tribe, vote ‘no”. If you lost a loved one walking alongside the road, think about the brand new sidewalks in the Towns around us and vote ‘no’. These are the issues we need to address with this referendum.

Sincerely,

Peter J Terrance