City blasts tribal provisions in Massachusetts gaming bill

Friday, October 21, 2011  

The city council in New Bedford, Massachusetts, took action to oppose tribal provisions in a gaming bill that has been approved by state lawmakers.

The bill authorizes casinos in three regions of the state. Region C -- which includes New Bedford -- is reserved for "a federally recognized tribe."

City council members criticized the provision, saying it holds their region hostage to tribal interests. Another provision gives the state until July 2012 to negotiate a Class III gaming compact.

"The way this language is constructed, it will make us wait," said councilor Denis Lawrence Jr., The New Bedford Standard-Times reported.

Ultimately, the council voted 10-1 to ask Attorney General Martha Coakley to look into the legality of the tribal provisions of the bill. In a separate vote, the council agreed to ask lawmakers to remove the tribal provisions from the bill.

Region C is home to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe. Both tribes are interested in a casino.

The Mashpees did not send a representative to the meeting. An Aquinnah representative read a brief statement but did not take questions, the Standard-Times reported.

Get the Story:
Casino bill ripped: 'Nothing is going to happen in New Bedford' (The New Bedford Standard-Times 10/21)

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