Opinion: Dirty tricks in off-reservation casino fight

Thursday, March 13, 2008

"Political dirty tricks are being waged in Michigan and Washington, D.C., against my community and Wayne County reportedly by political operatives connected to Las Vegas casino giant MGM.

Residents of Romulus have supported the efforts of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to build a modern casino/hotel in our community. The $300 million investment would create 2,700 full-time jobs and 1,400 union construction jobs with high wages and full benefits. Moreover, the tribe has agreed to pay about $30 million a year to the state and millions more to Romulus and other local communities. This would be a welcome economic boost for all of Wayne County, where unemployment is a staggering 9 percent.

The project (and a similar development in Port Huron with another tribe) is made possible through written land settlement agreements with former Gov. John Engler and current Gov. Jennifer Granholm. The agreements create a land swap that ends an ugly chapter in Michigan history when land was stolen from the tribes 120 years ago. Federal approval of the land swap that extinguishes lingering court cases is needed for the investment to begin.

U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Candace Miller, R-Harrison Township, support federal legislation to approve the land claim settlements. Other supporters include key organized labor groups and U.S. Reps. Bart Stupak, D-Menominee and Dale Kildee, D-Flint.

Yet, the pending federal legislative approval is being attacked by owners of other Michigan casinos to foil competition. In the past month, you may have received mail or heard ads on Detroit-area radio stations from groups identifying themselves as Gambling Watch -- Michigan and Americans for Gaming Reform. The message was basically the same: "Two new Indian casinos may be coming to Romulus and Port Huron, so ask your member of Congress to stop them.""

Get the Story:
Alan R. Lambert: Don't let MGM's tricks derail Romulus casino (The Detroit News 3/13)

Another Opinion:
Editorial: Casino quest needs help from Senate (The Port Huron Times Herald 3/13)