Editorial: Get over it, Mashpee Wampanoag casino deal is dead

Friday, August 20, 2010

"Middleboro officials say they are mystified why the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians would want all the records from the broken deal that would have placed a $1 billion casino complex in town.

But it really shouldn’t matter to local officials. Middleboro collected $1 million from the Indians when it looked like the deal was moving forward. They should consider that a bonus and be thankful. There was never any guarantee that the state or federal government was going to allow the casino to be built, so we wonder why Middleboro is still hung up on the broken deal and is considering its legal options.

Here’s the bottom line. The casino deal is dead, thanks to a bad economy and a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court. As to why the Indians would pay $3,000 for copies of the documents, and not say why, well, does it really matter?"

Get the Story:
OPINION: Middleboro still hung up on casino (GateHouse News Service 8/20)

Relevant Documents:
Secretary Salazar Memo on Gaming Land Applications | Press Release: Interior Details Path Forward on Indian Gaming Policy

Related Stories:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe asks town for casino deal documents (8/18)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe adds casino to land-into-trust bid (8/12)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe hopeful on Massachusetts gaming (8/11)
City approves sale of land for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino (7/23)
City will sell land for Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino for $21M (7/22)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe adds new site to land-into-trust bid (7/13)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe hopeful on casino land application (6/30)
Salazar tells BIA to continue work on gaming land applications (6/28)