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Dan Haar: Tribal casino a bad idea for airport in Connecticut

By Dec. 15, the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohegans hope to pick a winner. They will jointly run the casino — if the state legislature and the governor approve the deal, and if a lawsuit by MGM is resolved, and if the host town signs on (Windsor Locks selectmen voted no but will have a post-election do-over), and if lenders agree to cough up huge bucks for a casino in a part of the world that's getting very saturated with gambling.

Lots of big ifs. The casino absolutely will not be the economic boon its backers hope to see, and it's not the sort of long-term development Connecticut needs. But it will bring jobs for a few years and probably at least break even.

The region's airport would seem the nuttiest location imaginable. Other bids have much to offer, including a glitzy plan across from Rentschler Field in East Hartford and a spot with great I-91 access in East Windsor — both at vacant former Showcase Cinemas sites.

The whole point of an airport, besides pitting Starbucks against Dunkin' Donuts, is to move millions of people safely in and out of a funnel with as little fuss as possible. A casino doesn't help that cause and could hurt it.