Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is one step closer to a casino near Easton's border in Taunton.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has once again taken a step forward in its quest to open a tribal casino 10 miles from Easton's border. Late Tuesday, the tribe signed a new agreement with Gov. Deval Patrick ensuring it would provide 17 percent of the potential Taunton casino's revenue to the state, according to the Boston Globe. A compact signed last year that would have sent 21.5 percent of its revenue to the state was rejected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs for its high number. If this agreement is approved by the Federal Government and built in Taunton, it would be located at the intersection of Routes 24 and 140. Easton Planning Director Gary Anderson told selectmen last month that should a casino be approved in Taunton, the Shovel Town …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Gov. Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag have reached another agreement, the Boston Herald Reports
Governor Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reportedly close to finalizing an agreement for a $500 million casino 10 miles from Easton on the intersection of Route 140 and Route 24 in Taunton. Patrick said Thursday that his administration has reached an agreement-in-principle on a revised casino compact with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, according to the Boston Herald. An original request was denied by the Bureau of Indian Affairs last year. Easton officials have previously expressed concerns about casinos both in Taunton and a possible gaming resort across Easton's border in Raynham. For more, click here.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
A casino built on the intersection of Route 24 and Route 140 by the Mashpee Wampanoags could be "reassessed" and possibly open to new bidders, according to the Boston Herald.
The Massachusetts State Gaming Board gave the Mashpee Wampanoags 90 days to reach a deal with Gov. Deval Patrick to build a casino in Taunton, 10 miles from Easton's border, according to the Boston Herald. Lack of action in 90 days could open things up to commercial bidders, the Herald reported. The Wampanoags are looking to build a casino at the intersection of Route 24 and Route 140, approximately 10 miles from Easton's border. An original deal reached with Patrick was denied by the Federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. The prospect of a casino in the area has led to many opponents, and even sparked a petition against it's construction. Easton Officials expressed reservations over the summer of a casino so close to the Shovel Town citing …
Thursday, October 18, 2012
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will allow the tribe to renegotiate a compact for a casino in Taunton
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will give the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe another chance to renegotiate its compact to put a casino approximately 10 miles from Easton's border, Southcoasttoday.com reported Wednesday. Plans for the casino in Taunton hit a roadblock last week when the U.S. Department of Interior rejected the agreement between Governor Deval Patrick and the tribe. According to Southcoasttoday.com, the commission has the authority to put the Southeastern Massachusetts license out to competitive bid. The state legislation gives the commission the role of deciding whether the tribe has the ability to get its federal land approvals completed. The Tribe and the Governor will be back at the table, however. "The Compact calls for us…
Friday, October 12, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick calls casino news a "setback in what has been a long journey."
Talks to build a casino in Taunton, just 10 miles away from the Easton, suffered a major setback Friday when the US Department of Interior rejected the casino agreement between Governor Deval Patrick and the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. Upon hearing the news, Patrick released a statement promising to renegotiate. "The Compact calls for us to resume negotiations in the face of a federal disapproval and requires legislative approval of any renegotiated compact," Patrick said. "Those conversations will begin in earnest as we work with our partners in the legislature to determine next steps and the tribe’s land in trust application continues to be reviewed by Interior. I remain committed to striking an appropriate balance which protects the best …
Thursday, October 4, 2012
There are over 220 signatures in the past week against a casino in Taunton, 10 miles from Easton's border.
Opponents of a casino in Taunton are making sure their voices are heard loud and clear. An online petition, started on Change.org by East Taunton resident Michelle Littlefield, has generated over 220 electronic signatures in the past week. The petition is addressed to members of the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs and United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and includes 16 points as to why casino progress should be halted. According to Southcoasttoday.com, the Mashpee Womponoag Tribe met all the deadlines in the state's Expanded Gaming Act to be granted the exclusive rights to operate a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts. Its only remaining hurdles are BIA approval of the compact by mid-October and…
Thursday, September 13, 2012
The state sent a letter this week urging "early and expeditious approval."
The state is pushing hard for fast action regarding a casino 10 miles from the Easton town border in Taunton. According to Southcoasttoday.com, the state sent a letter this week urging "early and expeditious approval" even though the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has yet to file all the required documents in its application for the federal government to take 316 acres into federal trust. The urging came in the form of a 13-page letter issued by Mark Reilly, Governor Deval Patrick's Chief Counsel. In Easton, officials have expressed concerns about a casino so close to the Shovel Town (the proposed Taunton casino is at the intersection of Route 24 and 140). At a recent selectmen's meeting, Acting Director of Community Planning Stephanie Danielson …
Monday, September 3, 2012
A casino 10 miles from Easton is one step closer to a done deal.
- GOVERNMENT
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Monday, September 3, 2012
The New Bedford Standard Times reported Saturday that Gov. Deval Patrick has officially filed the compact reached between the tribe and state with the federal Department of the Interior, a spokesman said Friday. In a letter dated Friday and addressed to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Patrick urges support of the deal, which would pay the state 21.5 percent of gross gambling revenue from a proposed $500 million casino in Taunton, just 10 miles from Easton's border.
Friday, July 20, 2012
The State Senate postponed ratification of the deal Thursday. The casino would be approximately 10 miles from Easton's border.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, July 20, 2012
In a parliamentary maneuver Thursday, New Bedford Democrat Sen. Mark C.W. Montigny made a nondebatable "lay-on-the-table" motion that automatically postponed further Senate consideration of the compact for a casino in Taunton until its next formal session, which would not happen before next week, according to the New Bedford Standard Times. Ratification of the compact by the Senate is the last remaining state hurdle for the tribe, which is proposing a $500 million casino in the Liberty and Union Industrial Park at the junction of Route 24 and 140 in East Taunton, approximately 10 miles from Easton's border. Once the Senate endorsement is secured, the tribe needs the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to approve the compact and the Department…
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Casino will likely be built in Taunton. How do you think that will affect Easton?
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, July 12, 2012
Gov. Deval Patrick inked an official deal with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe for a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts this morning, marking the most significant development so far in the highly competitive Bay State casino sweepstakes, according to the Boston Herald. The Wampanoag tribe wants to build a casino in Taunton, where voters approved a non-binding ballot referendum supporting the concept at the polls last month. To read the full story in the Herald, click here. How do you think a casino in Taunton will affect Easton? Tell us in comments!
Janet Sroczynski
7:05 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
With a casino "App" on your cellphone, it makes a physical casino obsolete. more ›