Casino Forum Fuels Foes of Indian Claims
                    By Don Casciato dcasciato@bcnnew.com

                    The American Indians seeking federal recognition and a site for a new casino in Bridgeport, as
                    many in this area believe, were absent at last Thursday's forum in Westport, but a letter from
                    Chief Quiet Hawk read by First Selectwoman Diane Goss Farrell created the biggest stir of the
                    evening.

                    The letter painted a grim scene if Indian land claims are ever approved in the state.

                    Chief Quiet Hawk is the council chief of the Golden Hill Tribe, Paugussett Indian Nation. He
                    didn't attend the meeting sponsored by the Citizens Against Casino Expansion (CACE) and
                    other tribal representatives also were absent.

                    "I was interested in that opening statement," said Jeff Benedict, author of Without Reservation,
                    and one of the speakers at the forum in Bedford Middle School. "If I'd written that statement
                    I'd not come either. They [Indians] don't have a site picked, but they do have a plan."

                    His book is about the Indian casino controversy.

                    "What the general public is unaware of is that ongoing efforts by the attorney general [Richard Blumenthal] and other
                    elected officials in Connecticut to prevent Native American Indian tribes from being recognized by the federal
                    government imperil the state budget, which is already almost $400 million in the red," said Chief Quiet Hawk in the
                    letter read by Farrell.

                    He continued: "Both the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans had legitimate land claims in Connecticut, claims they
                    voluntarily dropped after winning federal recognition and before they built their casinos (Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun,
                    respectively). Our tribe has land claims covering 750,000 acres, from Waterbury all the way down the coast to and
                    including Westport."

                    At another point, the tribal leader observed: "If just 10 percent of the Paugussetts' land claims in Connecticut are
                    upheld in the courts, it could cost the state approximately $1 billion. (That's on top of the $390 million deficit we are
                    now facing.)

                    "Sound farfetched? Consider that in March 2002, the state of New York was ordered to pay the Cayuga Indian Nation
                    $248 million in a land claim case similar to that of the Paugussetts. And that was for just 64,000 acres, not 750,000."

                    In the section of the forum in which some of the 55 people attending the meeting got a chance to speak, state Sen.
                    Judith Freedman (R-26) said she found the remarks insulting.

                    She asked Blumenthal, who was another panelist, "Do we have laws on extortion? To me it was extortion."

                    The attorney general said: "Extortion is a very serious term. But it raises a threat clear and imminent. The process of
                    recognition should not be 'You Make a Deal.'"

                    Stephanie H. Sanchez, the Democratic challenger in the Fourth Congressional contest against incumbent U.S. Rep.
                    Christopher Shays (R-4), also said she was concerned about the issue and all its ramifications. "I urge real reform of
                    the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)," she said.

                    Shays also says he is a critical of American Indian casinos, but he was absent from the forum.

                    Complaints Listed

                    Benedict, Mayor Wesley Johnson of Ledyard, where Foxwoods is located, and others listed problems they believe the
                    two casinos in eastern Connecticut have caused.

                    Ledyard police had added five cops since 1992 and North Stonington has two resident state troopers, according to
                    Johnson. "Crime is hard to measure," he said, noting that a lot of it is related to casino." The most serious case was
                    embezzlement by a former tax collector.

                    Johnson also claimed that economic spinoff and benefits of the casinos is a myth. "The casinos are self-contained," he
                    said. "There are no windows and no clocks. Visitors seldom stop to shop in the towns. The little guy in business
                    doesn't get a chance. These casino facilities have to have a serious impact on communities. I believe the quality of
                    life has been affected. The disadvantages outweigh the advantages."

                    Other complaints and problems include:

                    - Wear and tear on roads as the number of vehicles in the area near the casinos has soared.

                    - Lots of land put into trust and out of the control of the towns near the casinos.

                    - Increased cases in court. More visits to court raises costs for a community.

                    - Shortage of housing stock, so rental places become crowded.

                    - Difficulty in finding help, because most of the workers go to the casinos.

                    - Houses of prostitution.

                    "Nine tribes are looking for tribal recognition in Connecticut," said Mary Beth Gorke-Felice of Woodstock, who ran the
                    session at Bedford. "We want to spread the word about what happens when they [American Indians] are recognized
                    by the Bureau of Indian Affairs(BIA).] It seems to me Westport is the right place to be. It is better to be educated
                    and ready to pack since Westport is in the land claim area. We're threatened. If no casino then they might take these
                    lands. It is not about being Native American."

                    End Las Vegas Nights

                    Blumenthal also urged repeal of Las Vegas nights and other legalized gambling in the state.

                    Such events have been held on behalf of the Levitt Pavilion as a way to finance their summer programs. The Levitt
                    version of Las Vegas nights called casino nights here feature dinner and dancing, live and silent auctions and gaming
                    tables. However, play money is used at the tables and those with the most "money" at the end of the night receive
                    prizes.

                    All Vegas nights are different depending where they are held.

                    The attorney general, who also is running for a fourth term in the post, opposes the federal recognition of additional
                    tribes and expansion of gambling in the state.

                    He predicted that getting rid of legal gambling would at the very least stop a third casino in Connecticut. The Eastern
                    Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequots were recognized by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in June and announced
                    plans to build a casino. The Golden Hill Paugussett tribe also is seeking federal recognition, which many observers
                    believe is the first step toward building a casino in Bridgeport.

                    Blumenthal explained that he views the Las Vegas nights as "a legal linchpin" that opens doors to tribes seeking
                    casinos. "These events seeking casinos are not in the distant future," he said. "They are here and now. My preference
                    is to reject Vegas nights in a special session."

                    Westporter Freedman and state Sen. John McKinney (R-28) said they viewed the suggestion of Blumenthal favorably
                    and that other legislators shared their opinion.

                    Benedict and some others at the forum, however, said they thought it might be difficult to repeal the gaming
                    legislation which was put into place to help nonprofit groups.

                    The author also believes actions should be taken at the federal level and reform of the BIA pushed.

                    Freedman said she was optimistic that a special session, that would address the Las Vegas nights issue as well as
                    budget matters, would be held in November after Election Day.

                    "These land claims are not a hypothetical or theoretical threat," said Blumenthal. "I want to make one simple pledge.
                    We will fight them (their claims). We will organize. The facts are on our side. Land claims will not compel us to
                    surrender. There is some law here. We need to focus on future."

                    Amicus Momentum

                    Benedict also pointed out that 26 towns have now signed on to the amicus curiae brief against casinos in
                    southwestern Connecticut. "This is significant because it means the movement in the state is coming together," he
                    said. "So, the appeal is significant. We have a governor and attorney general shoulder to shoulder on this. We have a
                    growing number of citizen advocacy groups."

                    It was pointed out that similar forums had drawn more people in other places and some questioned if the site change
                    came too late.

                    During the question and answer session, Westport Chamber of Commerce President Lois Schine told a story about
                    her late husband after he had represented some Paugussetts in a case. He wondered, according to Mrs. Schine, if
                    there were any more than seven or eight of them.

                    She asked how much was involved in Las Vegas nights statewide. No one at the meeting knew exact statistics, but an
                    estimate of $265,000 was given. "That is not something of great consequence," she said. "There are other ways to
                    raise the money."

                    Stephen M. Rubin, a member of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM), asked Gorke-Felice what citizens can do.

                    "You're here tonight as an average Joe," she said. "It is about grass roots. Talk it up. Write it up. Gov. Rowland
                    started to pay attention. He has completely changed his position."

                    McKinney said the economic promise of prosperity with casinos is a myth. "There is nowhere that it has revitalized an
                    area. There is a message to get out. We all know about the traffic issues. Casinos don't bring the promise Bridgeport
                    needs."

                    Aid for State Cities

                    Westporter Micky Herbst said the state hasn't done enough to help its cities. Farrell and Blumenthal also cited that
                    flaw and others at the forum agreed that more had to be done.

                    "We need to recognize that Bridgeport has problems in this effort and come up with real ideas to help the city," said
                    Herbst. "We need to show the people looking for jobs that there are better ways to create jobs than a casino."

                    Blumenthal added: "Casinos are not the kind of attraction that is best for our cities. It is important to note that the
                    state has failed the communities."

                    In apparent contradiction to some of the comments from panelists, the attorney general praised the two casino tribes
                    for having "done a lot of good" and giving to charity.

                    Farrell, who started the evening by reading the Indian document, also concluded the session and announced that she
                    had copies of the Chief Quiet Hawk letter.

                    She suggested the Westport RTM debate a casino resolution.

                    The meeting started late without any apology or explanation from the organizers of the event or Farrell.