Sep 3, 2008 4:42 pm US/Eastern
Gov.: Casino Negotiations Hypothetical Right Now
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has formally asked Gov. Deval Patrick to begin negotiations for a casino compact.
The tribe's chairman, Shawn Hendricks, signed the three-page letter Tuesday.
WBZ spoke to Patrick on Wednesday about the letter. He said the tribe needs to get a hold of the land first before formal negotiations can really take place. "We want to be constructive, we need to be responsible. We don't want to be hasty," he said.
The tribe and the state would have to hammer out many details, including what amount of the slot revenue would go to the state. "I am not sure what that number is but that's what I will be negotiating," Hendricks said.
In his letter to Gov. Patrick, Hendricks asks for "immediate commencement of compact negotiation which will lead to a positive result for Massachusetts."
But he concludes by saying, "No matter what ultimately happens with the negotiations, the tribe's intent is to operate a resort casino in Middleboro."
The Mashpee tribe can only do that if they get federal approval to claim 500 acres of land in Middleboro for the possible casino.
The governor said any talks right now would be hypothetical. "I respect the tribe, and I respect their interests, but until the land and trust is sorted out, there's not a whole lot that's meaningful about those conversations."
The tribe said they expect federal approval for the land next year.
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