Tuesday, October 28, 2008

THE QUARTERLY MEETING

WHEN I LEFT THE MEETING OF THE MOHEGAN QUARTERLY MEETING ON OCTOBER 19, 2008. I CAME AWAY WITH SOME THOUGHTS I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH MY READERSHIP.

FIRST ON THE SUBJECT OF THE BUSINESS DEALINGS OF THE MOHEGAN SUN CASINO, I CAME AWAY FEELING WE (THE MOHEGAN TRIBE) ARE IN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF CONTINUED LOSSES. IN MY OPINION, BOTH CASINOS ARE NOT DOING VERY WELL FINANCIALLY. I THINK THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MOHEGAN SUN IS DOING A GOOD JOB UNDER TOUGH ECONOMICAL TIMES. I BELIEVE SOMEONE MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WILL BE OUT IN THE CABARET UNTIL SOMETIME IN MARCH, 2009. IN MY OPINION, THE ONLY WAY TO PAY THE $330 MILLION DUE IN 2009 BY THE MOHEGAN SUN IS TO BORROW ANOTHER $330 MILLION TO PAY THE MONIES DUE. HOW MUCH MORE IS THIS GOING TO COST? IS IT INTEREST ON TOP OF INTEREST?

ON THE SUBJECT OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER BUILDING, I BELIEVE WE WERE TOLD THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONTRACTED FOR 88% OF THE WORK. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCING IN PLACE. I CAME AWAY BELIEVING THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL TRY TO FINANCE IT IN TWO PARTS.
IT BECAME QUITE EVIDENT THAT WE SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS AT THIS TIME.

WE SHUT DOWN A HOTEL (PROJECT HORIZON) AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $734 MILLION, BUT ARE GOING TO FINANCE BETWEEN AN ESTIMATED $89 TO $100 MILLION? WHAT IS WRONG HERE? HOW ARE THE TRIBAL COUNCIL BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE?

THERE WERE COMMENTS ABOUT BOTH BLOGS, FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS. AS FAR AS THE STORIES ABOUT THE SAGA,MORE LIVING AT FORT HILL, I HAVE ALREADY PUT THE TWO ARTICLES UP FOR THE MOHEGAN TRIBE TO RE-READ. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO HAS PROBLEMS WITH WHAT BOTH EDITORS DID, THEY SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE SAGAMORE AND TALK TO HIM. I BELIEVE HE WILL CONFIRM EXACTLY WHAT BOTH FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS WROTE.

THE SUBJECT OF BRINGING A GOOD STANDING CASE FORWARD, I WELCOME IT. I WOULD LIKE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE BROUGHT IN AS WITNESSES: 1) THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WITNESSED THE SAGAMORE FALL DOWN, 2) THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ADMINISTRATOR, 3) THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE CONTRACT THAT THE SAGAMORE SIGNED, 4) THE HEAD OF PUBLIC WORKS, 5) THE SAGAMORE, 6)HIS FAMILY, AND 7) THE STAFF OF FORT HILL ELDER HOUSING. I BELIEVE IF SOMEONE BRINGS A GOOD STANDING AND IT IS FOUND TO BE FRIVOLOUS THEN THAT PERSON CAN ALSO BE CHARGED WITH A GOOD STANDING.

THE TREATS OF GOOD STANDING HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE, ONE TIME, CHAIRMAN BRUCE "TWO DOGS" BOZSUM, THREATENED IF ANYTHING WAS PRINTED THAT NIGHT AFTER A MEETING HE WOULD BRING A GOOD STANDING CHARGE. HOW DARE ANY MOHEGAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL THREATEN THE PRESS.

I CAME AWAY FROM THE MEETING WITH THE FEELING THAT WE WERE GETTING A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. IN MY OPINION,THE MOHEGAN TRIBE ARE IN FOR SERIOUS AND DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES. WHEN I WENT TO THE MEETING I FELT TRIBAL MEMBERS WOULD SPEAK UP AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING. THEY DID NOT. I STILL BELEIVE THE MAJORITY OF THE TRIBE AT THIS TIME DO NOT WANT A GOVERNMENT COMMUNTIY CENTER. I DO NOT THINK WHAT IS PLANNED WILL WORK. I THINK WE SHOULD NOT BE BUILDING A GOVERNMENT BUILDING. WHO BUILDS SOMETHING WITH OUT THE FINANCING IN PLACE? HOW MUCH WILL IT ACTUALLY COST OVER HOW MANY YEARS AND AT WHAT INTEREST RATE? YOU COULD NEVER DO THIS ON OUR OWN PERSONAL HOUSES, SO WHY ARE WE DOING THIS ON THE GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY CENTER? MAYBE WE SHOULDN'T? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Where is the accountability?
What is the worse case scenario if we go ahead and build the new offices / community center without the monies readily available? I know some lender out there will provide funding to the Tribe but at what cost (interest rate)? Who personally (other than the rank and file tribal member in their stipend) will be held accountable for going forth with this ill conceived project?
I am not signing this note as the threat of a “good standing” judgement looms over all our heads. We just want to be heard and to hear the truth in return. What is wrong here?
So many questions.

Autumn Rain Eyes said...

Hmmm. Threat of good/bad standing... Well, if they do that to me for speaking from my heart... at this place in my life, the only way left for me to go is... UP! B-Cuz, between my disability, struggling to make financial ends meet, having an old clunker car, living in a beloved, 'dear old house,' rented by the Tribe, that I do love so much, really, but I am the one who has to fix what gets broken, and I have no idea how long they are going to let me stay until I become considered 'homeless,' AGAIN... The way my life story has been written... Getting kicked out of a Tribe for speaking my mind about the truth, that is utterly ridiculous. I am not saying anything wrong. For someone to say that they fear 'that,' is allowing scare tactics to run their lives. Again, it reminds me of the Election 2008... Unbelievable. MAY GOD BLESS THE PEACEMAKERS AND THE BIG JOB THEY HAVE AHEAD OF THEM!