EARTH TOWER STOPPED

AT A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL GAMING AUTHORITY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED, THAT BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION OF THE COUNTRY THAT THE WORK ON THE EARTH TOWER (PROJECT HORIZON HOTEL) WAS BEING SUSPENDED FOR AT LEAST 12 MONTHS.

DELAYED OR MAYBE GONE FOREVER ARE THE FOLLOWING: 1) 39 FLOOR HOTEL , 2) 261 HOUSE OF BLUES THEMED ROOMS, 3) 658 OTHER HOTEL ROOMS, 4) 7,500 SQUARE- FOOT HOUSE OF BLUES FOUNDATION ROOM, 5) 40,000 SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL SPACE, 6)250 SEAT HOUSE OF BLUES RESTAURANT, 7) 22,000 SQUARE FOOT SPA, AND 8) THE HOUSE OF BLUES MUSIC HALL.

ALSO STOPPED IS THE EXTENSION TO THE WINTER GARAGE PARKING LOT. THERE WILL BE SOME NEW WAY TO CONNECT THE WINTER PARKING GARAGE BACK TO THE EXISTING WINTER ENTRANCE. THE QUESTION OF TAKING OUT THE FOOD COURT BELOW THE ENTRANCE IN THE WINTER ENTRANCE OR LEAVING IT THERE . SHOULD AN ESTIMATED 260 SLOT MACHINES STILL BE PUT THERE AS PLANNED?

TALKING ABOUT THE ECONOMY, MITCHEL ETESS (THE MTGA PRESIDENT AND CEO) SAID, "THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THOUGH OUT OUR WHOLE INDUSTRY. THE FACT IS THAT THIS WAS A HARD AND GOOD DECISION BY THE TRIBAL COUNCIL." THE MGM MIRAGE IS DELAYING ITS OPENING IN ATLANTIC CITY. THE HILTON HOTEL HAS DELAYED ITS EXPANSION. THE PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT, INC. HAS PUT ITS PLANS TO BUILD ON THE OLD SANDS CASINO HOTEL SITE IN ATLANTIC CITY ON HOLD. MTGA IS PROBABLY DOING THE RIGHT THING BY NOT BUILDING THE HOTEL AT THE MOMENT.

THE ORIGINAL PROJECT OF THE HOTEL, HOUSE OF BLUES, STORES, RESTRAUNTS, AND CASINO OF THE WIND WAS ESTIMATED AT 925 MILLION DOLLARS. THE BREAK DOWN OF WHAT WAS SPENT AND GOING TO BE SPENT IS AS FOLLOW: 1) SUNRISE SQUARE 17.0 MILLION, 2) CASINO OF THE WIND 116.0 MILLION, 3) PROPERTY INFRASTRUCTURE 58.0 MILLION, 4) EARTH EXPANSION 75.0 MILLION AND 5) PARKING GARAGE 5.0 MILLION. ALL TOGETHER STOPPING THE PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO LEAVE 734 MILLION DOLLARS THAT WILL NOT BE USED FROM THE CREDIT AVAILABLE TO MTGA.

LYNN MALERBA, VICE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE SAID, "NONE OF THESE DECISIONS WERE MADE LIGHTLY. WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE AS WE CAN BE TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO DEPEND ON US." SHE SAID,"I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION AT THE RIGHT TIME."

DOES THAT LOGIC ALSO APPLY TO A GOVERNMENT/COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO WANT? MAYBE THAT SHOULD NOT BE BUILT EITHER? WITH THE ECONOMY THE WAY IT IS MAYBE IT IS TIME TO GET OUT OF POCONO DOWNS?

IN 12 MONTHS THE MTGA WILL LOOK AT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THAT WILL EXIST AT THAT TIME AND THEN DECIDE HOW TO PROCEED.