NO PHOTOS AT THE WINTER GARAGE

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT SEPTEMBER 15, 2008

BEFORE WE VISITED THE WINTER GARAGE, WE WERE GIVEN A HEADS UP THAT THEY WERE FIXING THE GARAGE SO NO PHOTOGRAPHS COULD BE TAKEN.

OFF WE GO TO THE GARAGE, AND YES THE BOTTOM FLOOR THEY HAVE CLOSED OFF THE WINDOW LIKE AREAS WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE PLYWOOD AND METAL STUDS. ON THE SECOND , THIRD AND FORTH FLOORS THAT HAVE PUT GALVANIZED PIPE IN THE OPENINGS ON THE EAST SIDE WHERE THE HOTEL WILL BE.

CURIOUS, WE ASKED WHAT WAS GOING ON. AN INFORMANT TOLD US THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUT CHAIN LINK FENCE UP WITH SLATS GOING THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK. THIS WAS BEING DONE SO PEOPLE COULD NOT SEE THE CONSTRUCTION OR TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS.

IF IT WAS BEING DONE TO PROTECT THE WORKERS, I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE SITUATION. HOWEVER, IF IT IS TO KEEP TRIBAL MEMBERS FROM OBSERVING AND PHOTOGRAPHING THEIR OWN BUILDING, THEN I THINK THAT IS A PROBLEM. THE HOTEL IS BEING BUILT TO MAKE OUR (MOHEGAN TRIBE) PROPERTY MORE COMPETITIVE AND PROFITABLE.

IF MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO OBSERVE AND PHOTOGRAPH THE BUILDING OF THE HOTEL BECAUSE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS PUTTING UP A FENCE WITH NO VIEW, THEN MAYBE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD COME UP WITH SOME KIND OF ALTERNATIVE.

EVERY OTHER THURSDAY, THERE IS A BUS THAT TAKES TRIBAL MEMBERS TO SEE THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING BEING BUILT. HOW ABOUT TAKING TRIBAL MEMBERS DOWN TO SEE THE HOTEL AT THE SAME TIME? MAYBE A SEPARATE BUS AT A DIFFERENT TIME AND DAY?

WHEN WE DID THIS STORY WE WATCHED A NEW GUARD SHACK BEING PUT IN PLACE AT THE ENTRANCE WHERE THE BUSES GO INTO THE BUS STATION (CORNER OF SANDY DESERT ROAD AND MOHEGAN SUN BOULEVARD.

THE EDITOR OF FEATHER NEWS WENT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE OLD GUARD SHACK AND A SECURITY CAR PULLED UP. THE SECURITY PERSON SAID NO PICTURES THIS IS A CONSTRUCTION SITE. THE EDITOR SAID I AM TRIBAL. THE GUARD CALLED IN AND SAID IT WAS OKAY TO TAKE THE PICTURES.

I GUESS NO PHOTOS AT THE WINTER GARAGE.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: I RECEIVED SOME E-MAILS FROM READERS WHO THOUGHT THAT WE DO NOT WANT THE COMPETITION TO KNOW WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE. THE CASINO IN OUR MEDIA PRESENTATIONS HAS SHOWN WHAT THE BUILDING WILL LOOK LIKE. FEATHER NEWS AND BROKENWING EDITORIALS HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE POCONO DOWNS NEW CASINO IN THE BUILDING STAGE (BEFORE IT WAS COMPLETED) AND HAVE NEVER PUBLISHED THEM. WE TRY TO BE RESPONSIBLE.