THE LETTER JAMES GESSNER ALLEGEDLY REFUSED TO READ

THIS IS THE LETTER THAT ALLEGEDLY JAMES GESSNER, THE CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL COUNCIL REFUSED TO READ TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBAL MEMBERS AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING ON APRIL 26, 2009. THIS LETTER WAS SENT TO THE TRIBAL COUNCIL CERTIFIED MAIL ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2009 AND RECEIVED ON APRIL 23, 2009.

IT'S IRONIC, THAT THE LETTER ABOUT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION, IS THE VERY THING THAT WAS ALLEGEDLY DENIED BEING READ.



April 22, 2009



James Gessner, Corresponding Secretary

The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut

5 Crow Hill Road

Uncasville , CT 06382



Dear Mr. Gessner,



I would like this letter of correspondence to be read out loud to the tribal membership at the quarterly membership meeting on Sunday, April 26, 2009:



Subject: Freedom of Information Ordinances



The April 8th issue of Wuskuso had an article on an amended freedom of information ordinance approved by the Tribal Council on April 1st. The article does not mention that tribal members submitted a successful petition against the first freedom of information ordinance approved by the Tribal Council on January 14th.



Based on that first petition, the first freedom of information ordinance was rescinded by the Tribal Council in March instead of allowing it to go out for a referendum vote by tribal members as required under the petitioning section (Article 12) of the Mohegan Constitution. Wuskuso ignores this matter of law in their article. Instead Wuskuso says, and I quote, “The original ordinance was repealed on March 18 after the Council heard concerns raised by Tribal members who said they wanted to change portions of it during a special meeting on Feb. 23.” In reality, the ordinance was rescinded because of the petition but Wuskuso does not mention this.



A second freedom of information ordinance was then passed two weeks later by the Tribal Council on April 1st, which was also successfully petitioned against.



Will Wuskuso report this second petition even though it failed to report the first petition?

Why isn’t Wuskuso accurately reporting the information as to what has transpired regarding both freedom of information ordinances that were petitioned against? Why weren’t tribal members given an opportunity to see a draft version of the second freedom of information ordinance as requested by members at the special meeting? Why hasn’t the petition by tribal members who wanted to enact their own version of a freedom of information ordinance been reported upon in Wuskuso?



Can you please respond to these questions after you have read this out loud at the quarterly membership meeting.



Sincerely,



Mike Bartha

Concerned Tribal Member

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE; The tribal member, (who is running for the Mohegan Tribal Council) with his likeness on the white van allegedly parked in front of the main entrance of the Mohegan Tribal Government building during the quarterly meeting. His representatives, allegedly, were giving coffee mugs in front of the main enterance of the government buidling. Isn't the ballot box right there in the main lobby? Is this a violation of the election ordinance? What do you think?