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That was then…

January 21st, 2008 bumpkin 3 comments

How times change
An interesting article in the Enteprise takes a look at the current pro-casino position of Middleboro BOS members Marsha Brunelle and Wayne Perkins. Back in 2003 both were firmly against casinos in Middleboro and just a few years later, both were fighting tooth and nail to bring them here with little input from residents. I’d always wondered why that was.

Perkins – No way, shape or form
March 2003:

“There is no way, shape or form. I won’t support a casino,” Perkins stated at a public meeting where the issue was discussed in March 2003. He added that a common thread he hears among residents is that they want to keep Middleboro as it is, a rural town.

Can we have the 2003 Marsha back?
Brunelle – 2003:

Selectwoman Marsha L. Brunelle staunchly agreed, saying there would be more traffic, and more educational concerns for people who would move into the community, according to meeting minutes from 2003. Brunelle asked for a public discussion because most communities do this before taking a vote, and she felt the residents should have the opportunity to speak.

So what changed?
Perkins – 2007:

Perkins said what’s changed is that the Aquinnah didn’t offer a clear proposal, they were just looking for land. According to minutes from 2003 Perkins said he did not feel a casino was “what’s best for the direction of the town”, nor was there a benefit to the residents.

“The difference between then and now — the Mashpee came with an offer,” Perkins said.

Perkins said the Mashpee tribe offered an economic engine for the region, giving Middleboro 2 percent of the net gaming revenue, annually.

I’m intrigued by the statement that “the Mashpee came with an offer”. What offer did they come with exactly? According to what we were told, the tribe and the BOS had some informal meetings and some land was discussed. In a stunning coincidence, some of that same land was shortly put up for auction, the Mashpee backers bought the land, and here we are today. And if the Mashpee did indeed offer “an economic engine for the region, giving Middleboro 2 percent of the net gaming revenue, annually” we should have taken it. It would have been far better than the deal that we got.

I would love some more explanation of this “offer”. Wayne? Adam? Marsha? Steve? Pat? Jack?

Or what didn’t change
And as for Marsha, she explains that she didn’t really change positions at all:

According to minutes from a March 31, 2003 hearing on the issue, Brunelle was “not in favor of having a casino in Middleboro.” But Brunelle also opposed signing a resolution spearheaded by Plymouth Selectmen to ban casinos in the region.

“I don’t think I ever changed my stance,” Brunelle said. “At the time (2003), I didn’t think it was right for Middleboro.”

But today, five years later, Brunelle says the financial picture is different. “Financially we need the jobs for Middleboro and the region.”

As someone who has been subjected to “selective quoting” in newspapers, I’m always skeptical about what is quoted and what was actually meant. Still, I don’t see how Marsha can look at her 2003 position and her 2007 position and say that she hasn’t changed her stance.

If only ….
If only that BOS had approached this in a more considered manner – with lots of public input and lots of public debate. The result may or may not have been different. What would have been different is the level of animosity created by a flawed and rushed process. We wouldn’t have such a large segment of the population that feels unrepresented and silenced. Let’s all put on our honesty hats for a moment and admit that the casino came to town via a process that was completely out of character for our town and the way we normally do business. The norm is to engage the public with hearings, discussion, and debate. If only ….

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