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Thiele And LaValle Block Casino Plans May 9, 2003

Two local lawmakers have taken action to block the construction of a bingo hall by the Shinnecock Nation after learning of their desire to develop a casino on tribal lands in Hampton Bays.

New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele of Sag Harbor, and State Senator Ken LaValle, of Port Jefferson, have urged Governor George Pataki and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to initiate the appropriate action to stop any potential building on a 79-acre parcel the tribe owns along Peconic Bay in Hampton Bays.

Calls to the tribal trustees Lance Gumbs, Charles Smith and James Eleazer were not returned on Monday, and a worker at the Tribal Council office, who declined to be identified, said they were making no comment. George Stankevich, an East Hampton attorney, and a partner in The Independent News Corp., represents the tribe but declined to comment beyond stating the reports last week were incorrect.

Nothing has been set in stone, he said. Fred Thiele has been invited but has never even spoken to the tribe. Thiele and LaValle said the Shinnecock Nation is now legally precluded from operating a casino, since it lacks the necessary federal acknowledgement required under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

They said that federal acknowledgement could take years to be determined by the U.S. Department of Interior, and that without federal acknowledgement, the Nation would be in violation of state penal and wagering laws. Thiele said he has been a long-time opponent of casino gaming on the East End, stating it would be "devastating to all of our local communities.

I had hoped that the Shinnecock Nation would have given real consideration to other economic development alternatives. But it appears they are only interested in casinos, and that they may be willing to break the law to undertake this project." Southampton Town Supervisor Skip Heaney said Monday that he has been trying to meet with the tribal members about coming up with some alternative solutions to a casino for months.

"I was the first person to reach out to them to consider other ideas -- I wrote and called, but have so far gotten no response," he said. "We all remain willing to assist them in exploring other types of development on their site that would give them a return without a negative impact."

He said the Shinnecock Nation claim they have sovereignty on this property, and on the reservation, but said, "I think they're using an unfortunate confrontational approach to address their economic needs, when we've said we're willing to sit down and work with them on a better solution."

Heaney said Congressman Tim Bishop and Senator Charles Schumer also wrote letters registering their opposition to a casino. Heaney listed some of the town's objections to the proposed casino. "The concept of a large casino with more than 100 game tables and an eventual hotel, tucked away on an unstable bluff along the Peconic, which can be reached only by a two-lane back road, has an enormous negative impact for the hamlet of Hampton Bays," said Heaney.

"This is also our Town's most populated hamlet, with about 15,000 people." He said another problem with a casino is the summer traffic congestion. "We already have summer gridlock along Montauk Highway and on Route 24 in Hampton Bays," he said. "If you suddenly add thousands of cars to this already congested area, it's ridiculous." Heaney added that he also fears the crime associated with casinos.

"When casinos come to town, there is classic behavior that often accompanies them, such as theft and prostitution. A classic example is Atlantic City, where they said gambling would bring decreased crime, increased property values and more jobs--but that hasn't happened. The slum just got bigger."

Heaney said that his town hired a firm about a month ago to do a study on the traffic impact of a casino in Hampton Bays, and they are awaiting the results. He said he also hired a consultant to look over Mr. Ong's proposal, in different phases, and how it impacts surrounding areas.

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