Shinnecock Indian Nation
Welcome - Tribal News - Shinnecock E-Voice
Eagle
 









History
Government
Programs & Services
Religion and Culture
Events
Annual Powwows
Economic
Development
In the News
Media Releases
Contact
In The News
http://www.newsday.com

Under Fire Over Revenue
'Public Policy or Parasitic'
Shinnecock Casino Plan


Letters to the Editor

Southampton Supervisor Patrick Heaney said: "The town will continue to block tribal casino because of the traffic problems it would bring and the social destruction gambling would cause. It's a parasitic Industry...." How misinformed is the Supervisor about traffic. The traffic problem to the Hamptons is East of the Shinnecock Canal. The planned Casino is West of the Shinnecock Canal. The site is ideal for a Casino. The LIRR service is a walking distance of the proposed Casino and Sunrise Highway borders the proposed site. You will not have traffic problems as Supervisor Heany indicates. The Shinnecock Nation wants to improve the quality of life of their tribe and they have the right. The East end of LI and this country is their land. We know the relatives of now politician and others of the East end stole the land of the Schinnecocks and the King of England did not have the right to distribute the land of the natives of North America.

It appears to many of us, that the politicians of the East End are getting contributions to their political campaign from the Casino owners of Atlantic City who do not want competition from the future Shinnecock Casino. The casinos of Atlantic City are not helping Long Island to cope with expenses. The Shinnecocks will share their revenues with the communities such as school districts. Just look at the contributions that the casinos of the natives around the USA and at Mohegan Sun and Fox Woods provide to their communities. They are not greedy as the casino owners of Atlantic city, who do not provide a penny to Long Island. The Schinnecock Casino is a win, win situation for Long Island.

As to Supervisor Heaney's statement: "Decency gets sucked out of the community.. drug addiction increase.." If that is the case. Why is the New York State installing slot machines Casinos in the sites of race tracks such as Saratoga, Monticello, Yonkers and planned for others race tracks sites? If the State can install slot machines, there is no reason, why the Shinnecock Indian Nation should not build their Casino to improve their quality of live and help their communities. This Land belong to the American Indian Natives and they should improve their quality of life. Descendants of immigrants should not tell the rightful owners what to do with their land, or what to build and not to build.

~ Cesar Malaga

Copyright © 2004, Newsday, Inc.