August 22, 2003

Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele
P.O. Box 3062
Bridgehampton, NY  11932

Supervisor Patrick J. Heaney
Town of Southampton
116 Hampton Road
Southampton, NY  11968

Dear Assemblyman Thiele and Supervisor Heaney:

 We read in the Southampton Press yesterday that you are planning a "fact-finding mission" to Connecticut on Monday "to see firsthand what the impacts of a casino are" according to you, Mr. Thiele.  Astoundingly, you are embarking on a so-called "fact-finding mission" (we presume using taxpayer's money) when the facts reside just around the corner with your 400-year old Shinnecock neighbor.  We ask that you keep the following words in mind as you gather your research: Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored, nor does misguided or opinionated information constitute facts.

 We can only surmise, like the ill-advised traffic study being undertaken by you, Supervisor Heaney, that you are leaving Southampton to seek answers to "fit-fiction" instead of fact-finding or, as stated in Bill Sutton's article, to continue (and strengthen) your fight against the Shinnecock Nation's plans for a casino.  Again, since you have not spoken to us about the scope of our facility, such as direct access off the Sunrise Highway west of the Shinnecock Canal, or our planned state-of-the-art environmental model, we must question the motive of this trip.  Additionally, it seems derelict on your part that you have not utilized the tremendous resource which exists at the Foxwoods casino in Connecticut, or contacted the Mashantucket Pequot, who manage the most successful gaming facility in the world.

 As seasoned leaders/politicians, it is troubling that you have decided the answers to your questions before even leaving the East End.  If you traveled to other states, for example, to study ways to improve Southampton's education system, would you not first research your own local schools to make a well-informed evaluation?  Is it not your duty, as elected officials, to seek consultation and take steps to minimize bias and flawed conclusions?  Clearly, your objective is to try to fit a square peg into a round hole.

 It is our belief that you should save yourself the time and taxpayers' expense, because your fact-finding mission is not worthy of the public trust.  Should you decide to contact us, we can put you in touch with credible, third party organizations that can give you a more balanced approach.  Also, since there are over 300 Indian gaming operations in the country, perhaps, we can provide you with additional places to continue your fact-finding tour in order to develop sound analyses.

Finally, it is stated that you will be meeting with North Stonington First Selectman Nicholas Mullane in order "to get an assessment of how the casinos have affected public safety, traffic and crime."  Will Mullane, and those he will assemble, inform you about how the Connecticut casinos have saved the state, or how the current millions of dollars are the foundation of the state's economy?  Based on public comments by Mr. Mullane, we are certain that you will be misled and, subsequently, mislead the public of our community once again.  Here is just a sample.

 Mr. Nicholas Mullane was referred to as a "vehement opponent of the tribes" (Gaming Magazine, August 2002); "a casino critic" (Associated Press, 2000); and "an unabashed critic of recognition policies, the IGRA…"  And the Selectman's testimony on April 15, 2002 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 1998 opposing the recognition process was questionable and called "highly inaccurate and otherwise misleading" by Pedro Johnson, Council Member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe.

 Is it your intention to provide a balanced assessment after meeting with officials in Connecticut who also tried to repeal the "Las Vegas Nights Law" held at local schools?  And one last point, First Selectmen and Mayor of Ledyard in 2001 filed suit against the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs for illegally "ignoring or changing tribal recognition regulations."

 Please look around the corner to your Shinnecock neighbor and you will find what you are seeking – the facts.  We believe that the Town and surrounding Hamptons' community deserve, and should indeed demand, to have the benefit of a true assessment of this entire issue and not be provided with one-sided information that stems from publicity rather than process or progress.

Sincerely,

Board of Trustees

Fred W. Bess, Chairman
Shinnecock Nation Gaming Authority