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Opposition Grows To New Casinos in Connecticut

Karen Johnson, a Union, Conn., resident, thought the Nimpucs, an Indian tribe in Massachusetts, had been denied federal recognition. She learned differently in May when residents around the lake in her town received purchase offers from Lakes Gaming Corp., a development company in Minnesota.

"All they need is 50 acres or so," Johnson said. "It's ideal for them, but it makes us very vulnerable," she said, explaining that her town is a target for potential casino development.

So Johnson, along with Mary Beth Gorke-Felice, took her concern and formed a group that has been drawing attention to a statewide concern.

The Connecticut Citizens Against Casinos organized in June, and since then, Johnson says, the meetings have "just exploded."

The goal of the group is to inform people about casino development and its effects on surrounding towns, Johnson said, so they can make their own decisions.

"People are so unaware of what's happening," she said. "People (have been) happy because there's two casinos out where they're not bothering them. But now they're starting to see more activity - and there's nine groups still awaiting a federal recognition decision."

There is so much concern about potential casino development in her town of 693, she said, that more than 100 people have joined the group's mailing list and have gotten involved. An anti-casino rally in Woodstock last week drew more than 300.

Mac Turner, a selectman in North Stonington, attended last week's rally, and said he was impressed with the turnout at the meeting and the publicity it is bringing to the problems associated with casinos.

"One of the speakers (at the meeting) said more than 35,000 people within a 50-mile radius of the two casinos in the state have gambling problems," Turner said. "I never heard anyone talking about that 10 years ago."

Turner said the formation of the group only highlights social ills associated with casinos are a statewide problem.

"I think gambling has a broad range of problems, and it's a very regressive method of raising revenue in the state," Turner said.

That is why, Johnson said, the group is trying to make people aware of those ills.

"It's such a big concern - it's so overwhelming and complex," she said. "but we try to keep it simple so people can make informed decisions."

The group has drawn state and municipal officials, Johnson said. U.S. Rep. Robert Simmons, R-2nd District, has attended several of the meetings, according to spokesman Joe Bell, who attended the rally in Woodstock.

"Personally, I think it's a (very useful) group in the sense that the rest of the state is starting to learn what southeastern Connecticut has been dealing with for the last few years," Bell said.

Johnson added the response from state politicians has been incredible, and the group plans to go to Hartford to voice its concerns.

"We've gotten no response from the governor so far," John said. "He wants to be free to negotiate (gaming) compacts, which means he's for (casino development)."

Turner said getting involved with the group could be a worthwhile venture for North Stonington residents because they have much experience with Indians and casinos.

"It's valuable to get involved because we have the most to lose right now - we're faced with the likelihood of another casino, and we have the most to share from our experience."

The historical Eastern Pequot tribe received federal acknowledgement in June. The decision recognized two separate tribes - the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots and Eastern Pequots - as one tribe. Both groups have financial backing in place for possible casino development - casino mogul Donald Trump is backing the Paucatucks and resort developer David A. Rosow supports the Easterns.

The group is on the web at ctcac.org.