Friday, September 14, 2007

BarWest's buying political influence in Barstow, make no mistake about that

2006 Barstow Political Cash
  • Detroit-based BarWest - $200,000
  • San Manuel Indian Tribe - $2,500

In Barstow recently, there has been much ado about a $2,500 contribution from the San Manuel Indian Tribe to Larry Halstead’s city council campaign in 2006.

It’s merely a BarWest/Dale smokescreen to divert attention away from the more than $200,000 spent by BarWest and directed by Mayor Lawrence Dale on Barstow political campaigns in 2006. And that does not include the more than $100,000 in court costs BarWest was ordered to pay when it tried to stop the re-call campaign of Paul Luellig and block voters from voting on the future of casinos in Barstow.


If you want to know why Mayor Lawrence Dale and his allies on the Barstow City Council won’t back any casinos other than those controlled by BarWest, take a look at the following political payments and campaign contributions made by the BarWest controlled political committee Barstow Citizens for Real Economic Development (BCRED). More than 93% of the approximately $200,000 spent by BCRED in 2006 was paid by BarWest principals, agents and their undisclosed partners (Las Vegas). And this doesn’t even include any gifts, business deals or contributions directly to the campaign committees of any of these officials.

  • Councilman Steve Curran
    • $3,883.50 efforts to support Curran for Council
    • $3,883.50 efforts opposing Gurule for Council
    • $7,767.00

  • Councilman Tim Silva
    • $2705.97 Printing, Newspaper Ad

  • Councilwoman Julie-Hackbarth McIntyre
    • $874.31 Newspaper Ad (total cost of ad $2,622.93)

  • Former Councilwoman Gloria Darling
    • $2002.17 Desert Signs

  • Planning Commissioner Mike Lewis
    • $1,699.93 Printing Solutions
    • $794.55 Quigley’s Restaurant
    • $2,494.48

  • Lint/Krommenhoek Families (Sean Lint, Stacey Krommenhoek, etc.)
    • $4,113.67

  • Desert Dispatch
    • $12,143.25
    • $3,497.18
    • $15,640.43

BarWest even had to pay the members of the Los Coyotes Indian Tribe to come to Barstow as “volunteers” for their political campaign. And yet, these same individuals criticize Larry Halstead for taking $2,500 from the San Manuel tribe toward his campaign for city council.

  • Chapparosa Family (Los Coyotes)
    • $1,650.00

  • Kupsch Family (Los Coyotes)
    • $1,050.00

And all the above represent the “known” payments to these elected officials, individuals and their companies that were required to be disclosed because they were funneled through the political committee BCRED. They don’t have to disclose anything paid to them directly from BarWest or its agents or their friends in Las Vegas who want to control the future of any Barstow casino.


In addition, there have been thousands in luxury jet travel, nights out on the town in Las Vegas, five course meals at the Four Seasons Hotel, tickets to sporting events, and lucrative land sales to family members that aren’t reported in the political campaign disclosures of these Barstow officials.

Hackbarth Family land value dependent on future of Barwest property

Approximately six months before Julie Hackbarth-McIntyre was elected to the Barstow City Council and during the campaign to defeat Measure H, her parents managed to participate in a syndicate that purchased a 2.2 acre parcel on speculation from the estate of Marie DeChellis for $100,000.00. The property is close to the proposed BarWest casino site. Now the future value of the Hackbarth family property is dependent upon what happens to the nearby BarWest property -- Or what a prospective buyer thinks is going to happen to the BarWest property.

Recorders Document Details
Document Number: 20060263664
Document Date: 04/18/2006
Pages: 2
Document Type: 0001 - Deed - Grant
Image Available: NOT AUTHORIZED
Book/Page: NA / NA
Parcel Number: 0421-253-14


Grantor Names Grantee Names
DECHELLIS MARIE BIRCHFIELD JAMES P
MARIE DECHELLIS TRUST BIRCHFIELD ANN
HACKBARTH ANTON L
HACKBARTH BARBARA
HACKBARTH FAMILY TRUST AGREEMENT
EQUITY TRUST COMPANY
SMITH DARLA JO IRA
SMTIH DARLA JO
PAWLOW GLORIA

Curran family land value dependent on future of Barwest property

Just months before Steve Curran was elected to the Barstow City Council and during the campaign to defeat Measure H, his family sold approximately 15 acres of property to BarWest LLC for an undisclosed amount (likely $25,000-$50,000 per acre or more). His family and their partners own another 11.5 acres directly connected to the BarWest controlled property. The future value of their property is directly dependent upon what happens to the adjacent BarWest property -- Or what a prospective buyer thinks is going to happen to the BarWest property.

Recorders Document Details

Document Number: 20060051239
Document Date: 01/24/2006
Pages: 7
Document Type: 0001 - Deed - Grant
Image Available: NOT AUTHORIZED
Book/Page: NA / NA
Parcel Number: 0428-171-64-0-000


Grantor Names Grantee Names
MIJARES FAMILY LLC BARWEST LLC
CURRAN TERRY H
GEE JOSEPH D
GEE LYNN G
GEE JOHN G
GEE MARY U
JOSEPH D GEE AND LYNN G GEE TRUST
JOHN G GEE AND MARY U GEE TRUST

Is it possible that Las Vegas powerhouse MGM Mirage is lobbying AGAINST a Port Huron casino?


Is it possible that MGM Mirage dumped MotorCity Casino on Marian Ilitch in April 2005 for $525 million (a year later MotorCity's credit ratings were downgraded and then given a negative outlook by Standard & Poor's and Moody's); then the Las Vegas powerhouse turned around and sunk $765 million into a rennovation and expansion of MGM Grand Detroit (three times what Marian had to spend renovating MotorCity Casino); and on top of it MGM Mirage turned around this year and spent another $160,000 lobbying, possibly AGAINST a Bay Mills casino in Port Huron (a venture Ilitch 's partner Michael Malik has reportedly convinced her to dump $10 million into the last decade)?

Earlier reports by Associated Press seemed to imply that the MGM Mirage lobbying expense may have been in support of a Bay Mills Casino in Port Huron, 350 miles from its reservation; but subsequent off-line reports are that MGM Mirage was lobbying AGAINST the off-reservation casino and using Kai Anderson, a former deputy chief of staff for Nevada Senator Harry Reid (now Senate Majority Leader) to do the lobbying. Anderson was an aide to Reid when the Nevada Senator reportedly blocked similar measures to win congressional approval of the Port Huron casino scheme.

In January, Ilitch/Malik spokesman Tom Shields said it was his understanding that Senator Harry Reid no longer opposed the Malik/Bay Mills casino scheme. If MGM Mirage is against the Bay Mills scheme and has hired one of Reid's former top aides to lobby on MGM's behalf; how likely is it that Nevada's Senator Reid (Senate Majority Leader) has switched his position and now supports the Malik/Bay Mills scheme?

Barstow Compacts set to expire on Monday; City Council meeting that same day

9.13.07


Barstow casino compacts may expire

BARSTOW, California -- As reported by the Desert Dispatch: "The state Senate adjourned for the 2007 legislative session at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and failed to approve the agreements necessary for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes to build a casino in Barstow.

"The Barstow casino compacts, signed by the governor on Sept. 9, 2005, will expire if not passed by both houses of the state legislature by Sept. 17, 2007. Tuesday was the last day for the senate to pass any legislation.

"Tom Shields, spokesman for BarWest, LLC. blamed the failure to pass the contract on 'wealthy Indian gaming tribes' and said the 'legislature failed to do the right thing.'

"He said that the project had the support of Barstow city officials, Indian tribes and major environmental groups who are opposed to the Big Lagoon tribe building a casino on a environmentally sensitive lagoon on their Humbolt County reservation.

"...Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for governor's office, said that the governor was 'disappointed by the legislature's failure to approve the compacts.'..."

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Barwest, Barstow Mayor still blaming others rather than admitting their scheme was flawed from the beginning

9.12.07

Barstow casino compacts fail to pass state legislature


By JASON SMITH, staff writer
Editor's note: This is an updated version of a story originally posted Wednesday afternoon.

BARSTOW — The state Senate adjourned for the 2007 legislative session at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and failed to approve the agreements necessary for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes to build a casino in Barstow.

The Barstow casino compacts, signed by the governor on Sept. 9, 2005, will expire if not passed by both houses of the state legislature by Sept. 17, 2007. Tuesday was the last day for the senate to pass any legislation.

Tom Shields, spokesman for BarWest, LLC. blamed the failure to pass the contract on "wealthy Indian gaming tribes" and said the "legislature failed to do the right thing."

He said that the project had the support of Barstow city officials, Indian tribes and major environmental groups who are opposed to the Big Lagoon tribe building a casino on a environmentally sensitive lagoon on their Humbolt County reservation.

"The tribes are disappointed that the legislature chose to make the wealthy tribes richer and leave the Los Coyotes tribe to fend for themselves. This project made a tremendous amount of public policy and environmental sense," he said.

He said that the tribes and BarWest have not decided if they will seek extensions for the compacts to be considered for year’s legislative session but that the failure to ratify the compacts does not mean the death of the project.

"We really don’t know what will happen; it will depend on how the tribes decide to proceed," he said.

Mayor Lawrence Dale, a longtime supporter of the BarWest casino development, said he was "extremely disappointed" in the failure of the legislature to pass the compacts. He disputed claims that the involved parties didn’t try hard enough to lobby the legislature to support the cause.

"I think BarWest and their lobbyists did everything they could, but there was powerful opposition," he said.

Dale said that he’s hoping that the city can meet with the tribes and the governor’s office to find some way to continue the project.

He said that though all options would be considered, the compacts required the support of both tribes involved.

"We need the Big Lagoon to be part of this project in order to move forward," he said.

Virgil Moorehead, chairman for the Big Lagoon tribe, was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday but said in May that he would not support an extension. His tribe has been fighting to build a casino for six years and has been involved with the Barstow casino for two years. Moorehead previously said the tribe had the option to walk away from the whole project when the land into trust deadline approached but agreed to the Sept. 17 extension, making it clear this would be the last.

"If it doesn't make it by September 17, there's no deal," he said in May 2007.

Despite those statements, tribal spokesman Jason Barnett, said Wednesday that the tribe will consider all its options and won’t necessarily withdraw its support for the Barstow project.

"I don’t think the tribe would close the door on any opportunity to provide for itself," he said.

Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for governor’s office, said that the governor was "disappointed by the legislature’s failure to approve the compacts."

She said that although the expiration date for the compacts is fast approaching, the governor continues to support the development of a casino in Barstow.

"We’ll be talking to the tribes and discussing our options of what happens next. This is something we will continue to strive for," she said.

She did not rule out the possibility of extending the deadline for the compacts to be approved by the legislature and said that meetings were planned with the tribes.

Barstow’s state senator Roy Ashburn blamed the failure to pass the compacts on a "noticeable lack of will on the part of the governor." He said that although he would consider sponsoring the compacts next year in the legislature, he expected that fierce opposition would continue.

"I think Barstow is too easy a target for wealthy Indian gaming tribes and non-Indian gaming interests from Las Vegas and the horse racing industry," he said.

He said that he advocated a strategy of bundling the Barstow compacts together with the compacts of other wealthier tribes in order to reduce opposition, but that such a move would require the support of the governor.

"We need the governor with his horsepower against the tribes," he said.

Some observers had predicted the defeat of the compacts. A bill to approve the compacts was introduced in January, but the bill was never voted on by the full Senate during the 2007 session. A similar bill to pass the compacts in the state Assembly failed in 2006. The original sponsor of the bill to pass the agreements, Senator Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, amended the bill on Sept. 7 and deleted the language related to the Barstow casino, replacing it with an unrelated bill concerned with alcoholic beverages.

Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for two special sessions of the legislature for later this year, these sessions will only discuss health care reform and water safety issues and the Barstow compacts will not be considered, said Alicia Tross, spokeswoman for Senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland.

Shirley Smith, vice-chairwoman for the Chemehuevi tribe, said she hopes the failure to pass the compacts will allow her tribe to proceed with its own casino development plans.

"We hope that this the opens up the door for us. We have requested negotiations with the governor’s office and hope that at the city, Mayor Dale and council member (Julie) McIntyre will work earnestly with the tribe to bring our casino to Barstow," Smith said.

Former City Council member Manuel "Gil"Gurule said that expected the compacts to fail and advised the city to support the Chemehuevi tribe.

"If we’d had the chance with the Chemehuevis, then we’d have a casino by now," he said.

Gurule has supported the Chemehuevi tribe and sponsored Measure H on the 2006 ballot. The measure would have created a zoning district for casinos that included the property on which the Chemehuevi want to build a casino, but not the land for the Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon project. The measure failed.

Larry Halstead, a frequent speaker at City Council meetings and critic of the BarWest project, said he wasn’t surprised at the failure to pass the compacts.

"They were an absolute non-starter all along. What people need to understand is that they were doomed from the beginning. This is the worst case of reservation shopping ever," he said.

Halstead, who has frequently supported the Chemehuevi Indians, said he opposed the Big Lagoon/Los Coyotes compacts because “they don’t have ancestral ties to the area."

Halstead said that though he received a $2,500 campaign contribution in the past from the San Manuel Indian tribe, he was not an agent or employee of any tribe.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Dispatch reports Barstow Compacts failed; formal Barwest announcement expected in a week

9.12.07

Barstow casino compacts fail to pass state legislature

By JASON SMITH, staff writer

BARSTOW — The state Senate adjourned for the 2007 legislative session at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday and failed to approve the agreements necessary for the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes to build a casino in Barstow.

The Barstow casino compacts, signed by the governor on Sept. 9, 2005, will expire if not passed by both houses of the state legislature by Sept. 17, 2007. Tuesday was the last day for the senate to pass any legislation. A bill to approve the compacts was introduced in January, but the bill was never voted on by the full senate during the 2007 session. A similar bill to pass the compacts in the state assembly failed in 2006.

The original sponsor of the bill, Senator Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, amended the bill on Sept. 7 and deleted the language related to the Barstow casino, replacing it with an unrelated bill concerned with alcoholic beverages.

Although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for two special sessions of the legislature for later this year, these sessions will only discuss health care reform and water safety issues and the Barstow compacts will not be considered, said Alicia Tross, spokeswoman for senate President Don Perata, D-Oakland.

Sabrina Lockhart, spokeswoman for Governor’s office, said that the governor was "disappointed by the legislature’s failure to approve the compacts."

She said that although the expiration date for the compacts is fast approaching, the governor continues to support the development of a casino in Barstow.

"We’ll be talking to the tribes and discussing our options of what happens next. This is something we will continue to strive for," she said.

She did not rule out the possibility of extending the deadline for the compacts to be approved by the legislature and said that meetings were planned with the tribes.

Virgil Moorehead, chairman for the Big Lagoon tribe, was unable to be reached for comment Wednesday but said in May that he would not support an extension. His tribe has been fighting to build a casino for six years and has been involved with the Barstow casino for two years. Moorehead previously said the tribe had the option to walk away from the whole project when the land into trust deadline approached but agreed to the Sept. 17 extension, making it clear this would be the last.

"If it doesn't make it by September 17, there's no deal," he said in May.

Representatives from BarWest., LLC, the casino’s developer, the Big Lagoon Rancheria and Los Coyotes Indian tribes have not responded to requests for comment. They will be issuing a joint statement on Wendesday afternoon, said BarWest spokesman Tom Shields.

Gov. Schwarzenegger's chief negotiator confirmed without Big Lagoon, Los Coyotes no longer has Governor's approval for Barstow casino


From transcripts produced of a March 28, 2006 California Senate Governmental Organization Committee hearing on the Big Lagoon Rancheria Gaming Compact; this dialogue was between the committee's chairman State Senator Dean Florez and Dan Kolkey, then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's chief negotiator for Compacts...

SENATOR FLOREZ: So, Los Coyotes without Big Lagoon wouldn’t be a valid use of State policy then.

MR. KOLKEY: No.

SENATOR FLOREZ: So, there lies one issue. So, you have Big Lagoon that normally wouldn’t be eligible is eligible now—excuse me, Los Coyotes—because of Big Lagoon. Is that correct?

MR. KOLKEY: The project is eligible under the Governor’s policy because it facilitates Big Lagoon’s relocation.

SENATOR FLOREZ: So, in essence, what came first then—Big Lagoon or Los Coyotes? Why would Los Coyotes even be on the topic if the Governor’s policy itself wouldn’t allow for that?

MR. KOLKEY: Well, number one, the only way for us to facilitate the relocation of Big Lagoon was to find a site in Barstow. Barstow had already identified this site near outlet malls as part of its plan for renovation of the city. And they had an exclusive agreement with Los Coyotes. So, the only way that we could facilitate the Big Lagoon relocation was through the site identified by the City of Barstow with Los Coyotes. And these were the facts that the State was dealing with then...

Los Coyotes Gaming Compact requires partnership with Big Lagoon. Without Big Lagoon, Los Coyotes has no valid gaming Compact with Govenor Schwarzenegger.

Without Big Lagoon, Los Coyotes land-into-trust effort would have to be restarted as the Enviornmental Impact Statement is for a joint project and examines alternatives that would no longer be applicable.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Who is Harold Alger; and what's his connection to Barwest and Barstow

Like the mysterious Barron Mazel of Barronhaus Ltd. another name has appeared in documents obtained by TVT and connected to Barwest and Barstow -- Mr. Harold Alger.

TVT has learned that Alger, in March 2006, had threatened to bring suit against the City of Barstow for either breach of contract or interference of contract relative to a Los Coyotes Tribe casino in Barstow. Alger apparentlyspoke to executives at City of Barstow including Barstow economice development director Ron Rector, who in turn passed on Mr. Alger's claims to Barwest attorney, Lance Boldrey.

Boldrey proceeded to respond to Mr. Alger's actions in writing with among other things a request that Alger cease and desist; and threats to bring legal actions against Alger if he contacted state or federal officials with his complaints.

Apparently Alger also indicated Barstow land speculator, Dan Plies, would also be making claims that the City had breached contracts with him.

Plies and a Pennsylvannia eccentric named J. Herbert Fisher, Jr. owned various parcels near the proposed Barwest casino site in Barstow. The pair claimed to have been instrumental in formulation of Barstow's "Lenwood Specific Plan" and "Lenwood Special Assessment District." Ironically, (and perhaps mere coincidence) one of the partners in a Gulfstream G-IV airplane part owned by Olympia Aviation LLC (believed to be the Ilitch Family) is Fisher Air LLC. Fisher is also acquainted with Dr. James Dobson the head of Focus on the Family, a national conservative group that once threatened to boycott Ilitch Holdings' brands because the family had entered into the gambling business.

A year prior to the call from Alger, Barstow City economic development director Ron Rector made public mention of Harold Alger at an April 4, 2005 Barstow City Council meeting. Although Mr. Rector's recollection of events would later be contradicted in sworn court deposition of Los Coyotes tribal leader Kevin Siva, Mr. Rector indicated at the April 4th meeting as follows:

"Eh, but I started rummaging around and ran into a gentleman named, eh, Harold Alger from Minnesota, who had spoken with the Los Coyotes on this very issue. Eh, he brought the Los Coyotes to the City, eh, I’ve got to guess...around the August 2001 time frame. We sat and chatted with them at length."

Ron Rector
Barstow Economic Development Director


While Mr. Rector's recollection of the timing would later be disputed in sworn court deposition by a leader of the Los Coyotes tribe who says they first went to meet with the City late in 2001 or possibly early 2002 after being encouraged to do so by Barwest; it's interesting to note that Rector claims to have met with Alger who was an agent of the Los Coyotes tribe.

Alger may be reachable at (317) 371-4243 which appears to have some affiliation with Indiana-based Bauer & Associates.

Are Michael Malik and Marian Ilitch merely fronting for Las Vegas interests in Barstow too?

It has been revealed that MGM Mirage paid D.C. lobbyists $160,000 to lobby on a bill that would give approvals to a Michigan tribe fronting a casino scheme backed by Michael Malik and Marian Ilitch in Port Huron, Michigan.

Malik and Ilitch have a history fronting casino schemes for Las Vegas interests. In 1996 they advanced more than $5 million to a Michigan political committee in order to get approvals to build three commercial casinos in Detroit and where then reimbursed by Mandalay Resorts (Circus Circus).

Is is possible that's what's going on in Barstow, CA?

An Ilitch controlled political committee spent more than $200,000 on local political campaigns in Barstow during 2006 in an effort to retain control of the Barstow gaming franchise; that's more money than was spent on Barstow politics cummulatively over the last 25 years -- perhaps more. But now, more than a year later, the committee has yet to reveal where almost $150,000 of the $200,000 is coming from.

In fact, Ilitch and Malik have yet to reveal who their other partners are in the Barstow scheme. Recently their Barstow affiliate brought suit in Federal court against BarronHaus LTD, a venture capital firm that was likely a partner in the Barstow venture, for breach of contract. Documents obtained from the City of Barstow reveal that in 2004, Barronhaus LTD principals had arranged for meetings with Ilitch/Malik representatives and former California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown seeking Brown's assistance in lobbying for their scheme.

The Barstow site is half-way between Los Angeles and Las Vegas along Interstate-15, a pit-stop today for more than 60 million cars annually. Las Vegas interests certainly don't want to see Barstow become another location like the Primm Resort at "state-line" that syphens off gamblers from Las Vegas; or in the even it does, they certainly want a piece of the action.

Monday, September 10, 2007

Did MGM Mirage pay D.C. lobbyists $160,000 to push schemes for a Bay Mills Indian Casino in Port Huron, Michigan?





According to an AP story posted by Forbes, BusinessWeek, the Houston Chronicle and elsewhere; Las Vegas gambling conglomerate MGM Mirage paid a Capitol Hill Lobbyist $160,000 to lobby in support of a bill that would grant -- by special Act of Congress -- approvals for an off-reservation Indian casino for the Bay Mills Indian Community in Port Huron, Michigan, 350 miles from the tribe's reservation:


"Casino owner MGM Mirage paid Cassidy & Associates $160,000 to lobby the federal government in the first half of 2007, according to a disclosure form."

"The Las Vegas company lobbied Congress on a bill that would allow the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan [to] build a casino..."


The Bay Mills Indian Community only spent $70,000 on lobbying during the first half of 2007.

MGM Mirage has strong ties to Mrs. Marian Ilitch and Michael J. Malik, Sr. who have been pushing the Bay Mills tribe's casino for Port Huron. Since 2002 their affiliates and partners have paid more than $2 million toward Capitol Hill lobbying and shelled out hundreds of thousands in political contributions.

Have Detroit casino syndicator Michael Malik and Mrs. Marian Ilitch been fronting again for Las Vegas gambling interests?


Has Detroit's Michael J. Malik, Sr. been fronting again for Las Vegas gambling interests?

And why would the owners of two of Detroit's three large commecial gambling halls be financing plans for another casino less than an hour outside of Detroit in Port Huron when Detroit's Mayor has actively opposed such plans? Or do they really want a casino in Port Huron at all?

Forbes.com has posted an Associated Press story indiciating that MGM Mirage paid a D.C. lobbying firm $160,000 during the first half of 2007 to lobby among other things for congressional approval of a scheme to build an off-reservation Indian casino in Port Huron, Michigan. Official disclosure documents on file with the Secretary of the U.S. Senate confirm these details. The Bay Mills Indian Community only reported lobbying costs of $70,000 for the first half of 2007

Entities controlled by or affiliated with Detroit casino syndicator Michael J. Malik, Sr. and Mrs. Marian Ilitch have previously fronted more than $2 million lobbying for the Bay Mills casino scheme since 2002.

For years now, Michael Malik has been out front promoting the off-reservation casino in Port Huron for the Bay Mills Indian Community. The tribe has two casinos on its Brimley, Michigan reservation more than 300 miles from Port Huron.

Reports are that Marian Ilitch is behind the Bay Mills Port Huron casino too. Among other things, Marian, her husband Mike Ilitch and their children have personally contributed hundreds of thousands to Members of Congress who have backed the Bay Mills casino scheme and raised thousands more from their friends, colleagues, vendors and agents.

Michael Malik, while not an employee of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. has his office on the 10th Floor of the Fox Theater Building in Detroit which is the executive suite for Ilitch Holdings, Inc. Reports are that his office has direct access into Marian Ilitch's personal office.

In 2005, Marian stepped up and helped facilitate MGM Mirage's acquisition of Mandalay Resort Group. Mandalay was majority owner (53%) of MotorCity Casino. Marian owned 25% at the time. MGM Mirage owned the MGM Grand Detroit. Michigan gaming law prohibits one company from owning majority interest in multiple casinos. It was reported that MGM majority owner Kirk Kerkorian agreed to the plan in which Marian managed to quickly put together nearly $1 billion in financing and jumped through other hoops to acquire Mandalay's interests in MotorCity Casino so the merger/acquisition of the powerful Las Vegas company's could sail through smoothly.

In 1996, Marian, Michael Malik and another partner, Tom Celani, were reported to have contributed $5 million toward an 11th hour advertising blitz for Proposal E, the statewide ballot measure that permitted the establishment of three commercial casinos in Detroit. But according to documents filed with the SEC, within months of the election, Mandalay Resorts (Circus Circus) had agreed in writing to reimburse the $5 million plus in last minute political contributions the partners made and become majority interest in Detroit Entertainment LLC, the parent of MotorCity Casino. A subsequent Operating Agreement for Detroit Entertainment LLC filed with the SEC supports this as well.

In 1999, the Michigan Gaming Control Board denied a gaming license to Malik and he was forced to sell any interest in MotorCity Casino to Marian Ilitch. Since then he has worked side-by-side with Marian on various gaming proposals from New York to Hawaii. Malik has never been licensed for gaming but Marian Ilitch has been licensed in Michigan.

Malik and Ilitch had fronted (and reportedly bankrolled) a scheme to legalize gambling in Hawaii and have also pushed Indian Casino schemes in Barstow, CA -- alongside I-15, the road between Los Angeles and Las Vegas; and on Long Island in the posh Hamptons resort area.


You may also want to review these related posts or click on "labels" below for others:

BREAKING NEWS: Forbes reports MGM Mirage paid lobbying expenses for Bay Mills tribe's Port Huron casino proposal

9.10.07

Associated Press
MGM Mirage Spent $160,000 Lobbying

WASHINGTON - Casino owner MGM Mirage paid Cassidy & Associates $160,000 to lobby the federal government in the first half of 2007, according to a disclosure form.

The Las Vegas company lobbied Congress on a bill that would allow the Bay Mills Indian Community in Michigan to build a casino, plus immigration reform and visa issues, according to the disclosure form posted online [disclosure document, pg. 2] Aug. 10 by the Senate's public records office.

Under a federal law enacted in 1995, lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. They must register with Congress within 45 days of being hired or engaging in lobbying.

Among those registered to lobby for the Las Vegas is Kai Anderson, former deputy chief of staff for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D.-Nev.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Barronhaus LTD, Barron Mazel and Marc Palazzo were originally involved with the Los Coyotes Tribe & Detroit-based casino syndicate Barwest LLC

excerpts as posted at http://www.barronhaus.com/
BARRONHAUS LTD.


OUR CORPORATE CHARTER, MISSION & PHILOSOPHY

BARRONHAUS LTD. (“Barronhaus”) was chartered for the purpose of providing innovative and individualized financing and financial management advisory services to both domestic and international companies. Many of our client companies have specialized needs which are not readily addressed through the limited traditional service offerings of most commercial lending institutions and investment banking houses, and which require a special insight or focus. We are uniquely responsive to the practical requirements of start-up entities, emerging growth companies, Native American tribes, corporations in the process of engineering financial turnarounds or reorganizations, lower to middle-market enterprises (i.e., entities with annual sales and/or market capitalizations of between $2 million US to $500 million US), mature firms in distressed industries, and international companies with complex or combined funding requirements.

Barronhaus serves as a direct lender or equity investor, a syndicate participant, a broker, a placement agent, an advisor, an administrator, or in some combination of roles, depending upon the specific circumstances and requirements in each case. Barronhaus’s network of correspondents and syndicate participants includes a host of industrial finance companies, factoring firms, insurance companies, trade finance houses, foreign banks, investment banks, pension funds and private venture capitalists. Regardless of the nature of our participation, Barronhaus prides itself on our relationship-centered focus...

OUR CLIENT MARKET
Native American Tribes seeking capital for land development and gaming enterprises or expansions thereof including, vendor leasing or financing, working capital, project development and expansion; Barronhaus and its principals have secured over $300 million in capital commitments for various Native American projects including gaming, land development and health clinic development.

Barron Mazel, Founder and Managing Director of Barronhaus Ltd. has been an investment banker specializing in corporate finance, project financing and mergers and acquisitions and leveraged transactions for the past 40 years. A partial list of clients Mr. Mazel has concluded transactions with includes: Republic Corporation, Litton Industries, Malibu Record, Lito Veal Company, Durango Brothers Meat Company, and Quality Foods Company, Nabisco Corporation, Tool Research & Engineering, The Rug Doctor LP, BarWest LLC, Los Coyotes Band of Indians, Group West Companies, I.A. Foster Grant, Inc., and Multimedia Gaming. Previously, Mr. Mazel was Co-founder of Legal Reserve Life Insurance, and Vice President of Citizens Life and Casualty Insurance and an Executive at Equity Funding Corp. Mr. Mazel was a Corporal Medic in the United States Air Force and attended the University of California at Los Angeles.

Marc A. Palazzo, Esq., arranged initial conference calls and meeting between Barwest LLC/Los Coyotes Tribe and Willie Brown, Jr. (former Mayor of San Francisco and former Speaker of the California Assembly), he has been an attorney and an investment banker specializing in corporate and gaming finance, corporate operational and financial restructuring, project financing and acquisitions and leveraged transactions for the past 20 years. Mr. Palazzo currently is General Counsel and Managing Director of Barronhaus Ltd., an investment banking firm and a Director of Monarch Medical, Inc. a developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary medical disposable products. Mr. Palazzo also serves as a Director of a company engaged in travel, leisure, art animation cels (Dino Babies, Ninja Turtles). Mr. Palazzo was the Chief Financial Officer for AFI, LLC, an owner/manager of 33 properties for site development and commercial product sales during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia and was Operating Manager for First American Games LLC, a company established to develop Native American Gaming Projects in 1994. Previously, Mr. Palazzo was Vice President at Lincolnshire Management, a Leveraged Buyout firm, and Head of Public Acquisitions of Sakura Bank (formerly Mitsui Taiyo Kobe). Mr. Palazzo practiced corporate and securities law with Certilman Haft LeBow Balin Buckley & Kremer in New York, New York. Mr. Palazzo has a Masters in Business Administration - Finance (with honors) from the University of Chicago, a Juris Doctor from the Temple University School of Law and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Akron.

Barwest LLC filed lawsuit against parties that arranged for meetings with Willie Brown in 2004


Plaintiffs: Barwest L.L.C. and LCB Barwest, L.L.C.
Defendants: Barron Mazel, Barronhaus Ltd, Gretchen Belli and DOES

Case Number: 2:2007cv04050
Filed: June 21, 2007

Court: California Central District Court
Office: Western Division - Los Angeles Office [ Court Info ]
County: XX US, Outside California
Presiding Judge: Gary A. Feess
Referring Judge: Oswald Parada

Nature of Suit: Contract - Other Contract
Cause: 28:1332 Diversity-Other Contract
Jurisdiction: Diversity
Jury Demanded By: Plaintiff

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Ilitch has backed loosing sports teams and pizza, but casinos in Detroit? Forbes.com 10.09.06 ● Marian Ilitch #1 on "25 Most Powerful People" to Watch 2006” global gaming business o1.oo.o5 ● My Kingdom for a Casino Forbes 05.08.06 ● Big Lagoon’s casino dream awakens north coast journal 07.28.05 ● Shinnecocks launch legal claim to Hamptons land newsday.com 06.16.05 ● Ilitch Plans to Expand Casino Empire RGTonline.com 07.05.05 ● Ilitch outbids partners MichiganDaily.com 04.14.05 ● Ilitch enmeshed in NY casino dispute detnews.com 03.20.05 ● Marian Ilitch, high roller freep.com 03.20.05 ● MGM Mirage to Decide on Offer for Casino in Detroit rgtonline.com 04.16.05 ● Secret deal for MotorCity alleged freep.com 02.15.05 ● Los Coyotes get new developer desertdispatch.com 02.08.05 Detroit casino figure to finance Barstow project LasVegasSun.com 07.07.03 ● Indian Band trying to put casino in Barstow signonSanDiego.com 06.04.03 Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles detnews.com 10.23.02 ● Vanderbilt gets short straw in negotiations for a casino Lansing Journal 10.06.02 ● Indians aim to drive family from tribe in vicious dispute san diego union tribune 04.09.00 ●Malik owns 2000 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year Michigan.gov 01.01.00 ● Detroit Team to run Michigan’s newest Indian casino detnews.com 05.23.99 Tiger ties tangle Marian Ilitch detnews.com 04.29.99 ● Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests gamblingmagazine.com 04.25.99 ● Partners’ cash revived election; They say money was crucial to Prop-E detnews.com 04.25.99 Investors have troubled histories las vegas review journal 04.27.99 ● Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12 year old boy detnews.com 04.25.99 Can a pair win a jackpot?: local men hope to... crainsdetroit.com 03.17.97

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