Great Lakes residents urged to fight plans for Harsens Island marina development

6.30.08

Letter-to-the-Editor
Great Lakes residents must fight island plan

On June 24, there was a public hearing held at Algonac High School for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on a "proposed" $170 million marina cluster housing development on Harsens Island. This development requires an "approved" marine operating permit as it involves "vast dredging" into the St. Clair River and 370 acres, along with removal of acres of protected wetlands and the removal/rerouting of a major county road, North Channel Drive.

The Clay Township Planning Commission already denied the plan, along with the community. The developers are appealing their case in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

Without a doubt, this development will cause irreparable damage to the ecosystem of our Great Lakes Region. This small community has been fighting alone for nearly 20 years to save our environment. Everyone who lives in the Great Lakes Region should be concerned about it.

The public should be aware of who is financially backing and would gain the most for this proposed development. I'm sure Michael Malik, who has worked closely on casino developments with Detroit businesswoman Marian Ilitch, would encourage everyone to visit the DEQ Web site and view their proposed development permit No. 07-74-0161.

The DEQ is open to public statement and e-mails on this development until July 4. The DEQ Web site is www.deq.state.mi.us/ciwpis/. Type in the permit number to view the Grande Pointe Development LLC and Lucky 7 Development LLC plans. Send e-mails to dortmand@michigan.gov.

DONNA HALACOGLU
Harsens Island, June 27

Port Huron casino may be a windfall for a few but taxpayers will end up footing the bill

2.10.08

Letter-to-the-editor

Casino is latest self-serving project to be pushed on area

I have lived in this area for 25 years, and I have seen one misguided, self-serving project after another promoted in the guise of helping the local economy or improving the quality of life. All which yielded the same result: a windfall for relatively few private interests. Meanwhile, the city and the majority of the residents are left to foot the bill for the cost overruns, the cost of infrastructure improvements and still are left with - for the most part - totally inadequate facilities and limited, at best, economic impact.

Now the latest "savior" of Port Huron is the casino. No matter where it's built, it will make the landowners, contractors (with connections) and very few others a lot of money and leave the rest of us fighting for a few low-paying service jobs. The following is an excerpt from an economic study on the Wayland Casino near Grand Rapids prepared by the Anderson Economic Group:

"The casino will result in the creation of between 46 and 56 tourism-related jobs. We consider tourism-related jobs to be those jobs created through the expenditure from out-of-state visitors. This results in a minor overall effect on the economy.

"To support one job, it requires more expenditure at a casino than at the average noncasino establishment. This is because a large portion of the casino expenditure is directed (1) out of state, and (2) to uses that have a lesser spin-off effect on the economy."

So here we go again. The citizens of Port Huron have been sold another bill of goods by the "good ole boys," and I anticipate reading in TalkBack for years to come, comments such as, "Lied to again," and "Where's the casino money?"

BOB MORRISON

Note: While the operators of Detroit commercial casinos are required to pay the City of Detroit 11.9% of net gaming revenues; those bankrolling the Port Huron off-reservation casino scheme have negotiated with Governor Jennifer Granholm to pay the City of Port Huron just 2% of net gaming revenues. By comparrison, this could leave tens of millions of dollars a year on the table that otherwise would go to the City of Port Huron -- further, the surrounding cities, townships and counties get nothing but will certainly feel the negative impacts.

Harsens Island should be protected from Mike Malik's development schemes

11.16.07

Harsens Island should be protected from developers

I am writing to you in regard to a recent a special land use request submitted by the Lucky 7 Development Co. on Harsens Island.

This development group has tried every angle to move forward with its plans despite past refusals from the Department of Environmental Quality. Now, it seems its next plan is to convince the planning commission to grant a special-needs request when all of the community surrounding both on and off the island is against the request's approval.

I am very familiar with Harsens Island. I have biked on the island for many years. Our bike club has used the Harsens Island tour for its various fund-raising causes. This is a most popular place to ride as a group. Many say the island has a quaint feel, like Mackinac Island, without the more-than-5-hour drive.

I was deeply disappointed when I heard there was a proposal to close a most enjoyable and scenic portion of a public road, North Channel Drive, to the public to fit the needs of a private development. After further investigating the Lucky 7 development plans, I was shocked that such an exorbitant private complex would even be considered by anyone concerned with this community and environment.

This type of invasive development with the plans to destroy wetlands and habitat by dredging a lagoon, network of canals and excavating in the North Channel River would clearly have a devastating effect on the ecological system of the Lake Saint Clair region.

The qualities that make Harsens Island unique to all its surrounding communities should not be thought lightly of. Harsens Island is a gem to all in southeast Michigan and should be treasured and protected from over-development that would change the character of the island-just like Mackinac Island.

MARILYN CHATTEN
Utica, Oct. 29

Barstow Mayor's behavior's inappropriate toward Chairman of City's tribal partner

Letters to the editor, September 4, 2007

Chemehuevi leader mistreated by mayor

I agree with Mrs. Julie Clemmer’s letter (”Larry Halstead admits to payment by San Manuel Indian Tribe,” Aug. 24) urging anyone that has a computer, or can view the city council meeting of August 6, should do so. Not for the vindictive reasons Mrs. Clemmer would like you to, but to view how our Mayor Lawrence Dale treated another elected representative with lack of respect and with outright disdain, because they have an opposite view to his.

Chairman Wood, as a representative of the Chemehuevi Nation Indian Tribe, tried to give to our city council some information concerning the progress of the two casino compacts now in front of our state legislators, along with information concerning the Chemehuevi and their right to build in Barstow. Some of this information was sent to the mayor in writing. As you can see in the meeting, it was apparent that he did not share this with other members of the council. He then rudely and abruptly cut off Chairman Wood with the excuse that he had gone over his three minute time limit.

This is the man who heads the Chemehuevi Indian Nation. The head of a Tribe that has a contract/MSA with the city of Barstow to build a casino here. Apparently not one of the two the mayor supports, but still, one that has an agreement to build here. What harm would it have been to give the Chairman one more minute to finish his statements?

The only other point that I would touch on is when Mrs. Clemmer claims those of us who want to see Barstow end up with a casino needed to resort to “trickery” in the form of Measure H.

The truth is Ms. Clemmer and her friends from Detroit are professionals at trickery. Yes, they spent more than $200,000 on their campaign to bury Measure H. That was $200,000 mostly from people who don’t live or vote in Barstow. In fact, they have yet to reveal where 75 percent of that money is coming from.

Anonymous sources outside of Barstow were the ones who funded the bulk of the $200,000 campaign to stop Measure H and preserve the Barwest monopoly — a plan that was dead on arrival at least two years ago.

Well Ms. Clemmer, the proponents of Measure H, which I was one, wanted to give priority to the Chemehuevi casino project and to further their chances of succeeding in Barstow. What’s wrong with that? You are continuing to back the failed Bar West casino plans and their tribes.

Only time will tell who was right. It certainly does not look good for BarWest, but again it never did.

Unfortunately, the citizens of Barstow will be the ones to lose out for believing in the lies and the twisted tactics that your organization and Bar West used about Measure H and Barstow’s odds for a casino. You made a big deal about where we got the funds to defend our campaign against the BarWest tidal wave and all the while you were taking hundreds of thousands through the back door and worse yet, failing to disclose where it’s coming from.

Measure H may not have been a perfect venue, but it would have opened the doors to competition rather than stand with the Las Vegas-backed developer Bar West that you, the mayor and your cronies have continued to support even when all signs indicate BarWest is Bad for Barstow.

If Barstow fails in its attempt to land an Indian casino, we can thank people like Mayor Dale, Julie Clemmer, Tim Silva, Paul Luellig and the others who allowed BarWest to hold a monopoly over Barstow and refused to consider proposals that could get approved — people who believed they were personally going to be enriched by BarWest.

Manuel Gurule
Barstow

Thomas Edison Inn may no longer be residents' preferred site for a Port Huron casino

8.29.07

Letter-to-the-Editor
City residents had no choice in possible casino's location

In response to TalkBackcaller Linda's comment about the location of the proposed casino, I was living in Wisconsin in 2001 when the vote took place. Also, Linda pointed out the voters voted for a casino at a specific location.

I would argue this proves my point - the people of Port Huron had no choice regarding a location. One wonders what the outcome of the vote would have been if the citizens had been given a choice between the Thomas Edison Inn location and a location next to McMorran Place.

The point of my previous letter to the editor was the community of Port Huron should have a choice as to where a casino is located. Oddly, in the Times Herald's forum regarding that letter no one has yet commented on this, one way or another. Instead the location continues to be debated. This debate is moot, if you never get to make the decision.

This is one-shot deal, folks. The people of Port Huron should try to get the most benefits out of having a casino in their community. It's not a "done deal," yet. But it will be if you don't act!

If you believe the decision should be made by the community, then please contact Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow. Only they may be able to give the citizens of Port Huron the choice.

CAM HALE
Port Huron Township

LETTER: Who would really benefit from Barstow casino project?

7.02.07

Letters to the editor (as published and posted at DesertDispatch.com)

Reference: Casino Update article

We all know that the majority of the citizens want the Indian Casinos in our backyard. The hand-full of people who still disagree with it developing have been drowned out by the business community and the elected officials. The business community sees personal profits and the elected officials, probably see some personal profit as well.

The “Casino Update” article appearing in the paper (6-28-07) is a sad display of desperation. What a pathetic dramatization of poverty to sanction panhandling. Dragging one’s old home to the steps of the State Capitol is truly sad. It is a real shame that family and many more on and off reservations have and continue to live in substandard conditions. I hope the legislators see this dismal display as begging. The spokesman, Tom Shields, is quoted as saying the tribe has been “left by the wayside”, and “The Barstow Project would provide a revenue stream and path to self-sufficiency.” “They’re really looking for an opportunity just to take care of their own.”

Now what part of any of those statements suggest taking care of the citizens of Barstow who are living in shanty conditions? What part of the comments speaks out about just how wholesome this is for the moral fiber of the community. It doesn’t, it simply shows a self-centered postured by the tribe of saying this is owed them. Draining money from other people for self gain under some loose statement that they can’t make it where they are. They need our land for no purpose than to make the “fat-cats” fatter.

The casinos is more than just an issue for the citizens of Barstow, it should be of concern to all of those who live in the “Greater” Barstow area. Remember it has never been put on a ballot in simple language for the “greater” population to vote on. Just think approval of the casino in Barstow keeps it out of the tribe’s backyard so they don’t have to deal with the trash, it’s Barstow’s problem.

Ron Paddack

Barstow

http://www.desertdispatch.com/opinion/barstow_902___article.html/self_citizens.html

You may want to read these additional posts or click on the "labels" below for further information:

• Political blog suggests tribe's Sacramento PR stunt may be last ditch effort
• Tribe plays along with yet another Sacramento PR stunt hatched by its Detroit Developer
• Cahuilla traditional territory was south of the San Bernardino Mountains
• Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians makes its home on the southernmost of Cahuilla Reservations
• BIA's last official public accounting of Pending Gaming Applications
• EDITORIAL: Regardless of extensions, casino plan for Barstow is bad policy and poor precedent
• Governor has been led to believe tribe made sacrifices in agreeing to share its previously authorized casino site
• Schwarzenegger issues press release, documents on gaming compact extensions

LETTER: Call Ilitch's bluff

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

The argument is that Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch shouldn't get any tax money to build a new stadium since he has nowhere else to move. But Ilitch will move the Red Wings to a city that will give him the arena he wants. He threatened before to move the Tigers out of town. I say call Ilitch's bluff and let him pay for his own arena if he doesn't like the new deal for the JLA.

Raymond Howe
Detroit

LETTER: Wings won't move

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

As high as the Red Wing ticket prices have risen during the regular season and the playoffs, you would think owner Mike Ilitch would have plenty of extra money to put into a new arena. The Red Wings will not move. That would be like taking the Yankees out of New York.

J. Kerch
Toledo

LETTER: Let Ilitches finance arena

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

Let the Ilitch family follow the capitalist path and invest its own money in a new Wings arena.

John Brant
Detroit

LETTER: No aid for billionaires

Letters to the Editor DetroitNews.com

Not one dime from taxpayers for any sports arena built for billionaires. If Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch wants to move the team elsewhere, he shouldn't let the door hit him on the way out.

Don Sepanski
Livonia

LETTER: Ilitches can give back

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

The Ilitches have had one sweet deal here where they could milk the tax base dry. That structure can no longer continue. Let's face it: Greektown and all the Foxtown improvements (including Comerica Park) all benefit him greatly. There was no charity or philanthropy there; it was ALL business and profit. It's time to give something back to a city and populace that has made the Ilitch family billionaires.

B.C. Roy
Troy

LETTER: Old arena is still young

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

This is ridiculous. The Red Wings don't need a new arena. The Joe is only 28 years old.

Steve Kassappass
Dearborn

LETTER: Billionaire doesn't need aid

Letters to the Editor | DetroitNews.com

Perhaps we can assist Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch in reaching a decision to build a new arena or stay with Joe Louis Arena as a home for our Red Wings ("Ilitch has to decide the Joe's fate soon," June 18). As longtime Wings fans, we say a resounding "no" to any public financing of a new arena. Both the city and state are broke and overwhelmed with human needs for city and state services.

Ilitch already has the best lease deal of any arena in hockey. The Ilitches are scarcely paupers.

Gerald and Dolores Maxey
Farmington Hills