chippewa

Burt Lake Legislative Backers View Casino as a Long Shot

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the radio (?!?!), via Pechanga:

State Rep. Matt Lori reports that – after looking into the possibility of changing state gaming laws to allow the Burt Lake Band to establish an Indian casino in Sturgis – believes the chances are slim.

The Burt Lake Band has tried and failed to receive federal recognition as a tribe four times.  Without federal recognition, they are unable to establish a casino under state gaming laws.

At the request of local developers hoping to bring a casino and the jobs that come with it to the area, Lori agreed to investigate whether it is possible for the tribe to gain official recognition from the state, and modify current Michigan gaming laws to allow the project to move forward.  However, after consulting with legislative legal advisors and leaders in both the House and Senate, Lori said he did not believe it is a feasible option.

“I recognized the potential economic impact in terms of jobs and increased tourism a casino would bring to the area which is why I was willing to look into this issue, but it doesn’t seem possible at the current time,” said Lori, of Constantine.  “The legal hurdles combined with the dynamic in the Legislature are too much to overcome.”

Senator Cameron Brown previously said he believed it would not be possible to gain recognition from the state and modify gaming laws, and Lori’s investigation confirms that position.

“From my point of view it would be fruitless to continue pursuing legislation that has very little hope of succeeding at this time.  Rather than give people false hope, I think we need to move on to find another solution,” Lori said.

Lori said he is willing to meet with developers and city officials on how to best proceed.

Crime News at GTB

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Indianz:

Clifford Gould Jr., a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan, was sentenced to life in prison for assaulting three children.

Gould, 47, was convicted of four counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual conduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan said he attacked three girls at his home on the reservation.

Gould will serve out his entire life sentence because there is no parole in the federal system, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release

Get the Story:

Grand Traverse tribe member gets life for child assaults (The Detroit Free Press 6/29)

Sault Tribe to Vote on Chairman/CEO Separation

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From AIPBlog:

Tonight the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians voted to have a referendum to change the Tribes Constitutional By-Laws and Separate the Chairman/CEO position into two distinct positions: one elected and one otherwise.

AIPBlog followers realize I have advocated this type of separation and cited several academic studies which indicate more positive outcomes from separating politics and business in Tribes. It is a pleasure as a member of the Sault Tribe to see some action in this direction.

Greektown Update — Court Grants Motion to Assume Development Contract with City

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here’s the news article explaining all of this (link to Freep article). And here are the materials:

DCT Order Granting Motion to Assume Executory Contract

Greektown Motion to Assume

Greektown Less Likely to Sell, Given Low Bids

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Detroit News (via Pechanga):

Greektown Casino-Hotel will spend more time looking at ways to reorganize its debts rather than selling the property to exit bankruptcy, after multiple bids came in lower than expected, a financial adviser for the gambling hall said Thursday.

Chuck Moore, an adviser from Birmingham-based Conway MacKenzie Inc., which is working on Greektown’s bankruptcy, told the Michigan Gaming Control Board at its Thursday meeting that his team would shift focus toward looking at ways the casino can reorganize some $777 million in debt.

“There was disappointment at the values of the bids we’ve seen so far,” Moore said. “Our creditors don’t believe they adequately compensate for the performance of the property.”

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Greektown Decision on Tax Rollback Due May 14

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From the Detroit News:

Lawyers for Greektown Casino-Hotel and the city of Detroit will have to wait two more weeks to hear if a bankruptcy judge thinks the casino can assume a development agreement that would grant a tax rollback saving roughly $17 million annually.

At an unusually short Friday hearing, federal Judge Walter Shapero said he’ll issue his opinion on the matter at 3 p.m. on May 14.

The tax rollback issue is particularly contentious for Greektown, which entered Chapter 11 proceedings 11 months ago. By filing, Greektown was able to secure the financing it needed to complete construction on its 400-room hotel and resort complex.

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Penn National Bids on Greektown Casino

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

From Freep (H/T Pechanga):

Penn National Gaming, Inc., a well-capitalized casino owner, has submitted a bid to purchase Greektown Casino in downtown Detroit.

Timothy J. Wilmott, president and chief operating officer of the Pennslyvania-based company, said Penn National likes the Detroit market. The company also has looked at buying assets from MGM Mirage, including the company’s MGM Grand Detroit property.

Penn National is the second bidder to confirm its interest in buying the casino that filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy about a year ago. Bloomfield Hills businessman Tom Celani also has bid on Greektown.

Greektown is actively marketing the property through the bankruptcy process. By June 1, the casino’s estate must choose one of two paths — reorganization under its current owner, the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, or a sale to a new owner.

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Greektown Revenues Dropped During Final Four

Matthew L.M. Fletcher

What?!?! From Crain’s:

Despite having Detroit filled with basketball fans, the weekend of the Final Four produced a 5 percent drop in revenue for the Greektown Casino Hotel compared to the prior weekend.

Revenue meanwhile, increased by 12 percent at MGM Grand Detroit and 6 percent at MotorCity Casino Hotel.

The problem?

Too many people at the casino but not enough of them gambling, said Greektown CEO Randall Fine.

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GTB Seeks to Remove Dams from the Boardman River

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From Indianz:

The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is seeking $7.5 million in federal stimulus funds to remove dams on the Boardman River in Michigan.

The tribe wants to remove three dams and modify a fourth. The money for the project would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The dams are in city and county hands but local officials have already been discussing ways to remove them. The tribe decided to take action to meet a deadline to apply for stimulus funds.

Get the Story:
GT Band seeks grant to help remove dams (The Traverse City Record-Eagle 4/17)

Bankruptcy Judge Tours Greektown

Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

From the Detroit News (via Pechanga):

Could the big empty shell of a room tucked away in a corner of Greektown Casino-Hotel’s downtown complex serve as a viable event center?

That’s the question facing bankruptcy judge Walter Shapero this afternoon as he tours what Greektown lawyers call an event center and what attorneys for the City of Detroit are calling a breach of contract.

Greektown is arguing for a tax rollback from the city and state that would save it millions a year in taxes levied on gaming revenues. That rollback is dependent on compliance with a revised development agreement approved by Detroit City Council in 2006.

Greektown wants Judge Shapero to rule that the casino has complied with the agreement, opening the door to lower taxes and giving the casino the ability to transfer the agreement, along with the lower tax rate, to a new owner should it decide to sell.

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