Tribe trumps Trump; Rockford pleads for casino

Despite being thrown off the fast-track legislative calendar by a blast of hot air from Donald Trump, a bill to restore land-in-trust status to the Mashpee Wampanoags has sailed through the House of Representatives, 257-146 in a bipartisan win. “Without support from Congress it will be impossible for the Mashpee Wampanoag to engage in any type of true self government because they won’t own their own land. No economic development, no tribal headquarters, no elder housing, no pre-k programs. It means being treated as secondhand tribe with no future,” said Rep. William Keating (D). “Just two weeks ago we passed a parallel Republican-led bill for a tribe in California without a single member [of Congress] objecting.”

Trump’s umbrage is suspect, as advisor Matt Schlapp (husband to White House Strategic Communications Director Mercedes Schlapp) also moonlights as a lobbyist for nearby Twin River-branded casinos in Rhode Island, hardly an uninterested party. Rep. Tom Cole (R) seconded Keating’s emotions, saying, “The real conflict here is between private gaming interests that don’t want Native American competition.” The Mashpee Wampanoag’s cause still must pass through the Senate, where Massachusetts Sens. Ed Markey (D) and Elizabeth Warren (D) have introduced supportive legislation. If the tribe prevails in that currently listless body and manages to get past the White House (a pretty tall order), then there’s a ghost of a chance for its Project First Light, whose future has been in much doubt since Genting Group bailed on it.

* “We have talked and talked and talked about casino expansion, literally since before I could drive. You hold all the power, we need you to take action.” So said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, imploring the Illinois Lege to upsize the number of casinos in the state so that his city could get a leg up on a (still-unapproved) Ho-Chunk tribal casino in nearby Beloit, Wisconsin. Unfortunately for Hizzoner, no such bill language has been filed in Springfield. “We cannot afford to be outflanked by our neighbors up north yet again,” said McNamara, explaining, “in the not-too-distant future, 100 percent of our annual property tax revenue will be going to our state-mandated pension contributions.”

The mayor brought along Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen to lend a little star power to his casino pitch. “I’ve been there fighting for some sort of casino going on for 15 or 20 years, and I guess my legislative voice is not very strong, but now it is because I’ve got these guys behind me,” said Nielsen, although it would be a neat trick indeed if McNamara can pull his chestnuts from the fire.

* The once and future Caesars Southern Indiana is progressing apace in its rebranding from a Horseshoe (to which it was demoted in one of many dubious Gary Loveman decisions) and expects to complete the $85 million revamp next year. That’s when a new, land-based casino will open, presumably rendering the Glory of Rome riverboat obsolete.

* Las Vegas is on the cutting edge when it comes to proactive union negotiations to hedge against the increasing use of automation practiced by companies like MGM Resorts International. It was a central point of the most recent round of labor talks between Unite-Here, the Culinary Union and the major casinos. As Unite-Here President D. Taylor puts it, without too much exaggeration, “the industry has to decide whether they’re going to be a hospitality industry where they actually interact, or if it’s going to be like the airlines where there’s very little service and if [passenger] get a bag of peanuts then they’re happy.” (And they’re be a resort fee for the peanuts.)

* A Paradise Valley, Arizona mansion rented by “someone named Ashley Beager, who lives in Las Vegas and works as a concierge to athletes” is being investigated as the possible site of a gang rape in which roofies were allegedly used. According to TV station CBS 5, “Beager was arrested in 2015 and charged with trafficking a schedule one substance in the same class as flunitrazepam/GHB, which are date rape drugs. She pleaded guilty to drug possession and her conviction was set aside in 2018.” The alleged victim was lured to a party with “high-profile athletes” who she says victimized her. At the very least, Ms. Beager should be drummed out of the concierge business.