Sunday, March 6, 2011

Been Thunking / Tribal News

By:
Charles Forgrave

Sault Ste. Marie, Mi...There's an old saying, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Case in point, the referendum process: were it not for the Payment Referendum on the last casino deal we wouldn't be reviewing this Romulus Casino deal with Mr. Sawruck. We would be living with the old one with Mr. Gatzaros and Mr. Campbell.

From the sounds of things, this latest deal is much better than the previous one. Instead of two investors getting 13% a piece (26% together) for a lifetime, one investor is getting 14% for seven years. Instead of the tribe putting up all the money, the investor is putting up all the money...from the sounds of it, this latest deal is worth tens of millions of additional dollars.

Thanks to what? Thanks to the Payment Referendum that defeated the Gatzaros/Campbell proposal. Who is responsible for that referendum, our great and highly esteemed, handsome and debonair, smart and educated former tribal chairman, Mr. Aaron Payment...ta ta, ta ta, ta ta!
Well, it is the simple truth...thunk about it.

So what gives? Why are Chairman McCoy, directors Pine and Causley determined now to see that the referendum process is changed...to one more difficult for the membership to use. On the surface they're worried about the cost...($20,000.00...$30,000.00 or $40,000.00 which ever it is?) But is that the real reason...or are they out to stop an old political opponent. After all, former chairman Payment has indicated that he may be a candidate in 2012. the Payment Referendum will bring tens of millions of additional dollars into the tribal coffer over the life of the casino, if the Sawruck deal succeeds.

So what's gives? Because of the Payment Referendum, tens of millions of additional dollars will come into the tribal coffers over the life of this proposed casino, if the Sawruck deal succeeds, and these board members are harping about the cost of a referendum...from the looks of it the Payment Referendum was worth millions of referendums.

So much for broken government, i.e., a government that isn't working for the members, because it's always caught up in internal struggles.


Director Pine isn't completely self absorbed though. She does have some reform in mind for the tribe...perhaps enough to redeem her. She's come out in support of an independent judiciary. You have to wonder...what all is that about?


Director Boushor is still busy propping up, rebuilding, restoring, whatever, his public persona. Will he ever give up? Talk about using the tribal newspaper for your own personal purposes as well as political ones.

Oh yes, director Pine and director Boushor are still working closely together rewriting tribal history...everything that the tribe is today is because of them and theirs.

Sure? Okay, maybe they're right? think about it: we're in debt over our ears and our once promising future was squandered and mismanaged...so maybe they are right?

More later...

Thank you, Charles Forgrave

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The knowledge of Pine

If it wasn't for Benard, we would all be living in the junk yard off of Shunk.

Anonymous said...

Saying there is hope for Pine is like saying it is better to have your house hit by only one ten ton meteor instead of two, it is still bad news. Just because she is in support of ending one of the many items of corruption should not be construed to her suddenly being a good board member. It is her job to promote an ethical government. One egg does not a dozen make. I am thinking she just threw a carrot to the masses to try and pacify them and gain some support. Don't be so easily taken in Charles. She is what she is and she has shown her true nature time and again. If she really wanted to help the tribe, she would step down and go back to making jewelry.

Anonymous said...

Who is the investor??? Since his name wasn't mentioned,I am just curious as to who it might be.

Anonymous said...

Would that junk yard be the pile of crap that the Chairman has done on the waterfront ? Pine is useless.

Anonymous said...

Has anyone else noticed a theme in Abramson's unit reports ? She should just title them all 'The Travels of Cathy'. All she ever does is give a run down of all the trips she has taken and meetings she has attended. Big deal. If someone would pay me 70 grand a year I would travel around and attend meetings to. Meetings are worthless. She never addresses the real issues, she just uses the meetings to avoid any real work. When will the members get wise and give her the boot.

Anonymous said...

If we could only step up the next 2 elections there will be a lot of bootin going on! A new 7 + 2

Lynne Weaver said...

Bouschor had nothing to do with improving Shunk road. That credit belongs to Fred Hatch, Mary Murray and all those others who worked hard and long...and for free, to gain federal recognition for the Sault Tribe. Joe Lumsden was the first chairman to sit inside the newly constructed beginnings of a bingo hall and casino. Bouschor got in when the money was already flowing in by the barrel.

Our right to make changes through referendum is the one voice we have left....use it.