The Sinking of Greektown

By Lynne Weaver
After reading the special edition of “ The Greektown Challenge” in the Sault Tribe paper, the picture is much clearer. Chairman McCoy feels it is unfair that critics blame only the tribe. I don’t blame the tribe. The tribe is made up of a group of members numbering close to 40,000. The vast majority of Sault Tribe members were not involved in any decisions regarding Greektown. Shouldn’t we blame the decision –makers of the tribe for the collapse of Greektown just as GM, Chrysler and several financial institutions blamed their top executives for their failure to stay ahead of change?

The first error in judgment by tribal leaders was a lack of foresight in determining potential issues with location, location, location. If you are considering the purchase of a house and the lack of garage or parking is a major issue, do you buy that house or pursue a better location where there is sufficient land to build the garage without the need to jump through hoops. Room for expansion should have been a prerequisite prior to finalizing the real estate purchase.

McCoy goes on to blame the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit for many of the financial difficulties because of increased “sin” taxes. Gambling facilities have long been the target of anti-gambling legislation, so did tribal leaders expect that opposition to gambling would suddenly go away in the future? At some point, anti-anything always wins at least part of the argument. McCoy blames Detroit for failing to provide timely zoning approvals that put a wrench in construction timelines. If it is compulsory to change a law, policy or ordinance in order to make something happen, then shouldn’t it be crucial to secure that step prior to arranging construction of such a large project?

Now tribal leaders are faced with explaining why new management has been able to increase revenue above the two competing casinos in such a short period of time. Even though the former Greektown management board and several tribal leaders blamed the previous underperformance of Greektown on the failing economy, they must now explain away the sudden increase in revenues during the worst period of a recession this country has experienced in decades. Are we missing something here…literally?

Greektown, the brainchild of former chairman Bernard Bouschor, may have been a great idea in concept but inept planning, the lack of expert counsel, and an eye focused on a fast buck may have put a hole in the boat from day one. Perhaps we should ask the Greeks, who profited greatly from their $25,000 investment, on how not to get screwed. At any rate, maybe if the tribal leaders would have considered a backup plan to diversify funds towards other viable business ventures, rather than placing all their eggs in one basket, the future of the tribe would be a little less bleak.

With job losses within the Sault Tribe reportedly in the thousands, isn’t it time to stop with the excuses and start with accountability? Only time will tell what the sinking of Greektown means for the members of the Sault Tribe.