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March
24 2001
Connecticut
Tribe Looking at Sites for Casino
The Eastern Pequot
Indian tribe, anticipating federal recognition, is looking at 15
sites in Connecticut that could serve as home for a third Indian
casino. `'New London is our first choice. We are expending our
energy here now,' said David A. Rosow, who is representing the
Easterns in economic development investments. Rosow said the
Easterns want to build a roughly 180,000-square-foot casino and
hotel designed to attract 20,000 people a day. Visitors would
arrive by car, train and boat. Cruise ships and yachts could dock
at the deep-water port. Land for a casino would be taken into
trust for the tribe by the federal government, and the city would
not collect any taxes. But should the tribe acquire the land, they
would make a $3 million annual donation to the city, Rosow said.
Before the tribe could build a casino it would have to first
become federally recognized, take over all 60 acres at State Pier
and negotiate a gaming compact with the state. The federal Bureau
of Indian Affairs last year granted preliminary recognition to the
Eastern Pequot and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes, a decision
being challenged by the state, along with Preston, Ledyard and
North Stonington. Deputy Mayor Peg Curtin said she opposes the
plan. The project would not help the city economically, she said,
and would not draw tourists into the rest of the city. She
believes it would deter other businesses from coming to New London
and land values would go down
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