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Opinion: Shinnecock Nation recognition a long shot
Thursday, June 30, 2005
"Just in time for summer in the Hamptons, a small, poor Indian tribe of uncertain legal status has this fabled beach resort in a tizzy. The 500-member Shinnecock tribe recently claimed 3,600 acres of Southampton, including the local college and the exclusive Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, site of last year's U.S. Open.
And if the Shinnecock don't get what they want, they've threatened to sue for every single hedge row, pool and tennis court in this rich man's town! What, you may ask, is the ultimate goal of the land claim besides pissing off the neighbors? The Shinnecock hope the lawsuit will persuade the State of New York to permit them to build a giant casino on the narrow South Fork of Long Island and thereby become Hamptons-wealthy.
Amusing as many aspects of this story are -- greedy Indians versus endangered plutocrats -- it's actually quite serious. If the Shinnecock prevail and get a casino, they could cause "irreparable damage" to the community, according to a federal judge overseeing aspects of this contest. A casino could easily attract another 25,000 people a day to this tony town of 57,000 full-time residents. And from a national perspective, if the Shinnecock can roll such powerful homeowners as billionaire George Soros, who has a Southampton palace-by-the-sea, who knows what other less affluent towns and villages across the country could be buffaloed by wannabe casino tribes?"
Get the Story:
Hamptonites on the Warpath
(The Wall Street Journal 6/30)
Relevant Links:
Shinnecock Nation -
http://www.shinnecocknation.com
Related Stories:
Shinnecock claim influenced by Oneida Nation
decision (6/27)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation right to file claim
(6/23)
Column: Shinnecock Nation only seeks a future
(6/20)
Column: Shinnecock Nation took
too long to sue (6/20)
Tribe's lawsuit
claims pricey Hamptons properties (6/17)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation needs answer from BIA
(6/17)
Shinnecock Nation takes land
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Shinnecock
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Shinnecock Nation cites fraud in theft of land
(6/14)
Shinnecock Nation to file
billion-dollar land claim (6/13)
Shinnecock Nation lays claim to bones of 60-foot
whale (04/06)
Ties between Shinnecock
Nation, golf club tested (06/11)
BIA
doesn't want judge to rule on Shinnecock Nation (04/27)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation deserves an
answer (04/02)
House panel
sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Hearing used to air complaints about tribal
recognition (04/01)
Federal
recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
Judge to have 'final word' on Shinnecock
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Shinnecock
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Shinnecock leaders compare opposition to
genocide (1/22)
BIA wants
Shinnecocks to wait a decade for status (12/18)
N.Y. opinion affirmed Shinnecock Nation
sovereignty (09/19)
Decision
awaited in Shinnecock casino case (08/06)
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