FROM THE ARCHIVE

Official suggests tribe reimburse state

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APRIL 4, 2001

In what some would call legalized extortion, a Connecticut official said on Tuesday that the Eastern Pequot Tribe might want to consider paying the state $43 million if it wants to open a casino in the city of New London.

James Sullivan, commissioner for the Department of Transportation, said the state has already invested that amount of money in the Adm. Harold E. Shear State Pier. Regarding the tribe's consideration of the pier for a potential casino, Sullivan told The New London Day: "Certain people should understand the level of investment that is being made right now. If someone is going to come in and buy the land, they need to repay us for the investment made."

The tribe would like to open a casino at the pier, provided it wins final federal recognition, negotiates a compact with the state, and gains the approval of the community.

The reimbursement suggested by Sullivan would be on top of sharing a portion of casino revenues with the state. The two other tribes who operate casinos -- the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Mohegan Tribe -- remit 25 percent of their slot revenues to the state.

Get the Story:
State officials: Casino in New London would be costly for Easterns (The New London Day 4/4)

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