Michigan Labor Groups led by UAW want Indians to have land to build casino…
I received this media release through the news service that I’m subscribed to that I use for my national blog, since it involves Michigan and is stated to be a 300 million dollar project that would create 3,000 jobs I thought it might interest some of you:
DETROIT, June 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Labor groups led by the United Auto Workers (UAW), Building Trades and Operating Engineers are urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass HR 4115, which would create more than 3,000 good jobs for Michigan by settling a century-old land claim for the state’s largest Indian tribe.
HR 4115, which may be voted on by the full U.S. House next week, would resolve a 120-year-old illegal land taking from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in an area now known as Charlotte Beach in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The legislation effectively creates a land swap that ends an ugly chapter in Michigan history when land was stolen from the Sault Tribe and another U.P. tribe. Federal approval of the land swap extinguishes lingering court cases.
The legislation, passed 22-5 on Feb. 13 by the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, would create new trust lands for the Sault Tribe in Romulus or Flint, Michigan. On the new trust lands the Sault Tribe would build a modern casino/hotel resort. The $300 million project would create more than 3,000 good jobs with high wages and full benefits. Also under the agreement, the Tribe will pay more than $30 million a year to the State of Michigan and millions more to local communities.
Labor groups supporting HR 4115 include the UAW, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council of Asbestos Workers; Bricklayers; Boilermakers; Cement Masons; Electrical Workers; Elevator Constructors; Glaziers & Glassworkers; Heat & Frost Insulators; Iron Workers; Laborers; Painters; Plasterers; Plumbers & Pipefitters; Roofers & Waterproofers; Sheet Metal Workers; Sign Pictorial & Display Workers; and Sprinkle Fitters.
“With Michigan currently leading the nation with the highest unemployment rate, it is critical that new employment opportunities are created to replace the recent loss of nearly 250,000 manufacturing jobs,” said Patrick “Shorty” Gleason, President of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. “I strongly support HR 4115 because it will provide thousands of employment opportunities in southeastern Michigan for working families.”
John Hamilton, Business Manager and General Vice President of the International Union of Operating Engineers, offered similar support.
“We are in desperate need of new employment opportunities,” Hamilton said. “Business development of this size will generate additional spending and investments in the region that will benefit all of southeastern Michigan, and the entire state.”
In a letter sent today to members of the U.S. House, the UAW said it “strongly supports” HR 4115 and HR 2176 because the legislation would create jobs, keep gaming revenues in the United States, and provide a much needed economic boost to the communities where the new casinos would open. The UAW also noted that the bills are consistent with state law in Michigan and with past land claim settlements approved by Congress for other tribes.
“For all of the foregoing reasons, the UAW strongly supports HR 2176 and HR 4115,” the union said in its letter. “We urge you to vote for these bills when they are considered by the House and to oppose any weakening amendments.”
HR 4115 is also backed by a large number of Democrats and Republicans, including former Michigan Gov. John M. Engler (a Republican); current Gov. Jennifer Granholm (a Democrat); U.S. Reps. John Dingell, Dale Kildee and Bart Stupak (all Democrats); Rep. Candace Miller (a Republican who backs a similar land claim settlement in HR 2176 for the Bay Mills Indian Community and Port Huron); and many more.
In addition, voters in Romulus and Flint have passed ballot proposals approving tribal casinos on lands acquired through the resolution found in the legislation.
As a Michigan resident, the husband of a woman with American Indian heritage, and a recreational gambler, I think that any organization that is “betting” their futures with casino gambling is making a big mistake.
Detroit is so dependent on Casino monies that any bump in the road with them is going to be devastating. It is already starting to show that hiccups are forthcoming with the recent bankruptcy of one of the casinos (although it is really a ploy to restructure).
I’m no prude. I think if someone wants to be foolish enough to gamble their lives away, that’s their problem. The government should butt out. But once any casinos are built, what’s next? Where will all these workers do after that?
I’d much rather see organized labor, and anyone else for that matter get serious about alternative fuel generation, do a better job with tourism, and somehow find more constructive things to back and support that are much more long-lasting.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:17 pmMichigan needs jobs in the worst way, but I am not sure this is the way to go.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:21 pmJeff, I’m more of an “anti-casino” person than you are but I think you make some very valid points. Both Romulus and Flint are so hard pressed for jobs right now that I think they are allowing themselves to believe that the lure of a casino will be their salvation. The only thing that might make a difference in the casino situation would be if Michigan does pass an anti-smoking law similar to Ohio’s. Depending on how it’s done, the Detroit casinos since they are not Indian owned would be affected where the Indian owned ones might not be.
Your other point as to the temporary nature of the jobs is also a good one, nor is their any guarantee that the jobs will be filled by local companies. We’ve seen that here in Toledo where million dollar projects are touted to boost employment but where out of the area contractors and employees are used. Unless Michigan law is different than here in our area, there’s no guarantee that if this casino/hotel is built that union labor would be the primary source of labor.
What will also be interesting to watch will be what pressure will be placed on the legislators from the Detroit casino industry. Romulus and Flint are not that far from Detroit…
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:39 pmThe Indian casino smoking law you mention is an interesting point. However, I am certain somehow the Michigan legislators will screw it up. Here is a point:
Indian reservations being “sovereign” land allows them to get around certain laws. Sales tax on cigarettes, for example. Yet when the Indian people started selling cigarettes via mail order and internet, what does the State do? Obtains their records via legal court order and sends use tax bills to their non-reservation customers. Whether you agree with that or not, it shows the state’s desperation to collect monies by any means possible.
I just get concerned by the short-sightedness of big business and government in general. Big oil companies spend more time refuting scientific proof of pollution and global warming, when it would be much more beneficial for all involved to try to solve obvious problems – our oil use being on top of the list.
But my concern is that when/if industries start to recover, the blinders will come right back on and everyone goes for the easy buck.
As far as your point about using “outsourced labor”, that is a tough issue. But as far as I am concerned, whenever their are public monies involved, the public paying the bill should have the say about the workers.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 pmI agree with you totally on the short-sightedness, there’s too much of a focus on things that are really “quick fixes” and after they are done, we are right back to where we were before.
I also agree with you on projects using tax dollars should create a scenario where the public has a say on where the workers come from. Unfortunately it seems that doesn’t always happen.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 pmJust to clarify something, the state does not have to get a court order to get tobacco sales receipts. Under federal law, credit card companies have to turn over all sales records of tobacco products to the state where the products are being shipped.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:09 pmThen Chief Biggum Wallet sat back and smoked his pipe.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:35 pmTee hee
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:49 pmOther than by “returning stolen land”, I missed where public funds will be used to build the expected casinos, and thus, how the public should have a say in who gets the contracts. The article in fact points to millions in tax revenue not abatement’s or grants.
The conservative skeptic in me immediately starts yelling “why are all these unions so strongly supporting giving land to tribes?!” Is there already a sweetheart deal in the works to guarantee union labor on the project, or is that just an assumption in MI where unions are king as in NW Ohio. Maybe there is a “deed restriction” in place as well – ala Toledo’s marina project.
Wait AHL, don’t forget – construction, casino’s and organized crime go hand and hand. I have seen the Sopranos and the movie Casino.
Also interesting is the fact that the tribe would “trade” pristine UP coastal lands and wooded areas for “some land in Romulus or Flint.” I would bet the government – betting on the tribes following the national trend of building casinos for revenue and jobs for tribe members – is getting a bargain in the trade! (and killing some legal troubles as well). Don’t be surprised when once the deal is done – oil, gas, or some other resource is “discovered” up in Charlotte Beach, or a developer buys it from MI for a song and puts in condos.
The AHL.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:59 pmAHL, you could be right, in doing some quick research I can’t find anything yet that states how much of this project would involve public funding. However, I think the guess that it would is not far off considering the push to create this casino. I did discover however, that it appears Romulus has a much better chance than Flint of being the City that lands this. Romulus is even closer to Detroit, which could cause problems for the Detroit casinos should the smoking ban hit Michigan if the Indian ran casino can opt out of following that law.
I would also agree that your speculations as to what would happen in the UP are not unrealistic…
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:56 pm“Indian reservations being “sovereign” land allows them to get around certain laws. Sales tax on cigarettes, for example.”
There are a lot of efforts under way and court rulings that run counter to the statement about taxes.
Rhode Island has sent in troopers and raided tribal smoke shops as has New York with the Seneca. Court cases are being heard.
Akawasne, St. Regis Indian Reservation in up state New York has it share of raids by local and state police.
Michigan will probably seek an agreement for taxes to be paid by the tribe, when and if the center is built, just as they have before.
June 23rd, 2008 at 8:35 pmNONONONONONO
June 23rd, 2008 at 11:10 pmWhy do they deserve a casino?
Or that land back?
Greektown Casino lays off 89 people; more cuts to come
http://freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/BUSINESS06/806240341
June 24th, 2008 at 9:07 amAs an unemployed citizen of Port Huron Michigan, (a proposed location for American Indian casinos) this is scheduled for a House vote Wednesday, and I know it won’t go due to greed…..period. DOG EAT DOG.
In this, the 150th year since the incorporation of the city, Port Huron finds itself in a difficult and hopeless position.
Our local economy is relatively stagnant with unemployment extremely high, a fact underscored by the fact that municipal income tax revenues have declined since 1999. WE NEED support in transformation of Port Huron’s dying tourism industry, particularly by providing opportunities to new business participation; and to facilitate implementation a of tourism development / investment programs.
To undertake focused research promoting tourism development and transformation of our dying community.
One which supports niche export markets; implements projects to improve sector competitiveness, and be the first point of contact for tourism businesses to access the local opportunities and offerings.
Residents continue to migrate away from the city and the population is falling, now estimated to be below 32,000 people.
The retail sector has been almost entirely wiped out by a similar migration of merchants.
Port Huron’s municipal situation has been studied to death by public and private agencies for more than 70 years. The first such study was done in 1937 by a team of Cranbrook School designers, who laid down plans for the day when Port Huron would grow to a city of 250,000 people. The multitude of studies done since that time have been just about as useless.
These endless reviews are almost always a form of procrastination, a means of diverting public attention or defusing anxiety while the status quo remains untouched. It’s impossible to produce Utopia by one fell swoop of a grand casino, or to foresee all the difficulties that will arise in the life of a community.
What we have failed to do is develop an industry that is inextricably bound to our locality.
Unfortunately, our city could never bring itself to believe that its true destiny was as a tourism center. This idea is impossible without high-growth start-ups, to provide valuable management advice and important contacts, and opportunities, like a casino would provide. Introducing a casino as job, and money generating revenue works. All this crime crap is just a smoke-screen. Give me a break.
Port Huron has every right to be — one of the Greatest of the Boating and Maritime tourism industry.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:34 amNot just of Michigan and the Midwest, but of America. And we need tourisim and a casino.
“This idea is impossible without high-growth start-ups, to provide valuable management advice and important contacts, and opportunities, like a casino would provide.”
A casino doesn’t bring that….look across the river to Sarnia….
And in Detroit, the casino’s aren’t the ones bringing high-growth start-ups. Those are coming through partnerships with universities such as Wayne State.
http://www.techtownwsu.org/
June 24th, 2008 at 12:05 pmBlue7234 – agree P/H needs a casino. That one across the river sucks, and GETTING across the river sucks even more. Let’s make it easy for the CAW members to cross – aye?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:58 pm