Back to Heroism and Courage

On January 1, 2008, the Brockton EmptyPrize printed a letter to the editor by Mark Coelho that criticized Rep. Calter's position on the Middleboro Casino.

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On Thursday, January 17, Rep. Calter addressed an SRO audience in the Middleboro Library.

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Rep. Calter was available to explain the issues and answer questions.

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Were you there Mr. Coelho?

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I didn't see the media there either.

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And the vocal casino supporters who were there failed to ask questions, yet they subsequently misrepresented what transpired on other blogs.

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The Middleboro BOS has somewhat arrogantly requested that Rep. Calter attend one of their meetings to explain his position. Mr. Coelho, I can only hope you will attend, along with many others to ask your questions and listen for an explanation.

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Hopefully, the Middleboro BOS will have the sense to convene this meeting at the Middleboro High School and an overflow crowd will ask their questions.

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Mr. Coelho asked: "What is your plan to save our schools?" "What is your plan to save our town services?"

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In fairness, Middleboro has a Town Meeting form of government. That means that voters have an opportunity to determine spending and make choices.

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On November 5, 2007, Middleboro held a Special Town Meeting that was a grab bag of hastily prepared information and warrant articles that spent most of the town's piggy bank from the land auctions.

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The Finance Committee received some of the information regarding those articles that very afternoon. Why was the information withheld from the FinCom and voters?

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One must wonder who is watching and who is asking questions when this transpires?

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How do you understand the issues if the information is deliberately withheld from you by the Middleboro BOS?

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Prop. 2 1/2 provided limitations to town spending of 2 1/2% PER YEAR PLUS NEW GROWTH.

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Simply put, you can't negotiate contracts that provide 36% pay raises, as Mr. Perkins has done and expect the numbers to work.

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Rather than blaming our state reps. or others as the Middleboro Selectmen continually do, isn't it about time to accept some responsibility and recognize that WE, the voters of Middleboro HAVE CHOICES.

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We can make a concerted effort to understand how town government works, where the information is, where the money is, and attend Town Meeting.

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Have a complaint or question? Stand up at Town Meeting!

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The Town has been told that we may need a new ladder truck at a cost of $900,000.

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The City of Boston is buying new ladder trucks that cost $630,000.

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Why the price difference? Are the ladders shorter? Fewer wheels?

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Few of the recommendations from the DOR Report have been adopted. Is anyone asking why?

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Quarterly real estate tax bills have been estimated to generate $50,000 PER MONTH by the Town Treasurer.

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Have the Middleboro Selectmen accomplished it? They discussed it in 2003.

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Much can be accomplished with participation. Are you ready?

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Instead of criticizing Rep. Calter for his opposition to the flawed Agreement that will bankrupt Middleboro, why aren't we asking where our other Reps. are?

To Talia: Casino Corruption #4

Talia, as you know, I generally steer clear of casino commentary because of the many issues confronting Middleboro caused by historical poor leadership, but there are clearly times when comment can be provoked.

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To those who were otherwise occupied and unable to attend CFO's first General Meeting, there is commentary offered elsewhere for review.

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On a Casino Fiend site, there is much deliberate MIS-INFORMATION to which one must urge caution. In particular, there is a wrenching commentary of the 19th Century injustices committed in the westward expansion and Trail of Tears and land grab.

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THIS DID NOT HAPPEN IN THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY.

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MIDDLEBORO LAND WAS PURCHASED. You may have heard the names of the purchases, i.e. Little Lot Men's, 8 Men's Purchase, Wood's Purchase, and so on. A review of Middleboro history will reveal as much. This should not be used as an emotional justification for acceptance of this mega monster that will benefit wealthy investors.

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The proposed Middleboro Casino IS NOT about Indians, heritage or reparations.

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The proposed Middleboro Casino IS ABOUT wealthy international casino investors.

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The proposed Middleboro Casino IS ABOUT a secret deal signed by a convicted rapist and liar the terms of which remain secret that promises to cheat the Native American Tribe, much as Kerzner and Wolman have accomplished in Connecticut.

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Curiously, the author of the Casino Fiend site attended the CFO meeting and has misrepresented what transpired at that meeting. Perhaps he should have taken notes since his memory seems questionable.

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And Talia, you might find the following article from the Enterprise interesting. Below are several comments (emphasis mine):

Reversal of fortune
By By Alice Elwell
Sat Jan 19, 2008, 09:39 PM EST

Perkins said what’s changed is that the Aquinnah didn’t offer a clear proposal, they were just looking for land. According to minutes from 2003 Perkins said he did not feel a casino was “what’s best for the direction of the town“, nor was there a benefit to the residents.

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“At the time that’s how I felt, given the set of circumstances,” Perkins said. “The difference between then and now — the Mashpee came with an offer,” Perkins said. There was no deal from the Aquinnah, he said.

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“Had they approached the town with something concrete that made sense, sure we would have looked at it and listened,” he said.

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Perkins said the Mashpee tribe offered an economic engine for the region, giving Middleboro 2 percent of the net gaming revenue, annually.

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“I don’t think I ever changed my stance,” Brunelle said. “At the time (2003), I didn’t think it was right for Middleboro.” But today, five years later, Brunelle says the financial picture is different. “Financially we need the jobs for Middleboro and the region.” Brunelle said after investors for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe bought town land at an auction, selectman had to negotiate, and what they came up with was “the best proposal in the nation.”

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In 2003, Plymouth created an informational presentation that was offered to surrounding towns. Middleboro, and SOLELY MIDDLEBORO refused to hear that presentation at that time.

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So, it would seem consistent with Mr. Perkins' and Mrs. Brunelle's policy of making decisions without information.

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Plymouth Selectmen arranged to transport elected officials from the communities surrounding Foxwoods (Ledyard, N. Stonington and Preston) to answer questions in a public forum.

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Not so Middleboro Selectmen. They apparently believe in their ability to make decisions in a vacuum and arrogant enough to believe it was their right.

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There has been much speculation about a DEAL being on the table prior to the land auction. Is Mr. Perkins confirming that in his statement?

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When voters attempted to initiate public discussion PRIOR to the land auction, Mr. Perkins said the town isn't in the real estate business. Did Mr. Perkins have a DEAL at that time?

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Mrs. Brunelle was equally as vehement in her refusal to allow VOTERS --- MIDDLEBORO RESIDENTS to discuss their concerns with her in a public forum. She said 'we won't discuss the land auction' even when it was publicly known that casino investors were interested in the Precinct St. property.

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How does Mrs. Brunelle KNOW this is the BEST DEAL? Has Mrs. Brunelle reviewed all of the others?

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The AGREEMENT STINKS. Re-read it.

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Only Rep. Calter has had the courage that the Middleboro BOS lack to call attention to the flaws in the AGREEMENT.

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And does anyone remember Mrs. Brunelle's tearful commentary on a conversation she purportedly overheard in a restaurant suggesting her corruption? She has failed to recognize that corruption is more plausible than sheer stupidity.

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Mr. Perkins has previously commented on grandiose promises made by the Rapist Raven, but failed to note the legal wording in the Agreement that DESTROYS, PREVENTS, NEGATES ANY AND ALL THIRD PARTY PROMISES. One must wonder if Mr. Perkins has read the hastily prepared Agreement.

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And Talia, more importantly,

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THE AGREEMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY SHARE OF GAMING REVENUE EVER

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And finally, Talia, I would call your attention to the Casino Fiend author who wrote:

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I'm not an enthusiastic fan of casinos for reasons you can read on Casino-Fiend.com.

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Judging from the blue and white signs he waved, feathers he wore and TV interviews he gave, his comment betrays the reality. Was his public conduct just an attempt to gain personal attention? Or is it now buyer's remorse?

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Get the FACTS. Casino gambling DOES NOT MAKE SENSE to anyone other than the investors. The numbers just don't work for Middleboro or the Commonwealth.

Courage, Heroism, Arrogance, Cowardice and Truth

As the year draws to a close and our historical custom of reflection surrounds us, the most striking presence has been COURAGE and HEROISM.

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Ordinary, anonymous citizens came together to oppose something they knew was just plain wrong. They sacrificed their anonymity and endured venomous attacks, criticisms, catcalls.

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More than a thousand signed recall petitions to replace a tyrannical board.

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One truly heroic Middleboro Mom stood before a crowd of orange-t-shirted, out-of-town goons and was booed for her public tears.

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One cowardly Middleboro elected official gavelled truth and opposition to silence while allowing cheers, disruptions, signs, supportive out-of-towners like Bob Saquet to ramble endlessly and the ever-present photographer climbing over furniture.

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Five arrogant elected officials decided they knew best the future path of Middleboro and followed like mindless Bobble Heads a scheme that appears hatched by the former Town Manager and Wayne Perkins to avert the fiscal train wreck they created.

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One frail tribal elder heroically questioned tribal finances, a question the state and feds noticed. She was shunned, isolated and expelled for her heroism.

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Amelia Bingham's courage should stand as a lesson to us all about our personal values about 'doing what is right.'

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Ordinary anonymous citizens have crossed Middleboro's borders to offer support, speak out in protest and join the fight to circulate the facts of this flawed endeavor.

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The Regional Task Force has courageously shunned Middleboro's participation.

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Rep. Tom Calter courageously spoke to the facts of a casino presence on surrounding communities and the flawed Middleboro Agreement.

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Middleboro's other reps and state senator instead chose the cowardly path of campaign support.

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An arrogant Middleboro official foolishly challenged Middleboro's Reps. to pledge support, even as his career and image are imploding. (Some may remember that he defended a convicted rapist by saying 'everyone has skeletons in their closet' and criticized the League of Women Voters for their impartial analysis of casino gambling.)

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Middleboro Superintendent and School Committee lacked the courage to gather the facts and make an informed decision, as did the Police Union and others. The Casino Study Committee defined itself, as did its chairman.

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Ordinary anonymous citizens around the state are speaking out, participating and recognizing flawed public policy.

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Organizations have stepped forward to analyze and publicize the flawed figures.

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The greatest cowardice were those too intellectually lazy to examine the facts, review the flaws in the Agreement, reflect on the future or step away from the cheering crowd.

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The greatest heroism arose from those willing to speak Truth to Power and endure the daggers of criticisms because they're winning.

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Let's make the New Year filled with COURAGE AND HEROISM of those willing to speak against well-funded international investors and campaign contributors. Let's fill the year with TRUTH.

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Best wishes for an enlightening holiday season.