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TAUNTON — The Welcome Center, situated on the land regulated by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for the prospective use of First Light Resort & Casino, is now accessible to the public.
This was the official statement from representatives of the Tribe during their appearance before the Taunton City Council on Tuesday, January 14, to provide an in-person update regarding the future development of that area.
“It has been a lengthy journey for both the Tribe and this city,” remarked Brian Weeden, chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, ensuring City Council that they “come here with the utmost intentions” concerning transparency with the community, representing Tribal interests, and honoring commitments made.
Welcome Center highlights tribe’s heritage and ancestral territories
Kevin Jones, the chief strategy officer and legal representative for Genting Americas, Inc., was also present. Genting operates as a global destination resort provider and is a “development partner” with the Tribe for the First Light Resort & Casino, as stated by a Tribal official.
Jones, who confirmed that Genting would be overseeing the First Light casino, stated that the estimated 2,000-square-foot Welcome Center serves to educate and inform the public about the Tribe’s history and its ties to its ancestral lands, including the area in Taunton slated for development.
Welcome Center offers a preview of gaming machines
Included within the Welcome Center is a “sampling,” remarked Jones, of the gaming experiences anticipated at First Light, featuring 10 gaming machines for patrons to use.
These machines will provide payouts to winners, as confirmed by Jones.
Alternatively, all proceeds collected from these machines will be directed towards charitable organizations, such as Homes for our Troops, and the Ryan Hendricks Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is named after a Mashpee Wampanoag teenager who tragically lost his life in a car accident in 2022.
Carlton Hendricks, vice chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, mentioned that staff and security will be available at the Welcome Center, and discussions regarding the Welcome Center’s launch have taken place with the mayor’s office alongside Taunton Police and Fire, concerning emergency services.
Hours of operation for the welcome center
Currently,the Welcome Center operates from Tuesday to Saturday, opening its doors at 10 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m., with a grand launch scheduled for Jan. 26.
The Gazette paid a visit to the Welcome Center situated off Stevens Street, directly opposite the Revolutionary Road entrance to Liberty & Union Industrial Park. At the time of this report, the area was still under construction, with none of the planned displays, artifacts, or images installed yet.
Charles Foster, the treasurer of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, informed the Gazette that there will be a greeter, a member of the Tribe, serving as a historian to share the Tribe’s narrative with visitors, as well as discuss all the exhibits and artifacts that will soon fill the Welcome Center.
All gaming machines are active and accessible for individuals aged 21 and older.
Foster further mentioned, at the time of writing, they had already welcomed numerous visitors, many hailing from East Taunton, who played on the machines and “have been exceptionally friendly.”
Initial move towards resort and casino
Tribal representatives stated that the Welcome Center will ultimately pave the way for the development of a resort and casino becoming a reality.
“The tribe is asserting its sovereignty and marking its territory,” stated Hendricks.
When will the casino be built and operational?
City councilors inquired with Tribal officials for a timeline concerning the casino’s development, but did not receive any conclusive responses.
Jones mentioned that the Tribe and First Light are currently amidst a new design phase for the project, asserting that “we are moving heaven and earth” to finalize it as swiftly as possible. He added that he anticipates more details regarding the new design will be shared with the public “in the upcoming months.”
Years of legal challenges
The Tribe had to abandon its development plans in 2016 owing to a lawsuit from neighbors in East Taunton contesting the legitimacy of placing the land into trust by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Following years of rulings and appeals, some of which were swayed by shifting presidential administrations, a U.S. District Court judge ruled in favor of the Department of the Interior in February 2023, followed by a conclusive ruling in October 2023 from the U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals, validating the District Court’s decision.
The Tribe’s final legal triumph occurred in April 2024 when the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to review a petition that sought to overturn the earlier ruling.
“It was torturous for the Tribe to pause operations,” said Jones regarding the halt in land development, noting that the protracted legal disputes cost the Tribe millions of dollars, led to a loss of essential funding for First Light, and resulted in accumulating bills they are still settling.
Jones also remarked that it compelled the Tribe and his firm to reevaluate the casino and resort’s design and amenities due to the evolving market and the expanded gambling alternatives in Massachusetts and Rhode Island throughout the years that postponed First Light.
Revisiting the city’s agreement with the Tribe
A key focus for the City Council was the existing Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the city and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
Established in 2012, the IGA encompasses vital provisions and pledges by the Tribe, such as the amount of tax revenue and payments the city will obtain concerning First Light’s operations in Taunton, the commitments and expenses associated with upgrading infrastructure and availing the city’s water, sewer, and electrical utilities, the funding for and implementation of traffic mitigation strategies in the vicinity, as well as providing resources for compulsive gambling and addiction services for those requiring assistance.
Council members indicatedthe necessity for re-negotiation regarding the agreement due to the considerable amount of time that has passed, with no advancements or progress made.
“The gaming landscape has evolved over the past 12 years. Your initial concept may no longer be feasible,” stated City Councilor David Pottier, pushing for a new IGA because “I believe the existing IGA is impractical.”
City Councilor Phillip Duarte concurred, noting, “The IGA requires renegotiation based on realistic expectations in today’s environment.”
Tribal representatives did not respond to this appeal during the gathering.
Tribe owes the city $2.35 million
The Tribe still owes approximately $2.35 million as part of its payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) Agreement with the city, instituted along with the IGA. This arrangement — made with sovereign bodies like the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, or private tax-exempt organizations such as colleges and churches — requires payments for services such as infrastructure and public services.
According to municipal officials, the Tribe is presently behind on four years of payments, with the last contribution made in 2020.
City Councilor Christopher Coute expressed understanding that “the tribe has taken on considerable debt” through the years, but he hopes the Tribe “prioritizes the PILOT payments” that are currently due as the city is the primary collaborator in this initiative.
Jones informed the Council that “the Tribe is dedicated to resolving these payments as swiftly as possible.”
Mayor Shaunna O’Connell assured the Council and the public that her administration has been engaging in regular discussions with Tribal representatives concerning “how we are going to receive our payments,” and the talks have been productive.
She further mentioned that, in all likelihood, a “memorandum of agreement” will be prepared shortly, with endorsements from both the city Council and the Tribe, outlining the terms and timeline for repaying these overdue amounts.
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