Gambling on a Cloudy Day

I am going to start with the casino again.  The casino is a prime example of how the South Coast is treated by the statehouse on a number of issues.

New Bedford has been clamoring for a casino for decades.  While I still think casinos are one of those things where you need to be very careful for what you wish for, the reason New Bedford hasn't got one isn't out of any great paternal concern for the well being of the South Coast.

I have been giving more thought to the article/opinion in yesterday's S-T.  The ending in the "Our View" piece is worth noting here:

A commercial bidding process without the fetters of the tribal head start puts Region C on "equal footing" with the rest of the state, and still allows the Mashpee to pursue its trust lands and develop those lands as it wishes through an established process. 

Moving forward with the law as it is now exposes the state to too much risk. Rather than wait for a federal "Carcieri fix," state lawmakers have the opportunity to create their own. Otherwise, there could be a long line of litigants complaining that the "fix" was in for the tribes all along.

If I understand it correctly, in everyday people speak, if the state doesn't change the law, Region C ( i.e. us) will be waiting a long, long time. I would hazard a guess we probably will be able to jump on the "T" and travel to one of the other casinos in the state before we have one locally to go to.


But hey at least we got something to look forward to right!


Speaking of looking forward, we got a whole heck of a lot to look forward to this November.  By looking forward I mean simply the time component.  Not exactly relishing the choices that will be available at the polls come November.


Obama vs. Romney.  Sorry folks, neither instills a great deal of confidence.  


Brown vs. Warren.  Going with Brown.  No. 1 reason, and I am serious about this:  Got a breakfast bet at IHOP.  Made sure to dot the "i"s and cross the "t"s too.  Beverage, tip and transportation included; and, anything on the menu to boot.

Now who I pick and who I vote for often are two different things.  Just look at our last town election for that one.

But given what I know to date, I am going to go with Brown, primarily for the reason I think he would do a better job for the fishing industry.  Willing to hear otherwise.  But make the reasoning good.  It is very hard to beat a free meal in my book.

The local congressional race.  No decision as of yet.  No need to make one for the November election either I think.  Yet, I will.  I predict the winner of the September democratic primary.

Still looking forward ...

I am waiting with bated breathed for tonight's meeting of our selectmen.  I got a little bet going with someone on the amount of time to be spent on some of the agenda items.  That entertainment matter aside, I am most interested in what will be said, and not said on the matter of Town Insurance.

Not sure at this point whether they will be discussing the liability aspect or the group part (health) or both.  Suffice it to say insurance as a whole is a matter our town, and all communities, need to pay very close attention to.

Fairhaven is self-insured.  A lot of communities are.  Just as a lot of communities are finding out that when things are going good, you look like geniuses, and when things are so good, well ...

Just for information purposes, if you have town insurance do me a favor, check out the GIC site and let me know how the info on the site compares to the town plan.  You may want to start with the rate chart effective July 1, 2012 for FY 2013.

If I got my crystal ball cleaned up right, I am guessing the money the town is going to need in FY 2013 isn't going to equal what was appropriated  (and not as in less, although we may squeak by), and isn't going to be enough in FY 2014 (can you say big bucks).  If the town needs more, guess who pays more?

One area where my crystal ball seems to cloud over is the solar farm at the dump.  Not a good shine for a project that requires clear skies.  Seems yet another executive session will be held on this one.  Dump is an apt term for this project.

Okay, seems conditions have clouded up to the point nothing can been seen.  Until tomorrow.