September 30, 2003

Members of the Connecticut Alliance:

CONNECTICUT ALLIANCE OPPOSES THE STATE'S PLAN TO EXPAND ROADS AROUND FOXWOODS CASINO

Today the Connecticut Alliance issued letters to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) requesting all documents pertaining to the proposed expansion of Connecticut Route 2/2A and the proposed realignment of Route 2 in front of Foxwoods Casino. The Alliance opposes both road projects.

The document requests were filed under the Freedom of Information Act by attorneys Guy Martin and Don Baur of Washington-based law firm Perkins, Coie. The Alliance recently retained the firm to help investigate tribal plans to realign roads around the casino. "There is a direct connection between these highway alteration projects and the Mashantucket Pequot tribe's relentless drive to expand their casino operation," said Alliance president Jeff Benedict. "And the state's Department of Transportation is giving the tribe a green light, despite overwhelming opposition from local governments and residents."

The purpose of the FOI requests is to determine the reason that the agencies are proceeding with such an unpopular proposal, particularly at a time when the state budget has no money to address far more pressing transportation needs, such as traffic congestion relief along I-95 through Fairfield County. "This ultimately comes down to questions of accountability and priorities," said Benedict. "Will the state's DOT be accountable to the will of local government and residents, both of whom strongly oppose these plans? And why does the state rank enhancing roads to Foxwoods ahead of I-95 congestion relief, completion of Route 11, and upgrades to the state's railways, airports and seaports?"

"The only significant beneficiary of this publicly funded highway expansion," said Benedict, "is not only a single private entity - the casino operation - but one which pays no taxes on its profits or its property."

Within the past year the Connecticut Alliance has led the effort to repeal the state's Las Vegas Nights statute; defeat a bill that would have legalized gambling at high school post-prom night parties; backed an environmental bill impacting casino development; and led the lobbying effort against plans to bring an Indian law center to UCONN's law school. Today's FOI requests is the first step in a public campaign that the Alliance intends to wage against the road projects around Foxwoods.

Click on the links to read the letters to the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT). After reading the letters press the Back button on your browser to return to this letter.

If you have friends who are concerned about Casino expansion in Connecticut please forward this email to them and ask them to join our mailing list at www.connecticutalliance.org.