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Activist: Proposed New Lansing, Romulus Casinos Would Hurt Detroit

ROMULUS (WWJ) - Would two new Michigan casinos mean more money trouble for Detroit?

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians has filed applications to take land into trust in Lansing and Romulus to build new casinos — and one activist says, the results could be disastrous as the Motor City continues bankruptcy proceedings.

James Nye, spokesman for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, says arguably, Detroit casino revenue is the most important source of income for the city, which is already declining because of a new casino in Toledo.

Another one near Metro Airport, he said, could be crippling.

"This would have a substantial impact on Detroit casino revenue, which would in turn have a substantial impact on the financial health of the city," said Nye. "And at this critical juncture, with the city restructuring, this is certainly bad news for the state of Michigan."

Nye says the Sault Tribe's attempt to open new casinos is all about greed.

He said sometimes you can have too much of a good thing.

"There's tribes that want casinos in Muskegon and in Port Huron and now Lansing and Romulus, and I don't think the federal government or the state can say yes to only one or two and deny the others," he said. "So this could create a real tidal wave of new casinos, if you will."

Nye said that allowing the new  Lansing and Romulus casinos would not be a good policy move for the state.

 

 

 

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