Martha's Gonna Bury This One As Well!

The Attorney General's Office seized records last year [2012] from Plainridge regarding the INTERSTATE  ILLEGAL RAFFLE conducted for MANY years....not only was the Attorney General's Office suspiciously quiet...they REFUSED to commit ANYTHING to writing.

Phew! Don't make waves, Martha! Folks might believe you actually stand for something!....well....other than running continuously for higher office.....

More distressing was the support and endorsement of Plainville Town Leaders, including organizations that benefited from the ILLEGAL RAFFLE.

 

Those NON-PROFIT organizations could have obtained a LEGAL PERMIT, conducted their own LEGAL RAFFLE, maybe even promoted by Plainridge, but were too lazy to do so or to abide by the LAW., but I digress with comments about citizens pretending they are LAW-ABIDING because they're too ignorant or lazy to read the statute, preferring to genuflect to a COMMON THIEF.

The Attorney General's Office remained SILENT!  

In April 2013, Gary Piontkowski was forced to resign from Plainridge because of his ILLEGAL PRACTICE of taking money -- not sure what it's even called since the investors should have known.

Queries to the AG and there are many more questions that need to be asked:

Folks get busy in the summer and it's always possible you may have missed the recent announcement by the Massachusetts Gam[bl]ing Commission when they DISQUALIFIED the horse racing track in

Plainville, PLAINRIDGE from their application for a Slot Barn license because of misspent funds.

Those 'misspent funds' raise additional questions of who knew? who was complicit? doesn't a state agency like the Racing Commission provide oversight? why wasn't this matter reported earlier?

If those 'misspent funds' were disbursed to Mr. Piontkowski in cash, from the 'MONEY ROOM, doesn't that person have a fiduciary responsibility? What are that person's duties?

Did the Commonwealth receive all funds as required?

Aren't the funds supposed to be disbursed to the Commonwealth and from there, disbursed?

Isn't the Commonwealth supposed to receive funds based on the 'handle' of the race track?

Did Plainville receive all of the funds to which it was entitled?

Were the appropriate income taxes paid on those funds?

The process in Plainville raises serious issues about the willingness of town officials to genuflect to Plainridge, silence the concerns of residents and abutters, endorse the BULLYING and INTIMIDATION of town residents and opponents.

 

 

As you are surely aware, Plainridge filed a SLAPP suit against an opponent which they lost in court, legal fees were awarded to the defendant.

 

 

Town Administrator Joe Fernandes has worked diligently to silence opponents, conceal the dire water shortage from the public and cram a hastily crafted agreement through the process.

On April 26, 2012, Mr. Joseph Fernandes inquired of [Father] Richard McGowan about the process of posting an RFP for consultant's service to negotiate a Host Community Agreement. [I know! I was

present!]
[That was immediately prior to Richard McGowan launching a verbal assault because I ASKED a polite question about the misinformation he spewed!]

Lacking any expertise, Mr. Fernandes waited most of the year, mostly negotiated the agreement behind closed doors apparently with no experienced assistance. Amateur hour?

When a 'consultant' was finally retained, the consultant acknowledged that he lacked adequate time to do a thorough job - maybe overlooking important issues that will jeopardize the Town's future.

Abutters were forced to endure endless BLASTING as a Parking Garage was constructed near the property line with NO PROTECTION and no recourse. Not only did Town Officials ignore complaints about noise and debris, but Plainridge intimidated and threatened abutters with a 'NON-INTERFERENCE AGREEMENT' about which they were never informed. They feared they would lose their homes if they complained!

The abutters have no earth berm to deaden the sound of a 24/7/365 parking garage with horns honking, nothing to block the headlights of vehicles, nothing to restrict the exhaust fumes.

As it exists currently, abutters must endure lights illuminating their homes because of the refusal of Plainridge to shield the lights.

This construction has rendered those homes unmarketable!

Who buys a house with a parking garage in their backyard?

Because the parking garage has been erected within close proximity of homes constructed on 'Harness Path,' it is clear that Plainrdge intends to employ what is currently a dead end for access, a prospect NEVER discussed in public meetings or Planning Board meetings.

How can those abutters address their concerns when they fear losing their homes?

It would seem that since Mr. Piontkowski's malfeasance was discovered prior to April 2013, the Host Community Agreement that was negotiated and subsequently approved by the Board of Selectmen was not a Good Faith Agreement. Shouldn't that invalidate the agreement?

Plainville has scheduled a Special Town Election being discussed at this evening's Board of Selectmen's meeting [August 12th] during which the BOS determined to move forward with an 'unknown partner.'

In addition, Plainridge filed a 'change of use' application with the Plainville Planning Board that would now seem invalid, yet for curious reasons, Town Administrator Joe Fernandes is pushing forward with great emotional zeal. Because of past abuse that was tolerated or endorsed by the Board of Selectmen, this matter seems beyond the pale.

Of particular concern, as these matters have been disclosed, it would seem that the Attorney General's Office delayed publicizing or commenting on the blatant violation of Charitable Gaming regulations for MANY years by Plainridge -- ignoring the issue, refusing to commit any decision to writing.

It would seem not even a slap on the wrist 'they promise not to do it again' after was it 12 YEARS?

The BAFFLING RAFFLE offered a prize of winning an opportunity to BET on the Kentucky Derby? Bizarre! The raffle was conducted across state lines and PAL members were FORCED to buy raffle tickets to join.

 

How can the Attorney General's Office sweep this matter under the rug, along with so much else?

There are a multitude of additional unanswered questions about the entire Plainridge debacle that need to be raised.

The entire Plainridge kerfuffel raises serious concerns about the ability of the Attorney General's Office to investigate and regulate.

My concerns will be forwarded to others because of my sincere concern about investigative failures.

Thank you for your consideration.

Response from Mr. Patrick Hanley, The King of Non-Responses, NEVER-PUT-IT-IN-WRITING at the Attorney General's Office:

Thank you for contacting the Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley. Your message has been forwarded to me for response.

On behalf of Attorney General Coakley, I welcome your point of view, and I thank you for sharing it with this office. This office is pleased to hear from all concerned parties on important issues like this one, and we appreciate that you took the time to contact us. I appreciate the amount of detail that you provided.

I am aware of the recent decision by the Gaming Commission relating to the suitability of Ourway, which was sought a slot license for Plainridge. I am also aware of the information contained in the report issued by the Commission.

Your email conveyed a great deal of interest and knowledge about Plainridge. If you would like to discuss in more detail about the contents of your email, I would be happy to speak by phone. My direct contact information is contained below.

Sincerely,

-Pat

Patrick Hanley

Assistant Attorney General
Chief, Gaming Enforcement Division
Office of the Attorney General
One Ashburton Place
Boston, MA 02108
p: 617-963-2512

REPLY:
Dear Mr. Hanley:

Might I suggest that while you're patting yourself on the back for refusing to 'PUT ANYTHING IN WRITING,' the appropriate technique seems to be exhibited here:

The Office of the Attorney General, it would seem, has failed to act in the best interests of the Citizens of the Commonwealth and the NON-handling of this matter raises serious concerns about the Attorney General being more focused on 'not making waves' instead of appropriately investigating matters.

Since you eschew committing investigations of CRIMES to writing, we will not 'discuss' this matter and I will take further action to publicize the inability of the Attorney General's Office to fulfill its statutory obligations and enforce the law.

Please PUT IT IN WRITING if you have an opinion other than to bury these matters as well.




The Sun Chronicle raised other issues of EVERYONE ignoring Plainridge's previous violations of law and questionable conduct:

Defining Plainville's Incompetence

Martha: Too busy running for Governor to do your job?





To give you just one issue: FISHERIES, where Martha Coakley has again come down on the side that doesn't benefit Massachusetts residents, but benefits MONEYED INTERESTS, DEEP POCKETED CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS!

It's complicated and most folks don't delve, but we're witnessing the COLLAPSE of our fisheries because of GREED!

Good beginning:
Take Action: Fisheries Protections at Risk
End of a Legacy and the Death of New England Fisheries

Time to Protect Cod!

Previously posted:
Martha: Too busy running for Governor to do your job?