Opinion ID: 1790844
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Opposition to the Proposed Site

Text: ¶ 12. The City of Vicksburg and several businesses in the area opposed approval of this site. Their opposition is evidenced by letters written to the MGC and testimony before the MGC based upon the potentially disastrous effect the development would have on the Vicksburg economy. Local churches and other religious groups also opposed approval of gaming on this site. Historical groups opposed the Hooker site as they had opposed the previous Henry site due to its close proximity to the Civil War battlefield. Naturalists opposed the site because of the negative impact the project would have on fossils and other paleontological artifacts located in that area along the Big Black River. Environmental groups opposed the site because of the potential effect on endangered species in the area. Nearby landowners opposed the site because of traffic, pollution, and noise from operation of the proposed race track. ¶ 13. Harrah's, Ameristar, and Isle of Capri (sometimes referred to as the Vicksburg casinos) also opposed this site as both illegal and unsuitable for gaming. They considered such an inland site fifteen miles east of the Mississippi River to have devastating effects to their economic viability. The casinos wrote the MGC directly to express their opposition to the site and also employed public relations consultants to make their views known to the MGC and the general public. ¶ 14. On July 26, 1996, Ameristar CEO Craig Neilsen sent a letter to General Paul Harvey, Executive Director of the MGC, setting forth Ameristar's opposition to the Big Black River site. Neilsen stated in his letter as follows: While we welcome competition in the City of Vicksburg, a casino development along the river in Bovina would devastate the economic progress that has been made in Vicksburg. Ameristar invested in Vicksburg with the knowledge there would be competition, both now and in the future, but it was understood that all participants would be competing on a level playing field. With the kind of investment Ameristar has made in Vicksburg, the impact of a Big Black River development extends all of the way from Vicksburg residents employed by the casinos to the local banking community that shares in our investment and Ameristar's stockholders who have a tremendous financial stake in the Company's Mississippi operation. ¶ 15. Among the consultants hired by the Vicksburg casinos was Alan Huffman. Huffman presented a study to the MGC alleging the proposed Big Black gaming site to be unsuitable due to its interference with historical sites and endangered species. Huffman brokered an idea between certain state agencies, particularly those related to Civil War battlefields, and the casinos whereby the casinos would provide grants in the amount of $320,000 to the Mississippi Heritage Trust to preserve the historic Civil War sites through a heritage corridor preventing casino development. It was understood that the money would be paid only if the heritage corridor succeeded in precluding casino development along the Big Black River. Once the MGC turned down the Big Black site, the casinos' offer to establish a heritage corridor faded away. ¶ 16. Chris Webster was an attorney employed by Harrah's to help oppose the Big Black proposal. In a memorandum to Fred Keaton, State Government Affairs Liaison for Harrah's, Webster described a meeting he had with Clarke Reed, a close friend and advisor of Governor Kirk Fordice. Webster opined that Reed maintained a great deal of influence with the Governor on gaming matters. Webster suggested continuous contact with the Governor to ensure his agreement that no gaming development should be approved on the Big Black River. Webster's strategy also included discussing the matter and any developments with Bill Gresham, Chairman of the MGC, and Victor Smith, a member of the MGC. Webster advised Keaton that we will pull out all the stops if necessary. ¶ 17. Giselle D. Russell is a consultant in matters of public affairs, press relations, issues management, and marketing. She owns and operates a company called Strategics, Inc., in Jackson. Russell was employed by the Vicksburg casinos to conduct public relations activities and to coordinate grassroots and community advocacy programs designed to oppose approval of a casino site on the Big Black River. As campaign manager on behalf of the casinos to halt approval of the site, Russell developed a plan which included circulation of petitions opposing the site, letters to the editor from casino employees, letters to the Warren County Board of Supervisors from casino employees, letters to the MGC from casino employees, phone calls to members of the Board of Supervisors, and phone calls requesting vendors of the casinos to oppose the Big Black site. In a memorandum to representatives of Harrah's and Ameristar dated September 3, 1996, Russell stated that the Governor had told Commissioner Gresham that he had better vote down the project or else. The memorandum also stated that Gresham is really feeling the pressure ... looking for his way out.