Apr. 10--Eastern Pequot tribal councilor Mark Sebastian addresses the New London City Council Monday during a presentation on the tribe's proposal for a resort casino at State Pier. 

New London -- About 400 people gave the Eastern Pequots a cordial reception Monday night when the tribe revealed its plan to build a casino near downtown and upped the ante to the city by offering a $7.5 million payment for land at State Pier and an annual donation of $6.5 million. 

"We are excited about the opportunity the tribe is offering New London," said Mark Sebastian of North Stonington, vice chairman of the Eastern Pequots, who grew up in the city and attended schools here. "We're here to form a partnership, to be part of a team with the city in building a destination resort." 

Residents responded to the proposal to build the $550 million casino resort with some cheers, some skepticism and a call for a referendum on whether a casino is a good idea. Speakers both praised the Eastern Pequots, who have about 160 members who live in New London, and criticized them. 

"I found this presentation extraordinary and the economics overwhelming," said David Hayes, a retired physician who lives on Ocean Avenue. "But I have a problem using gambling as a source of revenue for the city." 

The tribe has been pitching its New London casino idea to local politicians since October and has made presentations in Hartford. Initially, the tribe offered a $3 million annual payment to the city in return for its support. 

Monday's meeting was the first time members of the public got a chance to hear the plan for themselves. 

"I'm amazed at the tribe's willingness to be a partner and give the city a fair shake," said David Hersant of New London. "But I think we need one or two more presentations and a referendum." 

The tribe is asking the city for a letter of intent to support the idea. The Easterns hope they can work out a deal with the state in which the state would give 60 acres at the Adm. Harold E. Shear State Pier to the city, and the city, in turn, would give the land to the federal government, which would hold it trust for the tribe. The tribe would then pay the city a one-time fee of $7.5 million for the land. 

No action was taken during Monday's three-hour meeting, which was held by the City Council's economic development committee. 

The tribe and its representatives presented overhead slides, bar graphs and pie charts, lists and figures, which seemed to overwhelm those who attended the meeting at the high school. 

Sitting on one side of the stage in the auditorium, tribal members appeared to glow under the stage lights as their consultants dazzled the room with their vision for New London -- a 228,000-square-foot casino; 300,000 square feet of public space, including stores and restaurants; 297,000 square feet of support space, such as kitchens and storage areas; a 300- to 400-room hotel and conference center; and a parking garage for 10,000 cars. 

The tribe also offered to share its good fortune with city residents, promising, in addition to money, 10,000 construction jobs, 4,500 permanent jobs with half the salaries in excess of $30,000, and 25,000 daily visitors to the city 

"This project is so phenomenal, we could improve upon the quality of life for a lot more people," Sebastian said. 

Of the 22 people who spoke Monday night, about half said they were opposed to a casino. They said they were opposed to lowering taxes by using gambling money. 

"There's no way this is going to help New London. What do think, we're stupid?" said Milton Papathanasiou, who lives on Willetts Avenue and owns a pizza restaurant in Groton. He said he goes to the casinos in Atlantic City and never goes outside the casino walls. No one does, he said. 

David A. Rosow, a managing member of the Eastern Capital Development, a team of three consultants helping the tribe with its plans, said State Pier is one of several locations the tribe has looked at for a future casino and on most days New London is the preferred site. He did not reveal other sites but said the tribe would continue to pursue other options while residents decide if they want the casino. The Easterns have said they will not go to a municipality that does not want them. 

For some, plans for a casino are premature because the Easterns, who have been recognized by the state as a tribe since 1683, need federal recognition to get reservation land. Before the tribe can build a casino, it would have to become federally recognized, take over 60 acres at State Pier and negotiate a gaming compact with the state. 

Gov. John G. Rowland has called the plan premature, saying the Eastern Pequot tribe has not won federal recognition nor has it begun negotiations to open Connecticut's gaming compact, which grants exclusive gaming rights to the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans, the state's only federally recognized tribes. 

Members of the southeastern Connecticut legislative delegation oppose the concept of a casino, and two top legislative leaders have said the Pequots face an uphill battle trying to persuade the General Assembly to support the idea. 

There are also questions as to whether the state should stop its efforts to rehabilitate State Pier in favor of a casino. The state plans to invest $43 million in the pier, a project that includes building additional warehouse space and buying the nearby Central Vermont Pier. 

But the tribe insists that a casino would raise the standard of living for all city residents and open the southeastern Connecticut region to new tourism opportunities. 

"We know about the downside of gambling," said Larry Wilson of Stonington, a tribal member. "Gaming is not perfect. We wish there were other economic remedies." 

He urged the City Council to join the tribe in its vision for New London, which would improve with monies from a casino. 

"We will not take no for an answer quietly," he continued, raising his voice like a preacher at a pulpit. "We will try to be patient with you and hold other opportunities at bay." 

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(c) 2001, The Day, New London, Conn. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.