LEWISTON — For the second time in as many years, Maine voters are being asked to approve a casino with slot machines and table games such as blackjack and roulette in the town of Oxford.
Stavros Mendros
Also on the horizon is a possible vote in 2011 on a plan to bring a casino to downtown Lewiston. Some think that if the Oxford casino passes, the proposal for Lewiston may not.
The group behind the Lewiston plan has begun advertising in local print publications, urging people to save their votes for 2011.
But Oxford supporters say their plan doesn't mean a casino and convention center couldn't also be built in Lewiston.
At issue is a provision in the Oxford legislation that would prohibit another casino from opening within a 100-mile radius. But Oxford supporters say another referendum question could remove that provision. The proposed legislation for the Lewiston casino does just that.
The law that allows Maine's only slot parlor in Bangor also includes a 100-mile provision, but Oxford is beyond the 100-mile zone.
"If they want a casino in Lewiston that's going to be a draw for the state and across the state, then they need to vote no (on the Oxford casino)," says Stavros Mendros, a former state lawmaker and former Lewiston city councilor. He is a member of the group backing a plan to build a casino at the Bates Mill No. 5 property in the downtown.
Mendros says his group's plan could still go forward and he agrees that the legislation for it strikes the 100-mile restriction in the Oxford plan.
But if Oxford passes, the Lewiston casino would likely be a scaled-down development and not the kind of casino-convention center that people have hoped for, Mendros says.
"All the effort this community has worked for over the last three decades to become a destination for Maine will be destroyed if Oxford passes," he says.
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Support us we support you!!
Just remember what goes around comes around. There is no reason both faciliteies cant work. Oxford is going to be a bigger destination spot just because of rte 26 itself and all the people that use it for skiing and vacationing. No city traffic to deal with and all easy commuting off of the turnpike. Just remember our communities paint the image for the people that are going to visit these destinations if passed. Everyone is entitled to there opinion. I just hope all the NO voters can tell me there great ideas to bring jobs and oppurtunities to the people of western maine!!
By the way the people behind this casino in Oxford are the some of the absolute best you could get. Very experienced business people in the community and very involved. Remember Bahre wanted to bring Loudon Speedway here, How many are regreting that for almost 20 years!!!!!
Dont make another mistake, Vote yes on 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What homework have they done John? They won't even tell us where they want to build.
They lied about Peter Martin being paid and owning part of the Casino and that got Black bear fined and they lied about him being a lobbyist. That is far more sleazy than any rumors about Mendros.
Lewiston already has a traffic study to turn the Bates Mill into a 10,000 seat convention center, if Main St can handle that and handles 45,000 cars a day, I am certain they can handle 1000 more off peak cars.
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-let alone a casino.
Whoever's promoting a casino in the Dirty Lew certainly does not give a damn about Lewiston (just the blood money to be made).
Sadly, the truth is that a good majority of Lewistonites don't give a damn either.
It's freaking inappropriate to downright criminal on so many levels.
A casino in Oxford would be a boon to the area ... a casino in Lewiston would be an ongoing travesty and tragedy.
Screw the white-shirt "studies" and take a ride in the Dirty Lew. Then, screw the ride and take a walk after dark -make study of that experience and how it'd interplay with such a greedy and convoluted idea that there should be a casino (or even a convention center) anywhere near the downtown area.
The most Lewiston should have to do with a casino is to formally hook the downtown area up with "SCRAM" buses and take the bums to Oxford nightly (no round trip, tyvm). -and we'll have much quieter evenings in L/A.
And even though I still maintain that the "100-mile radius" provision should be wiped out of Oxford's grabfest, I'll be an ardent opponent of any casino coming to this area (L/A) just because it's a bad idea, -a really bad idea.
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-I'll get a bus going myself. Every night, 6:30 pm, I'll do a sweep of downtown Lewiston, like the Pied Piper -but only I'll get $8 per head (and be doing Lewiston one of the greatest favors ever).
Let Oxford have some of this "fun".
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Read what I wrote and answer those questions. They have done some work and have business experience. You pick and choose and as you do you erode the argument that the Lewiston group can do the job.
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I didn't think that any of my real questions would be answered. This speaks volumes.
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Wasn't he buddies with a guy who had ethics problems while running for office from Auburn? Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember some kind of sleazy bit surrounding petition signing, or something like that. I'll have to google later.
As far as the Lewiston casino? Bad idea in the area they are proposing, imo. Every criminal lowlife in the area would be preying on the patrons. They would be sitting ducks; no thanks. It's too close to the high crime areas, city shelters, the bus station and the generally "seedy" area of L/A. Forget any safety promises...unless each and every patron is guaranteed a personal, armed guard on the way in and out. Use a parking garage? LOL!
At least Oxford is in a safer, more easily controlled environment. Oxford has my vote...
I
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LOL.. it's not like they use sacks of coins for transactions. or a huge hunk of gold.. credit cards and debt cards are perferred
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I went a few years ago with $500 cash in my pocket and emerged with $1130 cash in my pocket. Now, you tell me how any winnings are put on someone's debit/crdit cards.
BTW, there are punks who would rob your ass for a pack of smokes. Casino patrons in the area of the mill are sitting ducks, open prey if you will.
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is that the casino proposed for L/A would be like Bangor and not the resort that the Oxford group proposes. True? Where is the parking going to be in Lewiston if the casino is in the Bates mill complex. How would the traffic situation be taken care of? Please post some answers.
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Great picture Stavros, straight out of the mafia files.
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Great picture Stavros, straight out of the mafia files.
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My understanding was that Mendros was ready to sign a non compete option for the Black Bear petition drive which would have ended Lewiston before it started, but they decided to hire National Petition Management out of California instead. Sounds to me like Black bear had the chance to keep Mendros out of it and they blew it and now they are crying because they didn't get him. Oxford's loss is Lewiston-Auburn's gain... Thanks.
Neither Mendros nor his company show up on any campaign report.
John, aside from signatures, campaigning and some options payments, what exactly has Oxford invested?
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Sandraz...how do know of what you preach, non competes and such, certianly i have not seen that published anywhere. I would submit that since Oxford got thier 100,000 sigs in a record 20 days as reported in every major newspaper in Maine. That the Oxford group probably did not have the confidence in Mendros getting the work done on time. I would also submit if National Petition Management was contracted to do the work, then Mendros must have been a sub contracter to them. Since you seem to know the innner workings of the Lewiston group are you saying mendros or his company did not work on the Oxford 2010 signature effort. I dont think any of the oxford group has lost sleep becuase mendros is aligned with the lewiston project.
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Sandra, the Black Bear people, the 5 main investors, have done the groundwork that one would expect at this point in the process. This is based on my observation of their operation as an outsider. In addition they are a group of people who have run significant businesses and are able to fund initial land acquisition, site renderings, etc. The Lewiston group does not have similar business credentials or (based on the payment plan they needed for the $150,000 option) the financial wherewithal that the Oxford group has.
Answering my question with a question, as you did, does nothing to advance the discussion. Since you appear to be knowledgeable about the Lewiston group could you tell us if you have any relationship with the group or any of its members? Your defense of Stavros against personal attacks and your support of the Lewiston casino makes me curious.
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Personal attacks on Stavros Mendros are juvenile and fail to address any of the real issues for or against a casino in Oxford County or Lewiston. To me it seems that the people who want a casino in Lewiston have no real arguments against the Oxford casino. It is in their own best interest that the Oxford casino fails. If it fails then they have no competition for their casino. They do not, as far as I know, address what is best for the people of Oxford County. Is a casino in either place a good idea?
As things stand right now the Oxford County effort seems to be better organized and better funded. The Lewiston group looks like they threw their plan together and are hoping that some outside casino operation will step in with a pile of cash. That is generally how these things work.
I am opposed to giving one group exclusive rights to opening a casino and excluding all others within a certain area. When I look at the really successful resort gaming areas I see competition. While there are many exclusive deals it seems that the best thing for the customers and the taxpayers is good and healthy competition. Maybe Stavros can address this question. Aren't Republicans the party of free and open capitalistic competition? Or is competition good for everyone but you?
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Again, not a single reason to vote yes, just an obsession with Mendros. A little envy because none of you ever had his courage to run for office or maybe none of you could ever win? You are all such brilliant debaters... does he have cooties too?
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however most reputable business people have scruples that would not have allowed them to take a check from one source only to come back a month later with a competing plan of thier own. Most reputable business people would have told the Oxford folks of thier plan or at the very least opted out of doing the job....that is what reputable business people would do. I am not obsessed with mendros but "if the shoe fits"...as far as reasons to vote yes...how about this for starters....jobs with benifits, money for education, about 2 million going to k-12 education in Androscoggin county every year...about 700K going to lewiston every year with about another 300k gong to auburn every year, 7 million going to our colleges. I honestly belive the androscoggin county voters are going to look at the Mendros anti oxford campaign and see though his shallow arguments. He is not doing himslef or his lewiston effort any favors and i would not be suprised a backlash occurs at the voting booth. The quickest way to kill lewiston is have oxford defeated particularly in a statewide vote.
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It is known that Mendros and his company worked in part to gather signatures to put the 2010 Oxford referendum on the ballot. He helps to put them on the ballot and then comes back with his group to oppose them. Surly mendros must have known while helping on the 2010 Oxford effort, he had his own group waitng in the wings ready to start thie own effort. Is there nothing this man wont do for the almighty dollar. Now he comes out with full page ads to stop oxford an effort that he helped get on the ballot. Where is his moral compas? Hopefully the Androscoggin voters will see thorugh this mendros ruse for exaclty what it is. Remeber a yes vote for Oxford does not stop lewiston....vote for both if you wish...But oxford is now and the jobs will begin asap.
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You gotta give him an A for creating his own job security.
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And if Mendros had refused to help Oxford you would be bashing him for refusing to help them because he had his investor's Casino. Its perfectly fair to let the voters decide and to try to convince them Lewiston is a better idea. I would consider it far more underhanded for Mendros to try to keep them form making the ballot than for him to try and fairly defeat them.
I was going to vote for Oxford until Lewiston came along and I realized it was a much better deal for L-A and all of Maine.
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Interesting that the only argument anyone can come up with on why to vote Yes is by looking at a 5 year old stock picture of Mendros' face, by people whoa re so embarrased by their own face they use a picture of a beach instead. What brilliant compelling logic....
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if you look on google that picture goes back to the 1990's at least they could do is get a current picture of him. Must be something of him more current at some local public municipal office.
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That's his face?
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this. That's his nose? I thought it was his - Never mind Ms. Reeves will just delete it.
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His nose, oh, I thought he was eating a banana.
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wow, xyz, you really suffer from Mendros-envy, you sound like one of his ex-girlfriends with a real crush on Mendros, bordering on stalker. dragon, every casino petiiton has been put on the ballot by those same "petition sleaze" as you call them. Including both Oxford and Bangor.
The Lewiston group could have done a petition putting their casino anywhere, they chose to invest in downtown L-A. Because, unlike some of you wannabe's, they believe in this community.
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Other than raise signatures, do some advertising, and related work what has the Mendros group invested? They could not afford the $150,000 option to buy Mill #5 and needed to make installments starting with a mere $10,000. I am excited when people want to invest in Lewiston but, up to now, Great Falls Recreation and Redevelopment has not really done any investing. Their efforts may attract investors (and that is good), but with outside investment could they really build a casino? My guess is no.
As for xyz's comments, his personal attacks are really pathetic.
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Don't be such a shrinking violet, tell how you really feel.
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People seem to get thier shorts in a knot about the 100 mile provision. It has been law since 2003 when the racino referendum was passed. The folks backing Oxford located thier project over 100 road miles from Bangor too compley with it and now they get chastised for it....but folks it doesn't matter and here is why. Gambling expansion in Maine must go before either the legislature or the voters. As Mr. Mendros has done in his petition for Lewiston he has exempted himself from the 100 miles and if his law passes it won't matter Lewiston will go forward with or without Oxford, but you know what Mr. Mendros has not told you even though his law would take the 100 miles away for Oxford, the Lewiston petition leaves the 100 miles in for anyone else. So essentially Lewiston would operate against Oxford but keep the 100 in for any other slot machine facilites...imagine that!!!!!
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Any venture involving this signature gathering sleaze smells like an untreated outhouse.
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Free market capitalism does not include government protection agaist competition. I don't buy the arguement that they need this to invest in the casino. It is wrong. Would you vote to build a Home Depot in Oxford and have a rule that Lowes couldn't build a store within a hundred miles? If you want to build a casino make it the best casino and you won't have to worry about competition.
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Blame Libby for the 100 mile rule the oxford casino people tried to take it out and have Lewiston voted on at the same time, she blocked the changes dragged her feet made it to late to vote on lewiston this year
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Stavros must also be a mind reader. He actually knows what kind of Casino "THE PEOPLE" want. I'm sure it has nothing to do with what the Fat-cat investors want.
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Opposition to Oxford will backfire on Lewiston proponents.
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people in oxford county will be watching to see how you folks in lewiston vote. you have been on easy street a lot of years takin our shoping money and drs and hospital money. You don't do nothin for us. NH is tax free has great outlets to the doctors and hospitals are better in Portland. we will be watching
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ITS NOT HALLOWEEN YET.VOTE YES CASINO OXFORD
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-because every city has a right to be as sleazy, degenerate and as exploited as possible -and no way should S Paris/Oxford ever beat the Dirty Lew in that contest.
What everyone needs (in both areas) are buses -to get the hell out of these crap places for a rowdy good time and to be employed at decent paying jobs.
Oxford (being a decent place) could handle a casino atmosphere much better than Lewiston (being the unclean boil infested sweaty armpit of Maine), but as much as Lewiston shouldn't have one, there shouldn't be a provision (from Oxford) preventing/restricting a casino in Lewiston.
If the vote came to Lewiston, I'd vote yes ... -bring it on, armegeddon! apocalypse! (then flush it all down the Androscoggin wrapped in those environmentally-friendly plastic Bum-balls found at ski-resorts).
-In response to XYZ ... I looked at that guy's (Stavros) picture and am reminded strongly of my late great Aunt Edna and her ever-present coral pink lipstick and penchant for swiping sweet n lows into her purse at restaurants. Therefore, it's agreed, I find him completely untrustworthy (and also in dire need of eyebrow tweezers, hot-oil hair conditioner, herpecin, thorazine, dental caps, a chin tuck and reduction, rhinoplasty, a more subtle shade of lipstick and a better pose/facial expression that doesn't make him look so much like a tenacious snake-oil salesman in drag).
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Here is what he says on AMG board... Can you say cut from the same cloth as Paul Liarpage.
Here is his answer to someones question about Lewiston voting against casinos in the past...
Tue, 10/12/2010 - 6:37pm
#102
Stavros Mendros
User offline. Last seen 29 min 52 sec ago. Offline
Joined: 10/23/1999
"Didn't Lewiston vote against slots when proposed in other places? Maybe the low paying jobs are OK if they're in your area, but if you have nothing to gain why vote for it? These issues should be voted on locally."
This is Mendros answer...
Another lie being spread. Lewiston has never voted below 60% in favor of casino's.
Oxford is happy to use us and our votes but then then gives themselves a 100 mile monopoly attempting to stop us from having one as well.
This is the unofficial vote from City of Lewiston 2003
City of Lewiston, Maine
"Unofficial" General Election Results For the Election Held - Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Question No: 3 Question Description: Do you want to allow a casino to be run in Maine?
YES Votes:487, 920, 259, 781, 379, 428, 730, 747, = 4,731
NO Votes:815, 1,496, 461, 1,106, 587, 561, 1,120, 933, = 7,079
Hmmmmmmmmmmm was it a lie or did his wife have a paperwork error like Liarpage?
http://www.ci.lewiston.me.us/clerk/files/electionresults/2003-11-04resul...
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