A few decades ago, former Rep. Sam Gejdenson and former U. S. Senator Chris Dodd fought mightily on behalf of the Mashantuckets and the Mohegans to help them gain federal recognition. They succeeded, enabling the tribes to build gigantic casinos.

Since then the politicians' agenda has steadily morphed into becoming rabidly anti-recognition. In the article, “Courtney, others fear tribal recognition bar may have been lowered" (April 23), Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District and Sen. Richard Blumenthal voiced strong opposition to a rule change which would increase tribes chances of obtaining federal recognition.

What has changed to cause this seismic shift from politicians once championing recognition to now lampooning it? The pro-casino crowd's blather aside, the answer is clearly that Connecticut residents and politicians have experienced firsthand that the government's taking land into trust on which casinos are built has resulted in a myriad of adverse effects on local communities' quality of life.

Concurrent with the anti-recognition campaign, the state is hypocritically on the verge of authorizing up to three additional casinos to be built and run by the Mashantuckets and the Mohegans. Rest assured none of these will end up in Fairfield or Litchfield counties.

Gerald Drury

Ledyard