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Updated: 10:09 AM Jan 6, 2009
Resort Job Losses A Hard Hit
Choctaw, Miss. Almost 600 jobs were cut Monday at the Pearl River Resort, owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Management says the economy is a factor, along with poor planning. Posted: 5:14 PM Jan 5, 2009Reporter: Andrea Williams Email Address: andrea.williams@wtok.com |
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Posted by: Mert
Location: Quitman
on Jan 6, 2009 at 06:30 AM
It seems that 670 persons are now going to draw unemployment from the State of Mississippi but their employer(Pearl River Resort - owned by the Choctaw Indians) has claimed exemption on paying any gambling taxes to Mississippi. I wonder who pays into the unemployment fund?
Posted by: Robert
Location: Meridian
on Jan 6, 2009 at 03:56 AM
Am I the only one who realizes that this is racism? 570 people were "Laid Off" and not one is a Choctaw. Can Choctaws solely financially support the resort? The mayor of New Orleans said he wants a "Chocolate City" and it sounds like the chief wants a "Choctaw City"!
Posted by: Leslie
Location: DeKalb
on Jan 6, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Now that they have fired everybody we should all know that the information that was published in that paper called The Philadelphian that was written by the other Resort big wig associates that were fired a few months ago had to be true because look at what has happened. The general wrote a memo and had it posted on the walls by the security office in the Moon saying the rumors were not true and the employees were mad because they were terminated and was trying to bring the tribe down so after today we all know who was telling the truth. They tried to warn us. When the tribe finish using the few non tribal people they kept, even the big wigs, they will join the rest of us that were fired today then we will see how hush hush they keep that.
Posted by: c.
Location: meridian
on Jan 6, 2009 at 02:58 AM
I know 'management issues' were at play here, and I know it's not directly related, but still, you gotta admit this points out what a GREAT time this is for Meridian to dump $14mil into that Great Albatross, the Threefoot project. What a joke.
Posted by: Former Employee
Location: North Mississippi
on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:11 AM
To all of you who were LAID OFF I wish you all the best. I too was LAID OFF almost 5 years ago from there and I vowed never to work for them again. Others returned to work for them and were LAID OFF again so I ask you. How can you work for a company (Tribe) that you just can't trust. I do under stand that it is there rez. but they still still don't know how to run a Casino. Agian to those of you who lost your job I wish you all the best it's hard to find another job right now, an to the management shame on you. They could have taken a pay cut and saved many jobs but will they do that. I think not. Oh by the way this look like a repeat of what happened in 2004. New upper management comes in and says the numbers just don't add up we will have to let peaple go. Think about it and good luck.
Posted by: Yasser
Location: Global
on Jan 6, 2009 at 12:00 AM
This is sad news but there are alot of interesting ways that you can do online to find a job. I found a great resource which has a lot of jobs from the hospitality industry. Check out http://www.jobstaxi.com
Posted by: Ananymous
Location: Montgomery, AL
on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:36 PM
Now General Harvy....here is another chance to explain the real reason for GM reducing it operation to 3 days a week... What about your other associates who were let go "AT WILL" earlier this year with no discplinary actions in their personnel file....Explain this to the public! They need to be included in the total announced today!! Sad for Pearl River Resort and the surrounding areas .... greedy individuals who are padding their pockets!!!
Posted by: Ananymous
Location: Philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:28 PM
This is not the first "At Will" associates to be termed at GM. The spokesperson today seemed to forget the many other associates that were termed "At Will" earlier this year! The Philadelphian newspaper (earlier this year) provided information on the current expenses of today's management team! They need to consider removing some of their high salaried (top heavy) management team members where 4 members have replaced one associate under Chief Martin's rule. This would have NEVER happened under Chief Martin's governship!!! Ask him....he will give you an honest answer!! Also what about the amount of money wasted in restaurant renovations, removal of Startacular, contract with Atlanta Braves, etc....SAD....SAD......SAD! Sluggish economy is not the cause of this downfall...poor management with very greedy individuals!!! Has any of them lost their jobs or their salary been reduced??? Absolutely not! And GM had profits until Beasley Denson was elected to office and he brought in this grou!
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:15 PM
I am a former employee of the PRR and I too was FIRED today. It is very sad for greed to take over people to use and do whatever they can for their own GOOD.
Posted by: Monica
Location: MS
on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:18 PM
Well to all of US that were FIRED today and NOT LAID OFF they will be calling cause as we all know the tribal people never come to work or they or drunk when they get there!!! We were there when they needed us to come in or work late to cover them so who will they call to cover them now? Exactly!! TO the newscenter we were FIRED & NOT LAID OFF AS THEY ARE CALLING IT!!!
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:23 PM
i am a former employee of the golden moon resort and casino when beasley was elected he promised alot of things for the tribe i think that if they had of listened to there hearts and not the wallet this would have never had happened my heart serious goes out to the people that were let go from the casino and they will be in my prayers they had familys also they say money dont talk yes it does this is proof.
Posted by: Jerry
Location: Meridian
on Jan 5, 2009 at 07:54 PM
All I have to say is that gaming is NOT the answer to the financial woes of any state. While I am not foolish to go and throw my hard earned money away, it has happened too many times emptying bank accounts, and sadly, hurting the innocent. The gambling lords do not "make" money, they simply take it or they would not exist. Think about it. Why don't the WTOK news staff do a story about ALL aspects of this so called "business". Foolishness brings on wrath.
Posted by: ed
Location: Meridian
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:51 PM
hate so say this but what I see was a good idea that has become a welfare mentality... to the people of the tribe... and many in power I will bet has abused it ... again will say follow the money...
Posted by: Taylor
Location: Enterprise
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:31 PM
It is unfortunate so many people lost their jobs, but it didn't seem feasible from the start to have two casinos side by side.
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: MS
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:31 PM
This is the beginning of the fall of the tribe. The resort is the largest however they have other businesses that employ non choctaws are maybe next off the block.
Posted by: rocketdawg
Location: philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:30 PM
Moblob, you are exactly right. When the choctaws had Boyd Gaming running the place it was booming and things were done right. Then, the choctaws put their choctaw first in place and its been down hill ever since. I also used to work there and i am glad i have moved on. I hate it for the people who are laid off but you have to be careful whom you work for as well.
Posted by: james adee
Location: meridian
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:21 PM
opening up a casino (the Golden Moon) right across the street from their first, successful one (Silver Star) was a dumb move by the old chief. why would you compete with yourself?
Posted by: native american
Location: ms
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:19 PM
why can't harvey and the miko just take a pay cut. they make to much. then maybe the golden moon would be out of this situation.
Posted by: dj
Location: lauderdale county
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:19 PM
harvey is an idiot but the new lwader chief deason is worse then an idiot .the trbe needs to get rid of all of them ,get someone who knows whats what .
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:15 PM
I work at the silver star and my heart goes out to all of the associates that lost their jobs.Every associate that was on duty today were on pins and needles not knowing if they would be employed or not,that was the worst feeling ever.Some of the associates that were released in my department were good,hardworking,reliable people it's so unfair,especially with the way the economy is now and no jobs available in this area it's really heartbreaking.
Posted by: Former employee
Location: North Mississippi
on Jan 5, 2009 at 06:06 PM
If they would have listen to the employee's back in 98 or 99 when they were all being told they don't need a second casino just another hotel they would not be in the pickle they are in now and they would not being having a SECOND lay off there. I personaly am a former employee of the resort and was let go in the first lay off and since my leaving there I have been back there 2 or 3 times in almost five years. They have done nothing to keep the players they had or the ones they have now they are steadly leaving to go to the other casino's on the coast and in the delta. I do understand the times are bad and cuts have to be made but this is nothing more than the greed of the tribe's menagement back then and now. I heard about the Chief in the Casino over the New Year week play high dollars, and pulling money out like it was nothing to be conerned about. Well I say to the management of the tribe you reap what you so. To the rest of you I wish you the best of luck in what ever you do.
Posted by: melvin
Location: philadelphia
on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:50 PM
harvey is an idiot
Posted by: Moblob
Location: Somewhere in MS
on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:29 PM
I worked for PRR several years ago. The biggest mistake was releasing Boyd Gaming back in the late 90's, an industry leader in Casino Management. I understand the need and desire to staff local Tribal members, but doing so has limited the number of experienced managers with a hospitality background and leadership, reduced and cut an effective marketing team (a key in any hospitality business) and driven away qualified leaders. My thoughts go out to those families who have lost an income due to the lack of wise and effective leadership.
Posted by: Brian
Location: KS
on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:26 PM
I feel bad for the laid off employees. Unfortunately it sounds like the tribe was paying money to keep the moon open and not the other way around. The current economy doesn't help either. I hope the former employees will not hold the tribe in contempt for their losses. Hopefully the tribe will bounce back and figure out what to do in the near future.
Posted by: Anonymous
Location: Meridian
on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:21 PM
It is really hard to believe that they are losing money. Any time I have been up there, there are people from AL and GA spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars. |
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People!! Please wake up. There is one reason for these layoffs and it is not specific to Pearl River. When the economy is in the toilet people don't go gambling!!!!!! hello?!? say what you will about Denson or the General or the other resort management but THE FACTS ARE CLEAR and easy to see if you look. Casinos in Mississippi and around the country are hurting. Read the Clarion Ledger article "MS gaming suffers with the economy" or any other article in any gaming publication. Its not rocket science. The economy sucks. Casinos nationwide are laying people off and curtailing expansions. Donald Trump's op missed its last payment! Wall street is a wreck and the big three are going down the tubes. In fact, Pearl River is doing better than most other casinos having made it this far without dropping folks. If you are trying to lay the blame for this mess anywhere other than the Bush economy you are deluding yourself. jeez.
To the people losing jobs at the Golden Moon, we feel for you but, don't blame the whole tribe. Chief Phillip Martin's supporters went through the samething, and they were Choctaws. Maybe I misunderstood Beasley when he said "CHOCTAW FIRST". Maybe he meant; "CHOCTAW FIRST AFTER WE PARTY." Chahtas remember on election day what our leaders did when our tribe was struggling. The revenue's are supposed to be for the social needs of our tribe. Our leaders are spending like there is no tommorow. We Chahtas need to understand our children has a furture too. Look into their eyes and speak up for them. The bad spending we do today will hurt them tommorrow and who is going to be there for them, surely not the State. We have our leaders(tribal Council) going to washington to party with our revenue's. Good budgeting on January 20,2009 is to watch the inauguration on TV. Remember election is coming soon.
The Golden Moon is just the tip of the iceberg. Miko? please!call him Beasley Denson. Chief Martin earned his title but he forgot his people at the end, so we got rid of him. Beasley will only last for one term. I did vote for him, he was the only one that might have been as good as Chief Martin. WRONG! WE TOOK A GAMBLE.It was either elect Beasley or lose 14 MILLION to Ambrimoff. We are still losing money; 8 million dallor sky box, Democrat and Republican convention,countless golf games, alcohol for addiction and New Year party. now, the Presidential Inauguration. oh I forgot, China!!! when Beasley gets through it should total 14 Million. Like the movie "An American Tail" the big rat asked the mice "who are you going to believe, me or your on eyes." we are in a recession within the tribe aren't we. sometimes we got to say "NO" right now, "we are broke" and "How much will the trip cost the tribe?" We blame the bad economy but, doing bad spending? I think I will beleive my own eyes.
Chris, I'm not on a race card just stating the facts about the department I worked in as well as my friends. I also heard some tribal people were fired as well. I do think Martin was a better businessman than Denson but I'm not tribal so my vote doesn't matter and I'm sure several tribals wish they could change their vote now. The economy is bad but the issue with the casino is greed and to much partying and out of state gambling by the leaders!!
Maybe they should have thought about this before they built it,being the large metropolis that Philly is. The same can be said for John Robert Smith and all these hotels. Meridian will go through the same type of thing in 5 to 10 years when JRS figures out that we don't need 75 hotels in Meridian.
Everyone has been saying for years that once Chief Martin was no longer in office the tribe would go down. I don't think anyone could have imagined it would go down this far this quickly.
As a former patron of the SS and later the GM, I am appalled at the fact that employees were terminated because of gross mismanagement of the Chief and his executive board. When Boyd ran the SS, the experience was akin to a Vegas casino. When the tribe booted Boyd and assumed the mantle of "leadership", the experience started to change. Pay-offs dropped, comps dropped and of course patronage dropped. The only words that come to mind are GREED and NEPOTISM. I have not returned the PRR since Jun and have no plans to ever return. It is a sad day for a great nation (Choctaw) and the surrounding community. I sincerely hope that they (management) will wake up and smell the coffee before it is too late. To make money you have to spend money (Jack-Pots)
To those of you who say, Chief Martin "always put his people first", "Chief Martin would not let this happen to his people" YOU are right! cause he treated nonindians better than the Choctaws that he represented...fact----all the choctaws would have gone first under his administration to you that worried what its gonna cost the state of MS, well lets look at what tribe has SAVED the state of MS for years, and what the state SAVES because the Tribe is a soverign nation and recieves nothing from State.....Yes Boyd should have remained cause after they left, many of you now complaining probably were the ones that ran the customers off because of your rudeness, boyd wouldn't let you stand around in the corner gossipping instead of serving guests, oh, maybe some prayers were aswered cause of the many times you said I dont like working here but it pays the bills well --- definition of "AT WILL" employees look at legal.com, means what just took place
I find Denson's mouthpiece, Harvey, interesting, saffening and amusing. The economy, no doubt, played a part in the actions taken, but a lack of leadership and mismanagement, is the primary cause. Funny that the Resort flourished under Phi;;ip Martin and is failing under Denson. If it took them from 2002 until now to point blame, that should tell it all. denson and his group lost sight of what demographic of patrons who flocked to the Resorts. Who wants to go out there. through their money away, with slim or no chance of winning or receiving comps. What happened to all the other industry they had under Martins leadership?
Jerry get off the church saop box.. oh we are so busy butting our noses in everyone elses concerns about how they spend their money .. and how this is a sin that is a sin.. one rather have people loose money to gambling and to the strippers as both make money without being against the law.. I have never seen a area so set as the south that it is shooting itself in the foot every time and the judgmental people that come out of the woodwork like you just turns my gut..
Hey Monica, I can go through a list of NON tribal employees that did just the same. If ANYTHING, employee theft was done more by NON tribal. Get off the race card, tired of hearing how skin color can cause your turmoil, Monica. Who is this "WE" If it wasn't for the past economy of the TRIBE, neshoba county wouldn't be as strong as it is. So Monica if you are hurt cause you lost your job, LOOK at the news it is happening everywhere, not just Neshoba County. Don't Blame Beasley's administration, THE current administration is just cleaning up the mess from the Martin admin. And Beasley is just going to do the same as Barrack will have to do, clean up the mess along with "CHANGE" SEND AN EMAIL TO ME IF YOU DISAGREE!
You got to remember that the casino is a major advertiser with WTOK so don't expect much negative news to come from them
The Tribe has always pushed Choctaw Preferrence, but it is the non indians that have always kept The Tribe on top. Cheif Martin always put HIS PEOPLE first. Miko Denson just puts his people in his pocket.
The PRR has been going south for quite awhile, no longer do they reward their local players with comps, instead they give to out of towners.. most of our friends have stopped going and we have cut our trips down to very few.. to all who were fired, we are sorry, and hope you will be able to find a better job, one you can spend time with your family on holidays.. our new years resolution should be to stay away completely, but like diets and vises this one will be out the window with the rest !!!
I wonder why, if they are in such hard times, they don't just sell back those sky boxes at Turner Field they bought with Golden Moon money. They brought in all these high-paid "experts" to come in and fix the financial problems of the Moon. Miko makes more money than he should. Its not necessarily poor planning, but greed that is the downfall of the Golden Moon and the tribe.