Seniors want an apology from Foxwoods

DERBY, Conn. (WTNH) -- After the President of Foxwoods Resort Casino made a negative comment about seniors, the proper way to apologize has become a hot topic at a local Senior Center.

Foxwoods immediately said they were misquoted on the comment and apologized, but one senior took things a step further.

News 8 was told that the man says reached out to Foxwoods and the casino then offered all of the seniors at the Derby Senior Citizen Center a free bus trip.

Foxwoods tells News 8 that they agreed to a meet and greet with the seniors, but didn't give any details.

Either way, a large group says they don't want to go back there for a long time.

First, a debate over comments the President of Foxwoods Casino made to the Boston Globe about seniors with walkers and oxygen tanks.

Now, a debate one senior citizen is having with supervisors at the Derby Senior Citizen Center.

Stan Muzyk wants the casino to host a senior night to erase their hurtful words. He says the senior center wants nothing to do with it.

"They shouldn't use that opinion for the membership of the senior center," said Muzyk.

Muzyk says the casino is willing to provide something special.

"It will be a free trip. They'll send down a bus to pick up the seniors in Derby," he explained. "They wouldn't allow the seniors to be picked up there or anything else."

The Mayor says that's not entirely true and that the casino can send its buses to a city lot to pick up the seniors.

The seniors that News 8 talked to say they don't want a bus trip. All they want is for him to come to the Center, take the microphone and take center stage to give them an apology.

Foxwoods says they did offer a meet and greet, but there was no confirmation of a free trip.

Many seniors still don't think much of the casino.

"The seniors have helped build that casino," said Charlotte Ritter, "bus loads of them go every day."

One senior was asked if she would never go back down to Foxwoods again.

"I don't know about never, but not now," said Sandra Sampiere. "I'll go to Mohegan."

That statement that insulted seniors was in the Boston Globe last month.

Again, the President says he was misquoted and the Globe says he wasn't.