State keeping casino money from getting to local communities7/7/2008, The Press Enterprise - Sacramento Office
SACRAMENTO - Inland governments and tribes are fighting to preserve millions in payments meant to help public agencies deal with the burdens of the region's tribal casinos. Local cities, sheriff's departments and other agencies have collected more than $40 million in gambling mitigation payments from a tribe-funded account since 2005, the most in the state. The money has paid for everything from traffic signals to police officers. But local governments haven't received anything in almost two years. The governor vetoed allocations for 2007-08. And payments for the current fiscal year and beyond are a question mark because the formula to distribute the money is scheduled to expire Dec. 31. Meanwhile, the state's estimated $15.2 billion budget shortfall makes the account's $182 million balance a tempting target to pay for state services now supported by the general fund.
Indian gaming non-lobbyist part of McCain team7/7/2008, Indianz.com
Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, doesn't want lobbyists working for his campaign but he doesn't seem to mind being associated with a lobbying firm run by a self-described non-lobbyist. Mike Murphy is the founder of DC Navigators, a firm whose clients include the National Indian Gaming Association. John Tahsuda, a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma who used to work for McCain on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, serves as vice president in Washington, D.C.
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Casino lands7/7/2008, Federal Register
This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as lead agency, with the Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians (Tribe) as a cooperating agency, intends to gather information necessary for preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed 79 acre fee-to-trust acquisition and casino and hotel project to be located within the City of Cloverdale's Sphere of Influence, in an unincorporated area of Sonoma County, California.
Nonsmoking gamblers push casinos to clear the air 7/7/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
Hans Nansen of Carlsbad sometimes suggests to friends that they go out to a casino, but he gets an immediate objection. "We want to go out there, but 'Oh, God, the smoke,' " he said. "I can only stand it so long."
Crash also killed kin of tribal chairman7/7/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
JAMUL - A short ride for Jamul Tribal Chairman William C. "Bill" Mesa and his daughter-in-law on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle turned deadly Saturday afternoon. Mesa, 57, lost control of his bike on Lyons Valley Road a quarter-mile east of Skyline Truck Trail, hit a power pole shortly before 5 p.m. and was killed, said California Highway Patrol Officer Rob Sanchez. Crystal Roberts-Mesa, 29, who married Mesa's son, Robert, less than a year ago, also died in the crash.
Tribe under heat in California7/7/2008, Indian Country Today
EL CAJON, Calif. - A San Diego County Indian tribe is in a publicity mess after the announcement that it was delaying payments consisting of at least $30 million of casino profits and revenue from California's lacking coffers. The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation has yet to ratify its revised 2006 compact with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that enforced the payments. The compact allows the tribe to significantly increase its gaming operations. The deadline to ratify was Dec. 15, 2006. It now has until January to ratify the compact or face cancellation. News of the governor-approved delay came just days after the tribe donated $45,000 to an organization in partnership with Schwarzenegger that supports a redistricting state initiative on the November general election ballot. The timing of that donation and what newspapers are calling the tribe's ''secret'' and exploitive use of a ''loophole'' in the deal that allowed them to avoid payment has got the tribe facing some criticism.
Inland officials fighting to keep special casino fund7/6/2008, The Press Enterprise - Sacramento Office
SACRAMENTO - Inland governments and tribes are fighting to preserve millions in payments meant to help public agencies deal with the burdens of the region's tribal casinos. Local cities, sheriff's departments and other agencies have collected more than $40 million in gambling mitigation payments from a tribe-funded account since 2005, the most in the state. The money has paid for everything from traffic signals to police officers.
Editorial: Is El Dorado ready?7/6/2008, Sacramento Bee
Red Hawk Casino opens a temporary employment and training center Monday in El Dorado Hills to begin processing applications for some 1,750 jobs, everything from dishwashers to dealers, cashiers to maintenance workers. The massive, 270,000-foot gambling facility is set to open sometime in the fourth quarter of 2008. The region's latest Indian casino will offer 2,000 slot machines and 75 table games, initially. Under a state compact approved on Monday, the number of slots could grow to as many as 5,000. Red Hawk is expected to attract thousands of patrons and will be the biggest private employer in El Dorado County. Is El Dorado ready?
Electronic bingo fight deja vu for California7/5/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
A federal judge recently stopped state officials from seizing slotlike electronic bingo machines operated in California by charities and nonprofits. He said the machines' legal status must be determined in court. Happy about it: Nonprofits say they need electronic bingo machines to regain the audience and income lost to Indian casinos. Paper-card bingo operations run by non-profits have been legal in California since 1976, if approved by local authorities. Unhappy about it: Gaming tribes say the use of electronic bingo machines by nonprofit groups violates their agreement to pay California billions of dollars for a guaranteed monopoly on slot machines. A lawmaker argues allowing nonprofits to use the machines could result in downtown bingo halls.
Proposed Madera casino site is still a bad choice7/5/2008, Fresno Bee
The proposed casino on Highway 99 in Madera County is still a bad idea, even if the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs has rejected the Old Mill site near the mountain town of North Fork as an alternative location. Trading one bad site for another certainly doesn't dress up the problems of the Las Vegas-style casino planned by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.
County finds little meaning in Plymouth casino plan7/4/2008, Amador County Ledger Dispatch
It ended Wednesday evening, not with a bang, but with a quiet shuffling of papers. The 75-day comment period on a local tribe's casino application ended at 5 p.m. July 2, shifting the process from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs back to the 400-member Ione Band of Miwok Indians, as it gets set to prepare a final document that could result in a multi-level gaming facility in and around Plymouth.
Sheriff, tribal leaders reach agreement on violence7/3/2008, The Desert Sun
The Soboba Band of Luiseņo Indians and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department have hammered out an agreement intended to ease tensions stemming from the recent shootings of tribal members. "The agreement becomes official on Monday," Mike Hiles, information officer for the tribe, said on Wednesday.
