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Jamulians Against the Casino |
Caltrans sued over deal with Jamul Indian Village
JAMUL: A group of Jamul casino opponents has sued the California Department of Transportation in state court, saying that Caltrans' agreement to settle a lawsuit by an Indian tribe violates state environmental laws.
The Jamul Indian Village has sought for years to build a gambling hall on its 6-acre reservation on state Route 94. It sued Caltrans last year, accusing it of illegally threatening to block access to the highway.
The two sides settled their dispute with an agreement that Caltrans would give the tribe a permit for casino access if the tribe applied properly and agreed to deal with any harm its project caused.
But the agreement is a problem under the California Environmental Quality Act, Jamulians Against the Casino said in a lawsuit filed this week in Alameda County, where the group's lawyers are based.
"It renders CEQA a hollow exercise because it removes Caltrans' discretion to later deny the permit based upon the outcome of CEQA's environmental process," the group claimed in the lawsuit.
Caltrans spokesman Edward Cartagena said he was unaware of the lawsuit and thus unable to comment on it.
Stayed tuned for more as this story unfolds.
Lakes Entertainment 2nd Quarter Results
Reported before the JAC lawsuit... In September 2008, the BIA notified the Jamul Tribe that an access road on its land had been approved as an Indian Reservation Road ("IRR"), which would allow the Jamul Tribe to construct a second potential access point to the reservation without the need for a permit from County. The Jamul Tribe notified CalTrans of this additional access option but CalTrans viewed this access point no differently than the proposed driveway road connection to State Highway 94. The Jamul Tribe has filed a federal complaint requesting the Federal Court to order CalTrans to cease its efforts to impede the Jamul Tribe from using its lands for economic development purposes. After losing a motion to dismiss, CalTrans denied the allegations. The parties subsequently reached an agreement whereby the Jamul Tribe dismissed its lawsuit and CalTrans removed its contention of its ability to restrict access to the reservation, and agreed to work positively with the Jamul Tribe to expeditiously process the encroachment permit application. Traffic, environmental, engineering and other required studies are now underway as the Jamul Tribe works toward completing the environmental analysis necessary for the encroachment permit application.
Lakes only spent 1K on Environmental. If they are going to do an environmental report, they certainly aren't spending a significant amount at this time.
Construction 47K
Legal 42K
Design 276K
The report stated the probability for this project remains 50/50 for an opening in 2014. | |
Recent News
Bankruptcy imperils Madera County casino
8/2/2009
A nationally known gambling expert said last week's bankruptcy filing by Station Casinos could hamper efforts by the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians to build a Madera County casino.
The Las Vegas-based company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday. Station has a deal with the North Fork tribe to run a proposed $250 million casino, which would include about 2,500 slot machines, 70 table games, multiple restaurants and a hotel.
Read More
The Sycuan Land-Into Trust and Liquor Applications
www.ragesd.org
In early 2009, the Sycuan band filed an application with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to add 2,000 precious acres of land in the Dehesa Valley to their existing reservation. This land, which the tribe owns, includes the Singing Hills Resort, Sloan Canyon, and adjacent properties. If they are successful, that land officially becomes "Indian country", and will be removed from county tax rolls, as well as being exempted from local community land use controls. It also means that, at the whim of the tribe, miles of hiking and biking trails could be shut off from public use forever.
In June of 2009, despite written protests from almost 400 (!) local residents, the ABC approved an interim liquor permit for the casino. The casino may begin serving liquor to its patrons as early as July 2009. The final permit will be subject to a public hearing on the matter, which has not yet been scheduled. Only those who have already filed objections to the application may speak at the hearing.
Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund Committee gives out money to projects
7/30/2009
LAKE COUNTY, CA - With Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund monies once again available, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been distributed for local projects and community services for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
The county reported that the fund provided $856,575 to Lake County agencies. The money will offset costs and mitigate impacts of local tribal gaming operations.
Locally, the funds come from Big Valley Rancheria and Robinson Rancheria, which contribute to the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund, which was established to collect and distribute funds to eligible local agencies to mitigate impacts by tribal gaming operations.
Projects involving public health and safety, the environment, water supply and waste disposal, roads, recreation and youth programs, and child care programs are among the many priority uses for the funds, the county reported.
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How much does San Diego County receive from this Special Distribution Fund? |
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