TAKE THE POLL!!  Supervisors are set to vote Aug. 9 on an agreement with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria (FIGR) that would make the tribe a "cooperating agency" in exchange for a $500,000 donation to the park.   The Argus-Courier wants to know how you feel about that.   

The FIGR is not bound by any county laws or regulations.  The FIGR  has  a project that is inconsistent with the General Plan and have taken 180 acres of Open Space out of the control of the people of Sonoma County forever.  

And there's not a damned thing you can do about it.   

The two big questions I have are,  

1)  Given that the FIGR does not have to comply with county law, why would we give it a role of a cooperating agency in the development of a county park or in any county project, for that matter?   

2)  Would any other entity be given this status in exchange for a donation?  If Bill Gates gave the park $700,000, would he be allowed to be a cooperating agency?  

I mean think about it, people.  Here we've got the FIGR which flaunts county rules and regs, feeling for some reason that they can call the shots now if they pay enough money.   

And isn't that what it's always been about since Station Casinos and the FIGR came to town?

I would rather not have a non-compliant entity calling any of the shots in an official capacity on a city, county or regional project.   

What do you think?  Take the Argus-Courier's quicky poll, and let your voice be heard.   

And email your county supervisor, and tell him/her what you think.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT POLITICAL CARTOONIST STEVE RUSTAD'S TAKE ON THIS