California Governor Opposes Two Tribal Casinos
Date: 2024-08-23 Author: Robert Beloved Categories: CASINO
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland urging her to block two tribal casinos in Solano and Sonoma counties.
Circumventing the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Newsom argues that the projects proposed by the Koi Nation of Northern California and the Scotts Valley Pomo Tribe are on lands that are not their historic territories, which he says falls outside the legal “restored lands” exception.
If the U.S. Department of the Interior approves the projects, it would circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and ignore the views of other tribes and local communities.
In a letter to Assistant Secretary Brian Newland, the governor's office accused the Interior Department of failing to consider alternatives to casinos on tribal lands in Lake County.
'Devastating Impacts' on Tribal Rights and Cultural Resources
The Graton Rancheria Indian Federation, a federally recognized tribe, supported the governor's initiative. Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris expressed gratitude for Newsom's efforts to protect tribal sovereignty and criticized the Interior Department for rushing the projects forward despite tribal protests.
Sarris also emphasized that tribes have repeatedly made clear to the Interior Department that these projects could cause serious harm to the rights and cultural resources of the tribes on whose lands the projects are planned.
He added that ultimately the responsibility for the decision will rest with Deb Haaland and that the department must consider the interests of all tribes.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Tribes, which operate the Cache Creek Casino, along with the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Tribe and several local officials, also called on the Department of the Interior to reject the Scotts Valley casino project at a news conference in West Sacramento.
Two years ago, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to reject a casino proposed by the Koi Nation.
Other area tribes have also opposed the projects, accusing their proponents of “reservation hunting,” which means searching for lands unrelated to their historic territories to reap the maximum benefit from future casinos.
$1.3 Billion Projects Awaiting Department Approval
The Scotts Valley Tribe’s $700 million casino project in the Vallejo area has been awaiting Department of the Interior approval since 2016. If approved, the land would be placed in a trust, allowing it to be partially removed from state jurisdiction and turned into sovereign territory for tribal gaming.
Similarly, the Koi Nation’s $600 million casino project planned for the Windsor area was first unveiled in late 2021 and has been awaiting approval ever since.
The Interior Department may consider the governor’s position, but the agency will make the final determination, including whether the tribes have historical rights to the disputed lands. While both tribes claim ancestral ties to the lands, other tribes in the region disagree.
The Access to Justice for Tribal Nations Act was put to a vote in the California Assembly earlier this month, bringing tribes closer to being able to sue gaming halls for violating their exclusive rights to host games like blackjack and poker.
