EDITORIAL COMMENT
Time is running out to stop R.P. casino
Published: Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
The latest, best hope to stop a gargantuan Las Vegas-style casino from being built in Rohnert Park may come from Assem-blyman Jared Huffman.
With the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors unwilling to place an advisory measure on the ballot regarding the casino, Huffman this week introduced legislation that would not allow a gaming compact to become effective unless local voters approved it or “intergovernmental agreements” had been approved to mitigate impacts of gaming activity, such as traffic, crime, air pollution and groundwater degradation.
The governor is authorized to negotiate compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature, for Indian gaming. “It is important that the Legislature not approve compacts for gaming if the residents, businesses and governments in the area do not support having a massive Las Vegas-style casino in their community,” Huffman said.
We agree wholeheartedly. Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors does not seem to be interested in putting an advisory measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. Such a measure would have to be approved by the board by Aug. 8.
The board this week app-roved a memorandum of understanding with the Feder-ated Indians of Graton Ranch-eria that the tribe would not build any more casinos in their territory — either southern Sonoma County or Marin County. In return, the supervisors agreed that they would not file a lawsuit against the tribe’s trust application for the 254-acre piece of land in Rohnert Park where it plans to build a huge casino. But the board did not give up its right to challenge the Rohnert Park casino in other ways, according to Supervisor Mike Kerns.
A lawsuit filed by citizens last month asserts that the Rohnert Park property proposed for the casino was improperly taken into trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. But that lawsuit may be more of a stalling tactic than a way to stop the casino.
Unfortunately, time and money are on the side of casino proponents. Big money is being thrown around by lobbyists for the Las Vegas companies that are bankrolling Indian casinos in California — with casino money greasing the palms of lawmakers from Sacramento toWashington.
And the Graton Rancheria tribe is very soon expected to enter into secret negotiations for a gaming compact with Governor Schwarzenegger, who is desperate to grab any new revenues that might help balance the state’s hopelessly deteriorating budget deficit.
Since Sonoma County residents will be deprived of an opportunity to weigh in on the gaming issue on the Nov. 4 ballot, Huffman’s legislation, which would be retroactive to the first of the year, may be the best shot to derail the Rohnert Park casino.
If you don’t want to see a giant casino built in Rohnert Park, contact your elected officials — including Governor Schwarzenegger — and let them know how you feel.
