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California Casino Plan Loses County's Blessing

CALIFORNIA – As reported by the Associated Press: "A landless American Indian tribe lost the blessing of Sonoma County officials Tuesday in its bid to build a casino just outside Rohnert Park, about 40 miles north of San Francisco.

"Sonoma County's Board of Supervisors voted 4 to 1 against the construction of the casino, which was approved by Rohnert Park city council members last week. The Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, made up of about 600 Miwoks and Pomos, have been fighting to build a casino and hotel complex on 360 acres of undeveloped land.

"…Sonoma County supervisors said they were worried about the casino's future impacts.

"…But the tribe said it has already considered the casino's potential economic and environmental impacts, even moving the proposed site from 2,000 acres of fragile wetlands in southern Sonoma County to Rohnert Park. The tribe has offered to give Sonoma County the original site if construction at Rohnert Park is approved.

"…Last week, Rohnert Park's city council approved a deal in which the tribe would pay Rohnert Park $200 million over 20 years as compensation for the casino's impact on the community."

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