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California Indian Casino Project Will Miss Slot Machine Deadline1 May 2001CALIFORNIA -- May 1, 2001 –As reported by the Santa Rosa Press Democrat: "The Dry Creek Pomo tribe won't meet a May 15 deadline to open a casino on its Alexander Valley reservation, but a spokesman said Monday the tribe hopes to have the $35 million gambling facility up and running by fall. "Dry Creek and several other California Indian tribes are asking Gov. Gray Davis to waive a May 15 deadline to begin using slot machines allocated to them in a May 2000 drawing. Under an agreement with the state, tribes could lose their rights to the slots if they fail to begin operating them within a year. "Last month, the director of Davis' Gambling Control Commission said the deadline probably will be extended. The matter will be considered at a commission meeting Wednesday in Sacramento. "…`According to those in the know, they (the state) won't hold us to that May 15 deadline,' said Dry Creek spokesman Reg Elgin. In the fall, workers cleared the site for a 55,000-square-foot casino and parking lot on the reservation, but there hasn't been much progress since then. "…Progress also was affected by a tribal leadership struggle. In an election Sunday, tribe members voted to replace the entire five-member Dry Creek tribal council, Elgin said. He said the tribe's new government met with Advent and partner Bill Underhill on Monday to talk about the construction schedule. "The two-story modular structure will have 1,300 to 1,500 slot machines as well as gaming tables, according to Elgin. Under Prop. 1A, approved by California voters last year, tribes also can offer Nevada-style card games…" |