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California Tribal Leaders Cancel Casino Talks1 May 2001CALIFORNIA – May 1, 2001 –As reported by Santa Barbara News-Press: "Chumash tribal leaders abruptly canceled negotiations with county representatives about the impacts from their casino expansion, saying Supervisor Gail Marshall had gone behind their backs to complain about the tribe to gaming officials in Sacramento last week. "The negotiations were to give the tribe a chance to correct what it says are errors in a county study on the impacts from the ongoing casino expansion. The study estimates the costs to the county for such things as added fire protection, highway improvements, schools and traffic to be about $7.2Êmillion "…Cancellation came after the tribe learned from its lobbyist in Sacramento that Marshall had spoken to the state Gaming Control Commission on April 16, said Vincent Armenta, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. "…Armenta disputes the county estimates on the impacts from the casino, saying representatives also ignored the positive contributions from the plans. On Thursday the tribe received a $42.5 million loan to cover the cost of the expansion. The money will be used to buy slot machines and other gaming equipment, as well as build a five-level parking garage. "…But Marshall's statements, made along with several other government representatives from other areas in the state, reiterate a position that the county has already taken: County officials believe that the state should compel the tribe to abide by a 1999 state-tribal compact and address environmental impacts from the casino expansion…" |