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California Tribe, Locals Find Middle Ground in Casino Issues6 May 2001COACHELLA, California – May 6, 2001 –As reported by the (California) Desert Sun: " Officials from the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians and Coachella met this week for the first time in months and agreed to cooperate. "The two sides have had cool relations since December when Coachella officials filed a number of complaints with the National Indian Gaming Commission regarding the environmental impact of an expansion of the tribe's Spotlight 29 Casino. "The $60 million project is backed by East Coast developer Donald Trump and is expected to bring hundreds of jobs to Coachella. "However, city officials projected the expansion would also cause as much as $7 million in `unfunded, off reservation' impacts for taxpayers. "…Gene Gambale, general counsel for the tribe, said the two sides agreed to negotiate during the upcoming two weeks, when the councils will meet again. "…The casino expansion and hotel is expected to open by January…" |