Another vent... also seeking advice

[DavisBeefmasters]

So at the town hall meeting last evening, the board of supervisors presented this "agreement" they had negotiated with a local tribe to build a casino in our little rural town... and their presentation was that 3 things can happen:

1. On 2/26/08 they execute the agreement with the tribe and the casino gets built (the County would have to drop it's federal lawsuit against the project and never file another lawsuit as part of the deal)

2. On 2/26/08 they reject the agreement, the tribe can call for arbitration and the casino gets built

3. On 2/26/08 they reject the agreement and our County's federal lawsuit gets upheld in court and the casino does not get built... now with this, they felt compelled to add that they felt this was a "hail mary" pass.

This is just simply outrageous in my mind, and I can't get over it today:
1. Our county voted and 85% of us said "NO casino"
2. This casino is in the middle of rural america - 2 lane roads, 90 degree turns, fog, kids walking miles to bus stops, etc.
3. The federal government allows this if the state does
4. The state allows it and requires the tribe negotiate with the locals; however, gives them the right to call off negotiations if they feel it's unfair and call for arbitration in which the arbitrator can only pick one side or the other -- it doesn't allow the arbitrator to negotiate a fair and reasonable deal for both sides...

...did I mention that this "tribe" is comprised of 1 adult member and her 4 children? who already gets paid $1.2 million a year by the other "gaming tribe" in the area?

...this is just big investor money and the exploitation of legislation that citizens supported to help poorer indian communities... this is not in keeping with the spirit of those laws --> to bring in big casino developers from New York, Las Vegas and others and destroy our town, roads, and piece of mind in the process by bringing 1600 more cars a day in a town!...

Ugh!

Sorry, just can't get over it today... :devil2: :cry2: :devil2: :cry2:

 

[Horticattleman]

Same old same old same old. I am from one of 'these' towns where it was/is small town America and a casino was proposed. LORD HAVE MERCY I thought civilization was ending. Everybody was saying there would be all this crime and hookers and all that. BLAH. I don't gamble, but it is unreal how much of a positive improvement has been made after the casino was built. Sooooo many jobs and the tax money contributed is unreal. You say about bad roads, but with all the tax revenue generated, almost every road near a casino is paved brand new. I know there are so many concerns and your situation is/may be totally different than what I've experienced, but it has been a complete positive.

 

[Hippie Rancher]

eh, most of these Indian casinos are not anything like Vegas. They are a casino, a hotel, maybe a couple of restaurants and the bigger ones my have a performance venue for concerts.

Your story sounds kind of interesting that it is just ONE person in this tribe? What tribe? Any news article I can see?

I keep thinking these things are getting so numerous they must be in competition with each other and some will start folding soon.

 

[jfont]

I don't gamble, but they have a heck of a buffet at the one in my area, about a hundred different dishes and all you can eat snow crab legs!!! I'm with horticattleman, many of positives, except for the people that don't know when to quit and loose everything they own. But a man should have enough sinse to know his limitations.

 

[Horticattleman]

The one I am speaking of here locally is not just 'shabby' like suggested. It is a really really nice place. Theaters, concerts, many restraunts, luxury hotels along with regular, golf courses, rv and camping facilities(that we like to use), etc.

And yes I have been to Vegas and Reno and can create a comparison.

 

[DavisBeefmasters]

Your story sounds kind of interesting that it is just ONE person in this tribe? What tribe? Any news article I can see?

You bet:

http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt4.html look below the California map for Buena Vista Me-Wuk tribe

http://www.ledger-dispatch.com/printer/article.asp?c=224242

http://www.co.amador.ca.us/BVR/index.cfm?id=1 all the information is linked from here

http://members.cox.net/westbank/IndianSovereignty.pdf

And yes, it is Vegas style casino.

No, the taxes are given to the feds and the state --> not to the locals... including the payroll taxes of any employees do not bring in revenue for the local community.

I'm trying to keep an open mind about it and rationalize that it won't be that bad -- but my gosh, last nite sitting on my porch in the pitch dark counting stars with the barn cat a few feet away and with it as silent except for his purring motor I thought to myself... gee great, 4 miles from here big lights, noise, cars and nothing can be done to stop it... and they have no mitigation measures ($) for ruining our pastures with cigarettes out windows, dead livestock from additional garbage on the road, etc... because hey, there's no legislation that requires them to mitigate any impact to domestic animals or rural land.

Blood pressure is rising so I must :stop: :devil2: