Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Casino center is a solution
My fellow Amadorians, indigenous tribes, (Jackson Rancheria Band of Mi-Wok, Buena Vista Rancheria of Me-Wuk, Ione Band of MiWok,) board of supervisors, I believe the time has come for some forward thinking solutions regarding Indian gaming in Amador County before irreparable harm is imparted on our special county.
Due to the unique nature of Amador County and all its inhabitants, flora and fauna, the ultimate Indian casino mitigation would be to divide a 100-plus acre tract of industrial land adjacent to and west of the new Martell shopping center between the three tribes. The site to be known as the "casino center" would become home to three world class gaming resorts, Native American Cultural Center, transportation hub and site of a state of the art emergency response center to include tribal law enforcement, fire/paramedic with heli-port capabilities.
The social and environmental advantages of this proposal are truly superior to current casino off-site mitigation proposals. The economic and logistical advantages to the tribes are also truly superior to current proposals. By being a part of the "casino center" the full range of mitigation costs, as well as resort operational costs are reduced and would create substantially less impacts on the environment.
With many years of gaming experience, the Jackson Rancheria of Mi-Wok Indians are included in the "casino center" proposal. When the time comes for the Jackson Rancheria to reinvent its current facility, the facility can become a non-gaming resort/spa with a new casino to be built at the "casino center."
To site casinos off a tribe's Rancheria is nothing new and somewhat frowned upon, a case in point to consider is the Big Lagoon area of Humboldt County. The proposal being pitched once again is to build the tribe's casino in Barstow. If one visits the two sites, it becomes abundantly apparent why the proposal makes sense.
We the people, the tribes and an act of Congress can make the "casino center" happen for Amador County.
- John Guthrie, Plymouth
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