Legislators, environmental, labor & tribal leaders: 'Now's the time'
DETROIT, Michigan Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Legislators, environmental, labor, City of Barstow and tribal representatives from the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians and Big Lagoon Rancheria gathered today at the State Capitol to announce the introduction of legislation (Senate Bill 157) to approve the Los Coyotes and Big Lagoon gaming compacts. (Full press release)
Translations …
Legislators = Four of the six who’ve supported the measure previously (Maze, Ashburn, Berg & Yee ) and Patricia Wiggins who replaced Wes Chesbro, the author of the same legislation during the 2006 session. That’s five legislative proponents; down one from last year. But they didn't mention that.
Environmental = the 76 families who own homes on the beach near Big Lagoon -- described as "cabins" many of them are actually estates according to records on file with the California Coastal Commission and Humboldt County. It is not the Big Lagoon they want to preserve but their own secluded elite enclave. Take A GOOGLE Earth view of the site. Besides, the agreement prohibits building a casino on the Big Lagoon Reservation BUT NOT any other development. The Moorehead Family is free to to pursue everthing from residential development to an outlet mall to a regional trash recycling center on their reservation. They claim to be adding acreage to their reservation holdings now.
Labor = Ilitch lobbyist Keith Olberg revealed last month that his employers had retained another new lobbyist on their team; Jack Gribbon, California Political Director of UNITEHERE. At a Barstow City Council meeting, Olberg highlighted the significance of Gribbon’s “close personal relationship” with Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez.
City of Barstow = Clearly Marian Ilitch has some deal cut with Mayor Lawrence Dale; when every other member of the City Council has backed multiple proposals for Barstow he has only backed Marian Ilitch and he’s abused his mayoral privileges to Ilitch’s advantage; he reportedly violated the constitutional rights of his constituents on more than one occassion. Team Ilitch had groomed and financed Tim Silva’s campaign for City Council. Prior to that Silva had liens o his property and citations from the City. A committee backing Silva bankrolled activity supporting his election and that of another newly elected City Council member but doesn’t report receiving any money.
Tribal Leaders = Marian Ilitch is reportedly paying each of the tribal leaders a $15,000- $25,000 monthly stipend plus covering their expenses in Las Vegas and elsewhere to proceed with her plans. In 2004, Los Coyotes terminated their contractual relationship with Ilitch. Ilitch also provided stipends to Francine Kupsich and those who put on the “hunger fast” last August and those who appeared as “grassroots” supporters in Barstow last June. One has to wonder if their fellow tribal members are aware of this. And where has the $1.1 million gone that each tribe gets annually from the gaming tribes. For Big Lagoon that’s approximately $55,000 per capita for each of 20 family members; far greater than the average household income in California … and they get to live in one of the most pristine coastal locations in the world … who could complain about that? It's hardly the profile of people living in poverty.
You may want to review these posts:
The Verifiable Truth: as predicted -- Ilitch Casino Team fails to produce any hopeful news
The Verifiable Truth: Press Release--2007 CA Legislation, reintroducing the Barstow Casinos plan previously rejected by an Assembly Committee
The Verifiable Truth: Re-introducing rejected Barstow Casino Bill, Ilitch finds herself even further behind
The Verifiable Truth: Bottom of the ninth and Ilitch's Barstow Casinos scheme is down by at least 57 votes
The Verifiable Truth: Legislative Score Card
The Verifiable Truth: Senator Ashburn supports Casino in Barstow; ambivalent toward Big Lagoon or Los Coyotes, open to supporting other tribes
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