An article published this afternoon in the Desert Dispatch indicates a Sacramento-based lobbyist for both the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the City of Barstow says the Barwest Compacts are dead at this time. But for the second year in a row, the same few people in Barstow and Detroit are trying to cover up the Barwest failures and want people to believe the Barwest Compacts are still on life support.
The truth is, legislative leaders indicated the Barwest Compacts were DOA (Dead On Arrival) back in 2005. An Assembly Committee voted the compacts down after an official hearing in 2006; and in 2007 Barwest failed to even get a hearing on the fatally flawed Compacts. The future for the Barwest Compacts gets dimmer each passing year.
Mayor Dale and Tom Shields are working for people who stubbornly refuse to back a plan that could get approved in the legislature.
As my grandmother often said, "...And people in Hell want ice water!"
8.30.07
City's lobbyist: Casino project probably dead
By JASON SMITH, staff writer
BARSTOW — Barstow appears unlikely to get state approval this year to build a casino, according to the city’s lobbyist.
Nick Medeiros, a lobbyist hired by the city of Barstow, said Thursday it is doubtful the state senate will approve the compacts for the Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon dual casino project before the legislative session closes on Sept. 11.
"We’re running out of time. It’s unlikely that the compacts could be moved out of committee and be approved by both houses of the legislature before the end of session. It’s probably not going to happen," he said.
In a Aug. 22 letter to Patricia Morris, assistant to the city manager, Medeiros delivered the bad news to the city.
"The Barstow gaming compacts appear dead for this year. The incredible power of the gaming tribes and their unlimited financial resources coupled with a lack of interest on the part of the governor have doomed this most worthy project," he wrote.
'There’s always hope'
However, Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale said that Medeiros’ statement was an "independent observation" and did not reflect the city’s opinion. Dale said that there is still time this year for the compacts to pass.
"We have not closed the door on it, and I don’t feel the governor has closed the door on it," he said.
City Council members will lobby state legislators on the issue next week, when council members will attend the League of Cities Convention in Sacramento, he said.
He blamed other tribes that already have casinos for the lack of progress.
"It’s no secret that the big tribes are fighting us and fighting us hard," he said.
Tom Shields, spokesman for the casino’s developer, BarWest LLC, said that the fight would continue to pass the compact.
"It’s not dead. The legislature just passed the budget, we have three more weeks in session, and we will focus all our attention on convincing the legislature to pass the Barstow compacts," Shields said. (Full Story)
BARSTOW — Barstow appears unlikely to get state approval this year to build a casino, according to the city’s lobbyist.
Nick Medeiros, a lobbyist hired by the city of Barstow, said Thursday it is doubtful the state senate will approve the compacts for the Los Coyotes/Big Lagoon dual casino project before the legislative session closes on Sept. 11.
"We’re running out of time. It’s unlikely that the compacts could be moved out of committee and be approved by both houses of the legislature before the end of session. It’s probably not going to happen," he said.
In a Aug. 22 letter to Patricia Morris, assistant to the city manager, Medeiros delivered the bad news to the city.
"The Barstow gaming compacts appear dead for this year. The incredible power of the gaming tribes and their unlimited financial resources coupled with a lack of interest on the part of the governor have doomed this most worthy project," he wrote.
'There’s always hope'
However, Barstow Mayor Lawrence Dale said that Medeiros’ statement was an "independent observation" and did not reflect the city’s opinion. Dale said that there is still time this year for the compacts to pass.
"We have not closed the door on it, and I don’t feel the governor has closed the door on it," he said.
City Council members will lobby state legislators on the issue next week, when council members will attend the League of Cities Convention in Sacramento, he said.
He blamed other tribes that already have casinos for the lack of progress.
"It’s no secret that the big tribes are fighting us and fighting us hard," he said.
Tom Shields, spokesman for the casino’s developer, BarWest LLC, said that the fight would continue to pass the compact.
"It’s not dead. The legislature just passed the budget, we have three more weeks in session, and we will focus all our attention on convincing the legislature to pass the Barstow compacts," Shields said. (Full Story)
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