9.29.07
Casino at Big Lagoon back on the table
Jessie Faulkner
Eureka Times Standard
BIG LAGOON -- The Big Lagoon Rancheria is bringing its casino project back home after two unsuccessful legislative sessions attempting to get the go-ahead to build in Barstow.
Big Lagoon Rancheria Chairman Virgil Moorehead said Friday that negotiations with the state will begin Oct. 5 to build a gaming facility on the tribe's lands on the south side of Big Lagoon.
The decision to bring the proposed casino back to the North Coast follows the end of the 2006-07 legislative session without action on the gaming compact allowing Big Lagoon to open a casino in Barstow. That was the tribe's second attempt to get the September 2005 compact ratified.
In the 2005-06 session, the bill made it to committee but was voted down. This past session, even that step alluded the Rancheria.
The Barstow compact was part of the settlement agreement of the tribe's case against the state alleging bad faith negotiation. Without ratification of the much-heralded compact, the Rancheria is back to negotiating for the Big Lagoon site.
Moorehead said the only way the Rancheria would consider pursuing the Barstow compact at this point is if tribal members, the governor, the state Senate pro tem and the Assembly speaker all got together and said the Rancheria could build a casino in Barstow.
”It doesn't mean anything for the governor to sign an agreement,” Moorehead said.
Throughout the process, the Rancheria chairman has criticized the governor for not supporting legislation to ratify the compact.
Shortly after signing the Barstow compact in fall 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a news release that the agreement brought an end to “many years of litigation and ensured that Big Lagoon will be protected for generations to come.”
Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary, said that they do not comment while a gaming compact is being negotiated, but the governor will attempt to find a solution that works for the tribe, the community and the state.
Moorehead said the settlement agreement specifies 120 days of negotiation for a new compact. If that doesn't materialize, then it's back to court on the original bad-faith negotiation charge.
State Sen. Patricia Wiggins' spokesman David Miller said the senator won't be sponsoring legislation for a compact allowing a casino on Big Lagoon. Wiggins had sponsored the second bill for the Barstow compact.
Moorehead said it's been more than a little frustrating.
”We're basically back to where we started,” he said.
Jason Barnett, a spokesperson for the Big Lagoon Rancheria, said the tribe's leadership has taken steps to mitigate concerns about building a casino on the shores of the lagoon, one of a few on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the Rancheria's application to bring the Barstow land into trust -- granting all rights that come with native lands -- remains in process. The intent, Barnett said, is to keep all options open.
”Clearly,” Barnett said, “Virgil's in it for the long-term.”
Jessie Faulkner can be reached at 441-0517 or jfaulkner@times-standard.com.
Eureka Times Standard
BIG LAGOON -- The Big Lagoon Rancheria is bringing its casino project back home after two unsuccessful legislative sessions attempting to get the go-ahead to build in Barstow.
Big Lagoon Rancheria Chairman Virgil Moorehead said Friday that negotiations with the state will begin Oct. 5 to build a gaming facility on the tribe's lands on the south side of Big Lagoon.
The decision to bring the proposed casino back to the North Coast follows the end of the 2006-07 legislative session without action on the gaming compact allowing Big Lagoon to open a casino in Barstow. That was the tribe's second attempt to get the September 2005 compact ratified.
In the 2005-06 session, the bill made it to committee but was voted down. This past session, even that step alluded the Rancheria.
The Barstow compact was part of the settlement agreement of the tribe's case against the state alleging bad faith negotiation. Without ratification of the much-heralded compact, the Rancheria is back to negotiating for the Big Lagoon site.
Moorehead said the only way the Rancheria would consider pursuing the Barstow compact at this point is if tribal members, the governor, the state Senate pro tem and the Assembly speaker all got together and said the Rancheria could build a casino in Barstow.
”It doesn't mean anything for the governor to sign an agreement,” Moorehead said.
Throughout the process, the Rancheria chairman has criticized the governor for not supporting legislation to ratify the compact.
Shortly after signing the Barstow compact in fall 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a news release that the agreement brought an end to “many years of litigation and ensured that Big Lagoon will be protected for generations to come.”
Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary, said that they do not comment while a gaming compact is being negotiated, but the governor will attempt to find a solution that works for the tribe, the community and the state.
Moorehead said the settlement agreement specifies 120 days of negotiation for a new compact. If that doesn't materialize, then it's back to court on the original bad-faith negotiation charge.
State Sen. Patricia Wiggins' spokesman David Miller said the senator won't be sponsoring legislation for a compact allowing a casino on Big Lagoon. Wiggins had sponsored the second bill for the Barstow compact.
Moorehead said it's been more than a little frustrating.
”We're basically back to where we started,” he said.
Jason Barnett, a spokesperson for the Big Lagoon Rancheria, said the tribe's leadership has taken steps to mitigate concerns about building a casino on the shores of the lagoon, one of a few on the West Coast.
Meanwhile, the Rancheria's application to bring the Barstow land into trust -- granting all rights that come with native lands -- remains in process. The intent, Barnett said, is to keep all options open.
”Clearly,” Barnett said, “Virgil's in it for the long-term.”
Jessie Faulkner can be reached at 441-0517 or jfaulkner@times-standard.com.
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