Thursday, March 19, 2009

Leaders of tribes that have pursued Barstow casinos meet for first time

3.18.09

Tribal leaders meet to clear the air over Barstow casino projects

By ABBY SEWELL, staff writer

BARSTOW • The leaders of two Indian tribes that have proposed to build two separate off-reservation casinos in Barstow sat down together for the first time in Barstow last week.

At the urging of Barstow’s Mayor Joe Gomez, Chemehuevi tribal Chairman Charles Wood and Spokeswoman Francine Kupsch with the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno met March 10 at Quigley’s Restaurant in an attempt to clear the air between their tribes.

In the past, there had been tension between the proponents of the two casino projects, particularly over Measure H, a ballot measure voted down by Barstow voters in 2006, which would have created a casino zone encompassing the area where the Chemehuevi planned to build their casino but not the site of the Los Coyotes project.

The March 10 meeting was the first formal meeting that had ever taken place between the leaders of the tribes.

“I think the meeting went very well, and it was long overdue,” Wood said.

He said he would anticipate future meetings between the tribes. Although he and Kupsch agreed to work cooperatively in the future, Wood said he does not anticipate the tribes forming a joint venture on the casino project.

Kupsch said that after discussing the histories of their respective tribes and the struggles they had faced in the past, the leaders had a better understanding of each other’s situations. The possibility of forming a joint venture did not come up during the meeting, she said.

Gomez said he asked the tribal leaders about a month ago if they would be willing to meet, in hopes that they could find ways to support — or at least not interfere with — each other.

“I think it should have been done a long time ago,” he said. “I think we would have had a better opportunity to get a casino if they had met from the very beginning and got their input from the very beginning.”

Gomez said that he and the two leaders took part on their own time and at their own expense and that after introducing the tribal leaders and making sure they felt comfortable together, he left the meeting.

Both tribes previously applied to the U.S. Department of the Interior to have land in Barstow held in federal trust to be used for off-reservation gaming. The Department of the Interior rejected both applications in January 2008 because of new federal standards requiring off-reservation Indian casinos to be within commuting distance of the reservation. Only the Los Coyotes have so far filed an amended application.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or asewell@desertdispatch.com

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Herb Strather Defaults on Detroit's St. Regis Hotel Project

3.18.09

Wall Street Journal
Real Estate Deal of the Week

In Motown, a Hotel Project Hits a Sour Note


Few cities have been hit harder by the recession than Detroit, and few property types have suffered more than hotels.


So the odds were stacked against an effort to revive the city's Hotel St. Regis by a group of investors, some with ties to Motown's recording industry. Indeed, that effort has fizzled.


The group, led by Detroit entrepreneur Herb Strather, defaulted on its $8.7 million construction-and-mortgage loan made by Chicago-based ShoreBank, which provides loans in inner cities and underserved communities. The 124-room hotel has received shutoff notices from utilities, has failed to pay taxes and insurance and has missed some ...

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Ilitch has backed loosing sports teams and pizza, but casinos in Detroit? Forbes.com 10.09.06 ● Marian Ilitch #1 on "25 Most Powerful People" to Watch 2006” global gaming business o1.oo.o5 ● My Kingdom for a Casino Forbes 05.08.06 ● Big Lagoon’s casino dream awakens north coast journal 07.28.05 ● Shinnecocks launch legal claim to Hamptons land newsday.com 06.16.05 ● Ilitch Plans to Expand Casino Empire RGTonline.com 07.05.05 ● Ilitch outbids partners MichiganDaily.com 04.14.05 ● Ilitch enmeshed in NY casino dispute detnews.com 03.20.05 ● Marian Ilitch, high roller freep.com 03.20.05 ● MGM Mirage to Decide on Offer for Casino in Detroit rgtonline.com 04.16.05 ● Secret deal for MotorCity alleged freep.com 02.15.05 ● Los Coyotes get new developer desertdispatch.com 02.08.05 Detroit casino figure to finance Barstow project LasVegasSun.com 07.07.03 ● Indian Band trying to put casino in Barstow signonSanDiego.com 06.04.03 Pizza matriarch takes on casino roles detnews.com 10.23.02 ● Vanderbilt gets short straw in negotiations for a casino Lansing Journal 10.06.02 ● Indians aim to drive family from tribe in vicious dispute san diego union tribune 04.09.00 ●Malik owns 2000 Michigan Quarter Horse of the Year Michigan.gov 01.01.00 ● Detroit Team to run Michigan’s newest Indian casino detnews.com 05.23.99 Tiger ties tangle Marian Ilitch detnews.com 04.29.99 ● Three investors must sell their Detroit casino interests gamblingmagazine.com 04.25.99 ● Partners’ cash revived election; They say money was crucial to Prop-E detnews.com 04.25.99 Investors have troubled histories las vegas review journal 04.27.99 ● Investor served probation for domestic assault on 12 year old boy detnews.com 04.25.99 Can a pair win a jackpot?: local men hope to... crainsdetroit.com 03.17.97

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