Watch the Morongo tribe adLast Updated 2:33 pm PDT Monday, April 23, 2007
By Shane Goldmacher - Capitol Alert
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians has released its television ad, pressing for legislative approval of its gambling compact. The ad is expected to begin airing statewide tomorrow. Watch the ad here. And read the transcript:
"California And California Indian Tribes. Together, We Soar."Not So Long Ago, Our tribes Were But A Small Part Of California's Economy. And Now, We Soar.
"Indian Communities Are Good, Responsible Neighbors ... That Bring Thousands Of Jobs To All Californians.
"Governor Schwarzenegger And California Indian Tribes Have Reached Historic Agreements That Bring California Hundreds Of Millions Of Dollars A Year To Help Balance The Budget, Improve Education, And Provide Quality Healthcare For Those Who Need It Most.
"Tell Your Legislator That California's Future Depends On It.
"Don't Let Special Interests Stand In The Way.
"California And California Indian Tribes. Together We Soar".
5 comments:
These tribes are good, real good. They already rake in Hundreds of Millions each, and yet they want more. California passed Prop 1A so that California tribes could pull themselves out of poverty. And here we are almost a decade later and only a small percent have actually done it. The vast majority of California's Tribes are still as poor as ever. And yet these Rich tribes want even more money. At the same time these Mega Rich tribes fight and try to stop any small tribe from getting into Gaming.
Splixx,
While yours is the common refrain, we ask you to consider the following as you form opinions.
in California ...
Other small tribes throughout California are opening modest casinos on their reservations: Santa Ysabel, La Posta, La Jolla, Yurok, etc.
In the case of Barstow for instance; we understand the established tribes do not oppose a Chemehuevi casino.
All across the Country established tribes are helpfing to finance the new casinos of other tribes when traditional lenders or developers will not.
In CA the established/experienced gaming tribes are expanding their operations, yes; however, if they're successful then the gaming tribes will continue to fund the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund of which all non-gaming tribes benefit (that includes the tribes who have elected to open smaller casinos -- less than 350 slots). And it seems to us that the taxpayers of California benefit as well.
It begs the question, why should the established tribes that were the trailblazers be penalized or held back because some tribes have been slow to see the opportunity. They took the risks and fought the fights.
Sustainers are always blaming their own circumstances on others. The people that get on in this world look for circumstances and when they don't see them, they create them.
As far as I know these Mega-Rich tribes are not going to pay any more money into the Trust fund. So that argument may be moot. It is not like they are doubling their slots and then increasing the amount non-gaming tribes receive. I doubt the people of California will benefit from the increased slots. There is no way for the state to monitor how much the tribes are making, so there is really no way for the state to make sure its getting all its money.
Why allow established tribes to double their slots, just allow other tribes to get into gaming. Move them if you have to, that way all tribes have a chance to pull themselves out of poverty. Why not have these Mega-Rich tribes allow another tribe to come onto their reservation and build a side by side casino? I'll tell you why because these tribes that are already making hundreds of millions of dollars want more. There is no reason for these Mega-Rich tribes to get even more slots. Other than they are greedy. I would liken it to someone that hits the lottery and still claims unemployment, or Social Security or even Welfare. You don't need any more money yet you won't pass any up.
They are not trailblazers by any stretch of the imagination. The few tribes that you claim are trailblazers are the tribes that happen to have favorable locations already. How lucky for these few Mega-Rich tribes to be located either next to large population centers or high traffic areas. That is the difference between the large gaming tribes and the so called smaller gaming tribes. The smaller ones are trying to get some form of gaming going to help bring in something. There is not one 349 and less tribe that is in a favorable location. And as long as they are under 350 slots they can bring in gaming money and still draw from the Trust Fund.
OK then ... It's clear you have formed your opinions.
For all your ranting about the Barwest and their partners, it sounds like you've bought into their "victim" messages hook, line & sinker.
Last time we checked, California was part of the USA where democracy, capitalism and a freemarket are sociological cornerstone.
I have not bought into any message by Barwest, that is just what you would like to believe. I am very outspoken against Barwest and what they are doing. And I still maintain that there is no way that Barstow is getting a Barwest Casino.
I just happen to be more outspoken and against what these Mega-Rich tribes are trying to do. There is no reason for them to try to expand their operations other than a base greed that they are now feeling. There really is no counter argument to this. They do not need more slots because they are still poor, they do not need more slots because they are going to give a larger share to non-gaming tribes, they want more slots because they are no longer content with making hundreds of millions of dollars in profit and paying their tribal members stipends of up to 20,000 a month.
The impression I am getting is that TVT is on the side of the Mega-Rich tribes. I am on the side of the poor tribes. Everyone at some point in their life has to decide where they stand, now you know. I am against Barwest and the Mega-Rich Tribes equally.
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