I heard it had something to do with this - but it's only a...

I heard it had something to do with this - but it's only a rumour - could be A DIFFERENT TRIBE -

Talks To Begin On Indian Casino 28.08.2003
gambler

Sonoma County supervisors agreed Tuesday to begin negotiations with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria to build a gambling resort next to Rohnert Park.
It was an effort to make the best of an offer the supervisors said they could not refuse.

The tribe has an option to buy 360 acres of vacant land, bounded by Wilfred Avenue, Stony Point Road and the Rohnert Park Expressway. The Indians outlined plans Tuesday to build a 300-room, southern Mediterranean-style hotel and casino on the site.

There was plenty of opposition, but the supervisors reluctantly concluded that it would be more constructive to accept an offer to work with the tribe than to try to run them out of town.

"Stopping an Indian casino is like trying to hit a Randy Johnson fastball with a wet noodle," said Supervisor Paul Kelley, referring to the Arizona Diamondbacks' fire-throwing pitcher. "I don't see any other alternative than to take the tribe's offer and try to work something out."

The decision was a relief to tribal Chairman Greg Sarris, who pointed out that, as a sovereign nation, the tribe could just ignore everybody and build the casino.

The plan is to build a hotel-casino on the northwest corner of the property.

Two thousand acres off of Highway 37 near Sears Point, where the Indians had earlier proposed a casino, would be donated to the county for wetlands restoration.

The resort near Rohnert Park would include 20,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, as many as five independent restaurants, a buffet, a fast food court and a spa and fitness center.

The casino would have 2,000 slot machines, 120 table games, a VIP gaming area and a bingo room.

Scott Nielson, the executive vice president of Station Casinos, the tribe's Las Vegas-based business partner, said the project would generate $67 million in wages and benefits for some 2,200 local union workers.

He said 750 people would be hired during the 12 to 18 months it takes to build the casino. He estimated that $61 million in goods and services would be purchased locally.

The tribe would also put in $22 million for initial road improvements, mitigations and police and fire protection, Nielson said. Overall, more than $180 million would be sunk into the local economy, he said.

But many of those at the meeting Tuesday were not sold by the plan. Anita Felton of Rohnert Park said 350 people had signed a petition opposing the casino.

"A casino will not attract the kind of citizens we want in this city," said Felton, who cited studies showing an 84 percent higher crime rate in cities with casinos. "The hidden costs are bad check writers, white-collar crime and the personal tragedies that come with gambling."

Speakers expressed concern about the environment, traffic and the impact on the water distribution system. Many wondered how the casino's sewage needs would be addressed.

But representatives of local builders and carpenters unions expressed their support, saying the jobs are badly needed. Marc Holmes of the Bay Institute said the land the tribe would donate is extremely important in the effort by environmentalists to restore bay wetlands.

"This is a very significant offer on the part of the tribe," Holmes said. "It is imperative that you accept this offer by the tribe and sit down and negotiate in good faith."

Tribal leaders will present their plans at 6 p.m. tonight to the Rohnert Park City Council, which is also being asked to participate even though the land is not within its jurisdiction.