Site in Barstow, California, where Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians wants to build an off-reservation casino. Photo from Barstow Casino and Resort
The former mayor of Barstow, California, remains confident of federal approval for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians off-reservation casino. But Lawrence Dale is worried about Proposition 48, an initiative on the November ballot. Voters are being asked to approve or reject an off-reservation casino for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians. “The proposed Barstow casino is almost through the federal side, so all we have left is to go to the state and get its approval,” Dale told The Victorville Daily Press. “Our casino would be similar to the one tied to Proposition 48. If we vote to oppose this and say no we could lose our move to try to bring the casino to Barstow.” The Bureau of Indian Affairs published the final environmental impact statement for the $160 million Barstow Casino and Resort in April. The public comment period has closed but there's no timeline for a decision on the project. If the BIA approves, the state governor would get veto authority under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has so far approved two off-reservation casinos -- one for the North Fork Rancheria and another for the Enterprise Rancheria. Get the Story:
Dale: Prop. 48 could impact Barstow casino (The Victorville Daily Press 9/29) Federal Register Notice:
Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Proposed Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeňo Indians 23-Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and Casino-Hotel Project, City of Barstow, San Bernardino County, California (April 18, 2014) Related Stories:
Rival tribes raise $4M to block North Fork Rancheria casino bid (9/26)
BIA won't commit to timeline for Los Coyotes Band casino plan (5/5)
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