Jamul tribe's big casino proposal sparks outrage

Thursday, August 25, 2005  

The Jamul Indian Village is seeing a storm of opposition to its proposal to build a casino on the reservation.

First, the tribe proposed an on-reservation casino in the 1990s but ran into trouble. Then, a non-reservation casino near San Diego was stalled at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, tribal leaders said.

Now, the tribe is going back to the six-acre reservation with a 30-story hotel and casino that neighbors say will destroy the community. Residents say they are concerned about traffic in an area with no major roads or highways. A local fire chief also says the casino would be a "30-story time bomb," The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

Under the new compact with the state, the tribe must submit an environmental assessment and consult with local officials even though the casino would be located on the reservation. Tribe must also adopt building and safety codes that are equal to the county's or to uniform building codes.

Get the Story:
Defiance abounds at formal unveiling of casino plan (The San Diego Union-Tribune 8/25)
Fire district doubts high-rise could have sufficient protection (The San Diego Union-Tribune 8/25)