Editorial: Tribe's plan not reservation shopping

Friday, June 16, 2006  

"Years ago, Big Lagoon Rancheria proposed a casino on its land along the southern banks of Big Lagoon. However, the area was deemed “critical” by numerous government agencies and private environmental groups, which voiced concerns over the plan.

The rancheria, led by Tribal Chairman Virgil Moorehead, has always maintained its right to build on that land, and steadfastly pursued plans despite layers of bureaucratic hurdles.

Fast forward to last year. In talks with state negotiator Dan Kolkey, a new, outside-the-box concept emerged for a partnership between Big Lagoon Rancheria and the Southern California-based Los Coyotes Band to be the first recognized tribes in California authorized to build casinos on non-trust land, in Barstow, a town of 23,000.

We believe, however, that this is different from other so-called “reservation-shopping” plans to put operations in urban areas to get more gamblers."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Casino compromise seems like good bet (The Eureka Times-Standard 6/15)