"I write to clarify certain points regarding the proposal to put an advisory measure on the June ballot to allow Sonoma County voters an opportunity to weigh in on the Graton Rancheria casino in Rohnert Park.

Foremost among the regional impacts created by this 2,000-slot-machine mega-casino are the 18,000 vehicle trips per day it is expected to generate. This will turn Highway 101 into even more of a parking lot than it already is, worsening commutes and making it more difficult for visitor-dependent businesses in Santa Rosa, the north county and along the Russian River.

The casino's proponents acknowledge that public opinion counts. They have paid for flashy advertisements in local newspapers to create a Potemkin Village illusion of popular support. These efforts serve to underscore the value of getting an accurate gauge of public sentiment.

It is a quirk of California law that although a local governing body such as the Board of Supervisors or a city council can place an advisory measure on the ballot, such measures are not considered to be within the citizens' power of initiative."

Get the Story:
Mike Healy: Voters deserve say on casino (The Santa Rosa Press Democrat 11/27)