Editorial: Graton Rancheria casino threat intensifies

Thursday, May 22, 2008  

"Grassroots efforts to stop a gigantic, Las Vegas-style casino complex from being built in Rohnert Park suffered a setback earlier this month when the U.S. Interior Department unexpectedly announced that it would dedicate 254 acres to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, even before a federal environmental impact statement was completed on the highly controversial development proposal.

Despite this unusual and disappointing ruling, the battle is far from over, particularly if the Sonoma Coun-ty Board of Supervisors finally does the right thing by allowing county residents to voice their opinions about Sonoma County’s lar-gest-ever commercial development on the November ballot.

Earlier this year, supervisors were presented with a proposed initiative that would have allowed residents to weigh in on the colossal development proposal which is wholly exempt from state and federal environmental laws and all local land use regulations, as well as any necessary infrastructure improvements.

But instead of putting that initiative on the June 3 ballot, the board instead wound up debating a far more nebulous ballot measure in which residents would advise on any and all future casino growth in the county. The lack of specificity, coupled with well-orchestrated opposition by a group advocating for a casino, killed the effort to allow the public an opportunity to send a powerful message to the governor and Legislature, which has the power to approve or deny a gambling compact with the tribe."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Casino threat intensifies (The Petaluma Argus-Courier 5/22)

Related Story:
New tack urged for casino measure (The Petaluma Argus-Courier 5/22)