Editorial: Meaningless promise from Graton Rancheria

Friday, August 22, 2008  

"When it comes to the proposed mega-casino in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County supervisors certainly can talk the talk. Unfortunately, they talk the talk of opposition, but quickly turn their backs and walk the other way.

The five supervisors all claim to be opposed to the Las Vegas-style casino proposed by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Yet, they recently approved an agreement to not file a lawsuit against the tribe’s trust application for the 254-acre piece of land in Rohnert Park where it plans to build the casino. Last week, supervisors compounded this error by failing to place an advisory measure regarding the casino on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In return for the supervisors’ pledge not to sue to stop the Graton Rancheria’s trust application, the tribe agreed not to build any more casinos in the area. Unfortunately, it’s highly unlikely the tribe would have ever attempted to build a second casino locally, both for economic as well as legal reasons. So the county gave away an important legal weapon in exchange for what is essentially a meaningless promise."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Supervisors talk the talk, walk the other way on R.P. casino (The Petaluma Argus-Courier 8/21)