"For most communities, their economies and identities are the result of geography and historical factors that evolved over time. Along the way there are key decision points, where the leaders of a city or county must decide which path to follow. The consequences can define a community for generations, even centuries.

Richmond faces such a decision point. For six years now, the City Council has been pursuing a path aimed at turning the city, West Contra Costa and, indeed, the Bay Area into a gambling center. The council has been negotiating with the tiny Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians, which proposes to build a massive resort, convention center and casino at Point Molate on the Richmond shoreline. The casino would be bigger than two football fields with more slot machines than the largest gaming facility in Nevada.

The development would reshape the character of the region. Indeed, backers say their plans anticipate attracting residents from throughout the Bay Area, as well as tourists from around the world, who would drop their money into the slot machines. The backers brag about how Asian tourists would stop in San Francisco rather than Las Vegas and then ferry across the Bay to gamble. They see this as an asset to the region.

We disagree. The last thing the city of Richmond should do is gamble its future on a small tribe with no roots in the community that promises the sky, but would instead work with gaming interests to suck out money from our region and leave behind gambling addiction and increased poverty. Point Molate is a beautiful site. Richmond can and should do better."

Get the Story:
Editorial: We recommend voters to reject Richmond casino (The Contra Costa Times 9/21)

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