City plans suit on Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino

Monday, August 9, 2010  

The city of Glendale, Arizona, plans to sue the Bureau of Indian Affairs in hopes of blocking an off-reservation casino for the Tohono O'odham Nation.

Mayor Elaine Scruggs said she is waiting for a notice of the acquisition to be published in the Federal Register. In the meantime, she's refusing to meet Chairman Ned Norris Jr. to discuss the casino.

"Because we are preparing for litigation, this would not be an appropriate time to meet with Chairman Norris," Scruggs told The Arizona Republic in a statement.

The tribe purchased a total of 134.88 acres near Glendale with funds that were provided by an act of Congress. The BIA says it is required by law to place the land in trust.

The tribe plans a $550 million resort on the land although the BIA's decision to approve the land-into-trust application did not address whether the site qualifies for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Get the Story:
Glendale to challenge decision on tribe's casino plans (The Arizona Republic 8/9)

Relevant Documents:
Editorial: Tohono O'odham Nation mocks voters with bid for casino (8/2)
Larry Echo Hawk Letter to Tohono O'odham Nation (July 23, 2010)

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