California | Opinion

Editorial: County rightly worried about Mishewal Wappo casino

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

"Earlier this month, a contingent of Napa Valley politicians and business people traveled to Washington, D.C. to lobby for legislation to further protect our region against development. Specifically, against the potential development that recognition of a local Native American tribe would bring.

County supervisors Diane Dillon and Brad Wagenknecht led the campaign in our nation’s capital, pressing for new legislation that would create an exception against the establishment of tribal sovereignty in the Napa Valley.

Their argument: Napa Valley’s unique agricultural landscape —and its historical value — should be protected.

The Mishewal Wappo Tribe, currently suing the Department of Interior in an effort to regain federal tribal status and thereby sovereignty in Napa, Sonoma and Lake counties, argues that the land’s history belongs to them and not grapegrowers.

State history supports that fear. Of the 109 tribal governments that are federally recognized in California, 60 are operating 67 casinos.

Once sovereignty is established, most federal, state and local laws — including those protecting agriculture — no longer apply to a federally recognized Native American tribe. The county would receive no tax revenue or Transient Occupancy Tax from a hotel casino or any development on tribal land."

Get the Story:
Editorial: County concerned with casino potential (The Napa Valley Register 2/20)