BIA hosts public hearing on Los Coyotes off-reservation casino

Thursday, July 28, 2011  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs held a public hearing on Wednesday to discuss an off-reservation casino for the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of California.

The tribe wants to build a casino in Barstow. That's more than 100 miles from the reservation, which is located in remote San Diego County.

Mayor Joe Gomez and other local leaders support the casino. They say it will create more than 1,000 jobs and stimulate the economy.

Two tribes, however, spoke against the idea. The Chemehuevi Tribe says Barstow is within its ancestral territory and Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians opposes off-reservation gaming in principle.

The BIA is taking comments on the environmental impact statement for the casino until September 14.

Get the Story:
Barstow touts casino as cure for joblessness (The Redlands Daily Facts 7/28)

Federal Register Notice:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians' 23-Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and Casino-Hotel Project, City of Barstow, San Bernardino County, CA (July 1, 2011)

Related Stories:
Los Coyotes Band lobbies governor on off-reservation casino plan (7/20)
BIA sets public hearing on Los Coyotes off-reservation casino (7/11)