Public siding with Poarch Creeks in dispute over gaming lands

Monday, April 30, 2012  

Keep your hands off the casinos owned by Poarch Creek Band of Indians, members of the public in Escambia County in Alabama say.

County officials are demanding taxes from the tribe under the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. Local residents believe that's a bad idea because the Poarch Creek gaming enterprise has brought jobs and revenues to the community.

“If you figure what they have paid out to the county and schools and the jobs they have gave to the local people, they have well paid taxes," one resident told The Atmore Advance, whose informal poll showed that 64 percent support the the tribe in the dispute over the land status of the tribe's casinos.

Even Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange is attacking the the tribe again. He is asking the National Indian Gaming Commission to shut down the tribe's Class II electronic gaming machines, saying they look too much like Class III slot machines.

The state has refused to negotiate a Class III gaming compact with the tribe.

Get the Story:
Public reacts to PCI, ECC debate (The Atmore Advance 4/28)
Alabama attorney general targeting Indian gambling (The Birmingham News 4/29)

Related Stories:
County calls tax on Poarch Creek casinos 'non-negotiable' (4/26)