Opinion

Editorial: Cowlitz Tribe's casino may never see light of day

Friday, September 14, 2012

"Fortunately for Clark County residents who want to maintain the community's high quality of life, the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's proposal for a mega-casino near La Center has encountered yet another obstacle, this one placed by the federal agency that tribal officials have long hoped would champion their cause.As we've learned recently, the Bureau of Indian Affairs either lost or never reviewed important historical documents provided by casino opponents. That led the Justice Department to seek a delay in the federal proceedings. But U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts recently denied that request and — to make matters worse for casino hopefuls and BIA official — set an Oct. 5 deadline for making a difficult choice: The federal government must decide if it will defend itself in court or rescind the BIA's 2010 decision that supported the casino proposal, which lacked the crucial information from casino foes. Clearly, the BIA and tribal officials are backed into a corner by the federal agency's blunder, and the lingering reality that casino opponents are making a compelling case."

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In Our View: More Woes for Casino (The Columbian 9/14)