Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement
Tribal interests are donating big to a campaign to block an off-reservation casino for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians in California. Stand Up for California formed a campaign committee to put the bill that ratified the tribe's Class III gaming compact to a statewide vote. If enough signatures are collected, the issue will appear on the June 2014 ballot. So far, the Table Mountain Rancheria has contributed $660,000 to the campaign, The Sierra Star reported. The Table Mountain Casino is about 31 miles from the North Fork site. Another big donation of $600,000 came from Brigade Capital Management. The New York-based investment firm is an investor and bondholder in the casino owned by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. The Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino is about 38 miles from the North Fork site. The tribe itself has donated $60,000 to the campaign. Other contributions have come from Riva Ridge Recovery Fund ($137,000), DG Capitol Management of New York ($69,500), and Club One Casino, a non-Indian card club, ($15,000), the Star reported. Stand Up for California needs to collect 504,760 by October 1 to qualify for the ballot. Get the Story:
Funds pour in to put North Fork casino on ballot (The Sierra Star 9/24) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria Federal Register Notice:
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012) Related Stories:
Group defends North Fork Rancheria off-reservation casino bid (9/18)
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