Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement
California newspaper urges voters to reject Proposition 48 to prevent the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians from opening an off-reservation casino:
Indian gaming in California today bears little resemblance to the concept approved by voters with the passage of Proposition 1A in 2000. It keeps morphing and expanding and reaching into territory far beyond the reservation lands where casinos were supposedly justified as the only hope for economic development. Our elected leaders at all levels — local, state, federal — have been unwilling or unable to say no to the proliferation of casino gambling in California. They are too easily intoxicated by the prospect of easy tax revenue and lubricated by the balm of campaign contributions. California voters now have the opportunity to draw the line. They should reject Proposition 48 to prevent one of the most audacious examples of “reservation shopping” by a tribe that has partnered with a Las Vegas interest and made a sudden territorial claim on a plot of land that would be well positioned to draw gamblers. In 2005, the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians moved to define 305 acres along Highway 99 in Madera County — 38 miles from its reservation — as federally designated tribal lands for the sole purpose of building a major casino. The federal government went along with this scheme, as did the California Legislature, and then Gov. Jerry Brown signed the deal. As part of the deal, North Fork partnered with the Wiyot Tribe of Humboldt County, whichGet the Story:
Editorial:Time to draw the line on 'reservation shopping’ (The San Francisco Chronicle 9/7) More Opinions:
Editorial: Prop. 48 would build casino in Madera; we don’t need it (The Merced Sun-Star 9/8)
EDITORIAL: Vote 'no' on Prop. 48 — stop Highway 99 casino (The Fresno Bee 9/6) Also Today:
Money starts flowing in for Valley casino measure Proposition 48 (The Fresno Bee 9/8) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming (October 22, 2013)
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012)
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