California | Legislation | Opinion

Editorial: Measure stops Lytton Band from pursuing new casinos

Thursday, February 11, 2016

A view of the San Pablo Lytton Casino in California. Photo from Adobe Associates Inc

California newspaper supports H.R.2538, the Lytton Rancheria Homelands Act, a bill that restricts the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians from pursuing casinos on newly acquired trust lands:

Given the uproar over the construction of the Graton casino in Rohnert Park, why would anyone oppose a congressional bill that prevents the construction of a casino on tribal land in northern Sonoma County?
The answer is simple. Opponents believe the bill is a “red herring.” But they couldn’t be more wrong.
The critics say the bill is unnecessary because the Lytton Pomo tribe already owns a casino in San Pablo, has promised not to build another one and has signed a memorandum with the county to that effect. The memorandum would allow the tribe to build housing for tribal members on land it has acquired southwest of town and is hoping to have taken into trust. The plan calls for as many as 360 homes and a 200-room resort hotel and a 200,000-case winery on more than 500 acres.
Opponents also argue that the Lytton Rancheria’s hope of having the land taken into trust is not a sure thing because of a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court decision in a Rhode Island case. That ruling, Carcieri v. SaIazar, found that the federal government could only take land into trust from tribes that were recognized prior to 1934. The Lytton Rancheria wasn’t formally recognized until after that.

Get the Story:
Editorial: Huffman bill blocking casino deserves support (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 2/11)

Also Today:
Huffman adds new barriers to casino in Lytton bill (The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 2/8)

Committee Notices:
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 2, 2016)
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills (February 3, 2016)