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Candidate suggests building wall around Chumash Tribe casino

Thursday, March 24, 2016

The Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Photo from Facebook

A candidate in Santa Barbara County, California, is taking a cue from Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump when it comes to dealing with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Karen Jones told The Santa Barbara Independent that she isn't "afraid" to stand up to the tribe. “Maybe we should build a wall around the casino and make them pay for it," she was quoted as saying. Trump has proposed the same in dealing with Mexico.

The comment was likely made in jest but the tribe has faced serious opposition from the county to its land-into-trust efforts and to the $160 million expansion of the Chumash Casino Resort. One of the main instigators is 3rd District supervisor Doreen Farr, who is not seeking re-election.

Jones -- whom the Independent describes as a "former Tea Partier" -- would likely carry on that agenda despite admonitions from key members of Congress. She is among five people running for the 3rd district seat.

The tribe's expansion is expected to be finished in mid-May. It features a 12-story hotel tower with 215 rooms, 75,000 additional square-feet of gaming space, a 20,000 square-foot pool deck, new food and beverage venues and a parking garage with 584 spaces.

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