Rival tribes raise $8.9M to defeat North Fork Rancheria casino

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement

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The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians is being heavily outspent by rival tribes who want to block an off-reservation casino in northern California.

According to BallotPedia's report on Proposition 48, opponents have raised $8.9 million as of October 7. In contrast, the North Fork Rancheria has raised barely $392,000.

“It’s really David versus Goliath,’’ North Fork spokesperson Charles Altekruse told The Los Angeles Times. “California voters have supported indian gaming repeatedly. They did it to help tribes, and they did it to provide tribal self reliance and tribal opportunity.”

The opponents include the Table Mountain Rancheria, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community. The Table Mountain Rancheria and the Picayune Rancheria operate casinos that would be affected by the North Fork operation.

A "yes" vote on Proposition 48 ratifies the North Fork Rancheria's Class III gaming compact. It also ratifies a compact for the Wiyot Tribe, whose leaders agreed to forgo a casino in exchange for a cut of revenues from the North Fork casino.

A "no" vote, on the other hand, blocks the compact. A description of Proposition 48, from the California Secretary of State, follows:

Proposition 48 - Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming Compacts
If signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to a state law previously approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The law must then be approved by a majority of voters at the next statewide election to go into effect. The law ratifies two gaming compacts (with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and the Wiyot Tribe); and it exempts execution of the compacts, certain projects, and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act. (13-0007)

Get the Story:
Opponents hold financial edge battle over tribal casino ballot initiative (The Los Angeles Times 10/8) $P California Court of Appeal Decision:
Picayune Rancheria v. Brown (September 24, 2014)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria