The Table
Mountain Rancheria has donated another $5.4 million to prevent the North Fork Rancheria of
Mono Indians from opening an off-reservation casino in northern California.
The donation brings the tribe's total to more than $8 million, The Fresno Bee reported.
The tribe is now the largest single backer of the campaign against Proposition
48.
The North Fork Rancheria's gaming site is about 31 miles from the Table Mountain Casino.
Both facilities would presumably compete for the same customer base.
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
Get the Story:
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)
California tribe fighting casino makes $5.4 million campaign donation
(The Fresno Bee 10/9)
Proposition 48: A Casino Precedent — or Not?
(KQED 10/9)
An Opinion:
Editorial: Keep a lid on Indian casinos
(The San Jose Mercury News 10/9)
$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
Related Stories:
Rival tribes raise $8.9M to defeat North
Fork Rancheria casino (10/8)
Editorial: Reject North Fork Rancheria's
off-reservation casino (10/8)