The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians is undertaking an expansion of its casino in southern California, a project that includes a large electronic billboard.
The tribe plans to add 40,000 square-feet to the Valley View Casino and Hotel. The expansion will make room for additional restaurants and offices, as well as as larger gaming floor, although additional gaming machines won't be installed, according to a public notice. Comments on the tribe's environmental evaluation are due Wednesday. A public meeting is taking place on Thursday evening at the casino. One issue of concern, according to The Valley Roadrunner, is a 58 foot-tall electronic billboard that will be installed at the casino. The County of San Diego regulates outdoor lighting and light pollution but otherwise lacks jurisdiction in Indian Country. The casino lies about 22 miles from the Palomar Observatory, an astronomical research center with three telescopes. Scott Kardel, an astronomy professor at Palomar College, told The Roadrunner that the digital billboard could interfere with observations. "Certainly the addition of signs like these will further erode the dark skies over Palomar Observatory and decrease the visibility of the stars for Valley Center residents as well,” Kardel told the paper. The San Pasqual expansion is one of several tribal projects in southern California. Tribes are creating 3,000 jobs at their casinos, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported. Read More on the Story: