The San Pasqual Band of Mission Indians held a public meeting last week to discuss a $50 million expansion of its casino in southern California.
According to The Valley Roadrunner, most of the discussion centered on a digital billboard at the Valley View Casino and Hotel. Residents believe the 58-foot tall electronic sign could generate too much light in the area. "Don’t pollute the dark sky around your casino with an unwanted 50 foot tall sign," Steve Sweeney wrote in a letter to the paper. Four similar letters were published this week. Concern centers around the Palomar Observatory, an astronomical research center with three telescopes. The facility is about about 22 miles from the casino. The County of San Diego regulates outdoor lighting and light pollution but otherwise lacks jurisdiction in Indian Country. The tribe's top gaming executive, however, said the tribe will abide by the so-called "dark sky" ordinance, the paper reported, and indicated that the design for the sign has been updated. The tribe held the February 8 meeting as part of an environmental evaluation for the expansion. Besides the billboard, plans call for the addition of more than 40,000 square-feet to the casino. 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. Work is expected to begin in April Read More on the Story: