Blogging the tribal issues
April 19, 2007
Full-page ads have been stating that the most-favored-nation clause in the Chumash’s current compact could, by default, allow the tribe to add 5,000 more slot machines, should any current compacts in the Legislature be ratified and approved.
I sent an e-mail to Sen. McClintock’s office, asking for clarification of this clause. His staff asked the Legislative Counsel, and the senator’s staff confirmed the clause was “not applicable” in this case, and that the Chumash would still have to renegotiate their compact with the governor, if they wanted to add more slots. The senator’s staff also said there is “nothing in the works with the governor to add 5,000 more slots … or for any additional slots, for that matter.”
POLO/POSY should be focusing on Sacramento instead of crying wolf in the Valley. The fate of the amended compacts in the Legislature this year will have much to do with any future expansion plans the Chumash may or may not have. Full-page ads yelling at each other accomplishes nothing.
On another note, in a Feb. 13 letter to 35 tribes nationwide, James E. Cason, associate deputy secretary of the Interior Department, indicated that new rules will apply when tribes look to expand to off-reservation sites. Cason said, “We anticipate changes to the rules that may result in fewer off-reservation properties being accepted into trust. In particular, we expect to consider a paradigm where the likelihood of accepting off-reservation land into trust decreases with the distance the subject parcel is from the tribe’s established reservation or ancestral lands and the majority of tribal members.”
He also indicated that “community opposition will be heavily weighed” when considering off-reservation expansion. It seems the federal and state governments are beginning to see the importance of enabling local governments and citizens of the communities affected by casinos to play a major role when tribes pursue expansions.
I am not pro-casino, nor am I a member of any group in the Valley. I am pro-Santa Ynez Valley, and for those interested, I’ve started a blog to compile information and to keep track of issues concerning possible casino expansion, along with general information relating to tribal gaming issues in California. All comments, contributions of information or suggestions are welcome. Just keep it civil. The blog can be found at
Rick Lee
Buellton