Agua Caliente Tribe SUES Riverside County for Unlawful Taxes.

In announcing the lawsuit against Riverside Monday, the tribe said possessory interest taxes are “unlawful and infringe on Tribal sovereign rights.”

“Riverside County uses the money collected on the Reservation to benefit people living in other cities and areas far away from where the taxes are collected,” Agua Caliente Chairman Jeff Grubbe said in the statement. “The Tribe’s desire is to keep tax money within our commuity to service the Coachella Valley.”

In the complaint filed Jan. 2 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the tribe argued that the possessory interest tax increases the economic burden on the tribe and its members by devaluing Indian land leases. The tax also limits the tribe’s income, since the tribe has agreed to forgo its own tax in order to avoid the double taxation of leaseholders, according to the court filing.

Officials with Riverside County said Monday they believe they have the legal authority to collect the tax and that new regulations hasn’t changed that.

AGUA CALIENTE Band of Cahuilla Indians announces Tribal Council Election Results.

The Palm-Springs-based Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has announced the results of its March 19 Tribal Council election.

The tribe announced Tuesday that:

• Tribal Council Vice Chairman Larry N. Olinger was elected to a full two-year term;

• Council Secretary/Treasurer Vincent Gonzales III was re-elected to a second two-year term;

• Council Member Anthony J. Andreas III was re-elected to a fourth consecutive one-year term; and

• Council Member Jessica Norte was re-elected to a second one-year term.

Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe, elected to his post in June 2012, is serving a two-year term.

The results were certified and finalized Tuesday when council members were sworn in.

The tribe didn’t release vote totals or turnout information, citing tribal law.

Agua Caliente Lays Off 2% of Workforce

Remember when we were promised expanded gaming would balance our state budget?  Not only did it NOT appear to balance, we will probably get LESS money.

At a time when Coachella Valley resort properties are hiring seasonal staff, the Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians has cut some of its work force.

The tribe, which operates the Spa Resort Casino in Palm Springs and Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
in Rancho Mirage, on Tuesday confirmed through press secretary Nancy Conrad that 40 to 60 people
were laid off over the past week.

Conrad said the layoffs represent roughly 2 percent of the total work force.

“We have between 2,700 to 2,800 team members at any particular time,'' Conrad said, and added, “Right
now, there are no plans for future reductions.”

Agua Caliente Nominated for Best New Major Concert Venue

The Agua Caliente Tribe has something else to be proud of. The tribe, which treats their members well, unlike tribes like Pechanga of Temecula, which has terminated 25% of the Indians in their triba, and Picayune Rancheria, which has eliminated fully HALF their tribe, has a big nomination.

The Show, Southern California’s premier concert theatre located at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage, has been nominated “Best New Major Concert Venue” by Pollstar Magazine.

The nomination is a monumental achievement for The Show, which opened its doors in February with a star-studded concert series featuring Matchbox Twenty and Martina McBride, among others. The venue is one of only five facilities in the nation to be nominated.

“This is a fantastic day for us,” said Steve Macfadyen, director of entertainment at The Show and concert industry veteran. “For The Show to be nominated for such a prestigious award in its first nine months of operation is an enormous accomplishment, but well deserved. Our team has put together a world class venue with first class amenities for guests and artists alike. I believe we truly have one of the finest concert theatres in the country.”

The 2009 Pollstar Concert Industry Awards will be held Feb. 17, 2010 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles.

Many tribes in California have suffered from reduced business and many say Pechanga, led backwards by Mark Macarro, is doing worse because of the publicity surrounding their human and civil rights violations. Customers are learning more, and staying away.