Keep Vegas-Style Casinos Out of Neighborhoods announced July 28 that it has established a campaign committee with California Secretary of State Kamala Harris and will immediately begin collecting signatures for a referendum to stop the the North Fork Mono Rancheria from building its proposed casino on Highway 99 near Madera, and similar future proposals.
According to a press release from Stand Up for California, an organization that serves as a casino watchdog in the state and has opposed the casino project, the referendum seeks to uphold the will of the California electorate by limiting Indian gaming to originally restored Indian land.
The campaign needs 504,760 signatures by Oct. 1 in order to qualify for the next state general election in November 2014, and construction of the casino would be delayed until after the election.
In June the California legislature dramatically expanded the scope of Las Vegas-style casinos in California by authorizing – for the first time ever – a tribe with existing land eligible for gaming in the Sierra Mountains to build a Vegas-style casino on more lucrative land in the Central Valley.
"This campaign is about upholding the will of California voters who approved Indian gaming to help support poverty-stricken Indian tribes on their restored reservations, not to line the pockets of Las Vegas casino operators," said Cheryl Schmit, director of Stand Up for California. "When Indian gaming was authorized by the voters, voters were assured that Vegas-style casinos would not be popping up in neighborhoods. This is the time to stop the proliferation of casino shopping backed by tribes with fringe connections to the land and big Las Vegas casino operators. Now, ignoring the promise to voters that these off-reservation projects would never happen, the North Fork tribe and Station Casinos are only concerned about getting rich and not the significant impacts this project will have on California."
Showing posts with label Pechanga; Chukchansi; Picayune;disenrollments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pechanga; Chukchansi; Picayune;disenrollments. Show all posts
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Friday, July 30, 2010
Pechanga and Chukchansi, Civil Rights Violating Tribes Raise Money
Two large gaming tribes (well, financially large, they are much smaller since eliminating 25% and 50% of their tribes) will throw their weight around in California politics. Remember how Pechanga tried to keep Californians from voting?
An independent-expenditure group backed by California Native American tribes filed a letter with the Federal Election Commission this week announcing its intent to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money supporting candidates in California congressional races.
The group, known as Californians for Fiscally Responsible Leadership, was apparently the first committee in the country to announce its intent to take advantage of FEC rulings last week that effectively lifted fundraising restrictions on soft-money political committees that declare themselves independent from candidates or political parties, if only ostensibly.
The committee has reported raising a little more than $50,000 since early June – about $25,000 each from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and Chukchansi Development Authority, both of which represent prominent California-gambling interests.
California Watch has the full story
An independent-expenditure group backed by California Native American tribes filed a letter with the Federal Election Commission this week announcing its intent to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money supporting candidates in California congressional races.
The group, known as Californians for Fiscally Responsible Leadership, was apparently the first committee in the country to announce its intent to take advantage of FEC rulings last week that effectively lifted fundraising restrictions on soft-money political committees that declare themselves independent from candidates or political parties, if only ostensibly.
The committee has reported raising a little more than $50,000 since early June – about $25,000 each from the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians and Chukchansi Development Authority, both of which represent prominent California-gambling interests.
California Watch has the full story
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Picayune Rancheria, Civil Rights Violator, to Expand their Operations
Californians, if you REALLY care about violations of civil rights, then you want to drive RIGHT BY any business that supports known civil rights violations. Chukchansi is one, Pechanga another and Redding Rancheria still another
Everyday hundreds of travelers pass the Chukchansi Resort and Casino on their way to and from Yosemite National Park. Some stop to gamble and grab a bite ... but soon ... travelers will be able to buy gas, smokes, and a sandwich.
Case Lawrence said, "Chukchansi crossing is unlike anything in the Valley. It's going to be a Native American fuel outlet. It's going to see gas at a scale and volume that's really unheard of here in the Valley."
Lawrence is the CEO of Mighty Oak Capital ... the manager of the Chukchansi Tribe's funds. He says the tribe is trying to diversify their economy. Because it doesn't have to pay state or local taxes it can sell gas 30 cents cheaper than any other gas station in the Valley.
There's no question cheap gas is good for consumers and the creation of jobs will be good for the local economy. But there's a lot of mom and pop businesses up the road who are very concerned about their future.
Chet Shah is just a stone's throw from the new development. He's the first gas station travelers see after the casino.
"That is going to hurt all over the 41 from Coarsegold to Oakhurst ... and people is going to go there first because their price is going to be cheap. There's no restrictions for them and they can do anything they want to," said Shah.
Alan Lohuis owns the Coarsegold Market. He's watched the casino go up. He's seen the housing market boom and then crash. He's weathered it all ... but this new development might be more than his small market can handle.
Alan Lohuis said, "As the economy is really hard right now. It's going to make things even tougher. That's basically the bottom line. It's just gonna be one more to compete for the smaller pie."
Indian tribes receive legal benefits like tax exemptions from the federal government so they can have a leg up in competing with local businesses. What remains to be seen is whether that advantage will end up hurting the local economy.
Everyday hundreds of travelers pass the Chukchansi Resort and Casino on their way to and from Yosemite National Park. Some stop to gamble and grab a bite ... but soon ... travelers will be able to buy gas, smokes, and a sandwich.
Case Lawrence said, "Chukchansi crossing is unlike anything in the Valley. It's going to be a Native American fuel outlet. It's going to see gas at a scale and volume that's really unheard of here in the Valley."
Lawrence is the CEO of Mighty Oak Capital ... the manager of the Chukchansi Tribe's funds. He says the tribe is trying to diversify their economy. Because it doesn't have to pay state or local taxes it can sell gas 30 cents cheaper than any other gas station in the Valley.
There's no question cheap gas is good for consumers and the creation of jobs will be good for the local economy. But there's a lot of mom and pop businesses up the road who are very concerned about their future.
Chet Shah is just a stone's throw from the new development. He's the first gas station travelers see after the casino.
"That is going to hurt all over the 41 from Coarsegold to Oakhurst ... and people is going to go there first because their price is going to be cheap. There's no restrictions for them and they can do anything they want to," said Shah.
Alan Lohuis owns the Coarsegold Market. He's watched the casino go up. He's seen the housing market boom and then crash. He's weathered it all ... but this new development might be more than his small market can handle.
Alan Lohuis said, "As the economy is really hard right now. It's going to make things even tougher. That's basically the bottom line. It's just gonna be one more to compete for the smaller pie."
Indian tribes receive legal benefits like tax exemptions from the federal government so they can have a leg up in competing with local businesses. What remains to be seen is whether that advantage will end up hurting the local economy.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Picayune Rancheria (Chukchansi) Uses Funds Stolen from 500 Disenrolled Members to Fund Businesses
The Picayune Rancheria of Coarsegold CA is responsible for the single largest termination of Native American tribal members this CENTURY. Pechanga is in second place so far.
The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indian tribe has begun buying businesses and investing in companies, creating a much-needed source of capital in the central San Joaquin Valley.
The people who manage the tribe's fund, Mighty Oak Capital, vow to keep many of its investments local -- and they may have to if they want to access special advantages like tax exemptions that are tied to its Coarsegold reservation.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/05/02/1918875/tribes-fund-seeds-businesses-in.html#ixzz0mt5eRukf
The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indian tribe has begun buying businesses and investing in companies, creating a much-needed source of capital in the central San Joaquin Valley.
The people who manage the tribe's fund, Mighty Oak Capital, vow to keep many of its investments local -- and they may have to if they want to access special advantages like tax exemptions that are tied to its Coarsegold reservation.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/05/02/1918875/tribes-fund-seeds-businesses-in.html#ixzz0mt5eRukf
Friday, April 30, 2010
Congress to Look into ENFORCEMENT of ICRA?
We are hearing that there will be a request for and oversight hearing into the enforcement of the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA)
With civil rights coming into focus, thanks to the AZ immigration law, it's high time that Congress have these hearings.
Due to the arbitrary and capricious actions tribes are taking against their own people. We hope to have confirmation of the request shortly. Indian Self Reliance was not meant to destroy Native Americans, which is what tribes like Pechanga, Picayune, Redding have done.
With civil rights coming into focus, thanks to the AZ immigration law, it's high time that Congress have these hearings.
Due to the arbitrary and capricious actions tribes are taking against their own people. We hope to have confirmation of the request shortly. Indian Self Reliance was not meant to destroy Native Americans, which is what tribes like Pechanga, Picayune, Redding have done.
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