Sycuan Tribe, Which LIED to The People of CALIFORNIA, NOW want more of our LAND

Remember we wrote about Sycuans $30 MILLION Swindle... Sycuan promised to expand in 2009
One of the region’s smallest Indian reservations would triple in size as part of an annexation proposal under federal scrutiny.

The Sycuan Indian band, east of El Cajon, wants to add 1,350 acres to its square-mile reservation, placing property it already owns under sovereign control. The move would also put the land beyond the reach of county tax collectors.

California tribes, many of them flush with casino revenues, have submitted more than 130 similar annexation proposals — known as “fee-to-trust” — with federal authorities just within the last year.

Critics who believe the state and federal governments are lax in their oversight of Indian gaming worry that the expansions will open the door to even bigger casino operations.

Sycuan officials say they have no plans to expand gambling beyond current reservation boundaries. They note that their formal proposal with the government is labeled a “nongaming application.”

The plan’s particulars:

History

Sycuan first raised the annexation proposal in 2007, but scaled it back by 600 acres due to environmental concerns. The tribe modified the proposal to mitigate some of the environmental impacts.

Reaction

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob opposes it, noting the loss in tax revenue. Some nearby residents worry about added traffic and development. Backers include Dan Silver, with the Endangered Habitats League, and several local members of Congress, including Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-San Diego, and Rep. Bob Filner, D-San Diego.

What’s next

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs is expected to rule on the proposal within the next few months. As part of the process, the government will consider letters and testimony already submitted by the public.

Let's not let more of our taxable land go to a tribe that didn't fullfil it's promises

Planners say NO to Sycuan's liquor request

In a move that was expected, an East County planning group voted unanimously last night to oppose a request for a liquor license by Sycuan Casino, saying drunken drivers would be too dangerous on the winding road leading from the gambling hall.

Wally Riggs, chairman of the planning group for the Dehesa area, noted that Sycuan Casino's previous request for a liquor license was rejected by an administrative law judge 15 years ago. “All the things they listed in that judgment have not changed,” Riggs said. “They've gotten worse.”

Sycuan, one of the largest casinos in San Diego County, is the only casino in the county without a liquor license. Casino officials say that by limiting when and where alcohol is available, they can deal with concerns that led to the rejection.

More on that story here