Off-reservation casinos? Say no

Years ago, California tribes asked voters to approve limited casino gaming on Indian reservation land. They promised casinos would be located only on original reservation land. Proposition 48would approve a controversial tribal gaming compact thatwould allowthe North Fork Tribe to build an off-reservation, Vegas-style 2,000-slot-machine casino more than an hour’s drive from the tribe’s established reservation, closer tomajor freeways and Central Valley communities.

Proposition 48would open the floodgates for casinos in urban areas, which is why I amopposed to this compact and urge you to vote no.

Since we approved gaming on tribal land, I know tribes who have played by the rules, building on their original reservation and respecting the voters’ wishes. Now other tribes and out-ofstate gaming investors are looking to break these rules.

There are already 71 operating tribal casinos. California has 70 groups petitioning for federal recognition. We anticipate 34 new tribes to be added to California’s 109 tribal governments. Of those, we can anticipate 22 new casinos but this time in more urban areas, including the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein has called for a stop to casino projects off reservation land. I agree.

Please join me and vote no on Proposition 48. Let Sacramento know that we oppose Vegas-style casinos in our neighborhoods and to stop the flood of new off-reservation casinos in California.