Feds
Part of Tribe Pushing for
New Casino
As reported by The Associated Press
PLYMOUTH,
Calif. - A once-tiny, nearly destitute American Indian
tribe is pushing hard to build a $100 million casino -
but it's not traditional tribal members gunning for riches.
Hundreds
of people have been newly added to the Ione Band of Miwok
Indians' membership rolls, which were opened up by regional
Bureau of Indian Affairs officials. Among the new members
are several BIA employees and dozens of their relatives.
Regional
BIA officials opened the membership against the traditional
leaders' wishes to include members from two other bands
in the area. The federal officials then oversaw an Aug.
10, 2002, election that swapped the old leaders for a
pro-casino group that includes some of the BIA employees
themselves.
Before
the Bureau of Indian Affairs became involved, the Ione
Band had about 70 members living on land near Ione, about
40 miles east of Sacramento in the rolling hills of one
of California's wine regions.
Now
the band's official membership has swelled to 535. None
of the new members is related to the original 70.
The
tribe is now potentially eligible for millions of dollars
in federal benefits. Its new leaders have been given $1.9
million from the state's Tribal Revenue Sharing Trust
Fund, in which tribes with casinos contribute to non-gambling
tribes. The tribe says it is using that money to offer
members emergency assistance with housing, health care
and energy bills.
If
the tribe opens its proposed casino with 2,000 slot machines,
opponents say it could bring in $185 million a year, based
on the experience of other tribes.
Even
more casinos? Bet on it
As reported by The Toronto Star
A
seemingly innocent remark 12 days ago by Economic Development
Minister Joe Cordiano about the potential for more casinos
in Ontario has thrown communities across the province
into a tizzy.
"I'm
conducting an assessment to make sure that we understand
where the (gambling) industry should go, how much growth
we've had (and) should we have future growth," said
Cordiano.
Those
communities without casinos - notably Barrie, Wasaga Beach,
North Bay and even Hamilton - immediately stuck their
hands in the air and cried, "Me!"
And
those communities that already have casinos - notably
Niagara Falls and Rama - expressed concerns that any new
gambling emporiums would steal business from them.
In
opposition, Premier Dalton McGuinty decried the "mad,
reckless rush" to expand casino gambling in Ontario.
But
now that they are in power, the Liberals are desperately
searching for new sources of revenue to bring down the
deficit, just as the New Democrats did a decade ago.
"Where
it makes sense, where there's a growth strategy potential,
we'll put the casinos there," said Cordiano. "And
I think you have to have communities that want them."
There
are plenty of communities lining up for the opportunity.