Comments on: Governor grants gaming compact for Rohnert Park casino

By: Dan W.

Dan W. — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:30:30 +0000

“Station Casinos declared bankruptcy in 2009, raising questions about is ability to complete the project. At the same time, though, it is moving ahead with a large Indian casino in Michigan.”-Brett Wilkinson

If Station Casinos were to have received a massive federal government bail-out, had Obama fire/replace their CEO, avoided restructure, and sold double-subsidized tokens for playing slots, Libs would consider them a successful company.

Realistically, we all know that Moonbeam signed the gaming contract as a union kickback for campaign contributions. Isn’t organized crime great?

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By: David Stubblebine

David Stubblebine — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 02:55:15 +0000

GAJ: You should have quoted the very next sentence as well – “The authors caution against applying their results too generally.”

The authors also list several positive impacts from regional casinos that were omitted in your cherry-picked quote. However, the report is 10 years old and, therefore, based on our previous economy. This fact alone may render the entire paper irrelevant to Sonoma County’s situation today.

I am neutral on the casino issue (surprising that I have no opinion on something) but I recognize that it is a significant issue for our region. For that reason, the discussion surrounding the matter deserves to be relevant.

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By: GAJ

GAJ — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:40:26 +0000

“The negative changes include about a 10 percent increase in auto thefts, larceny, violent crime, and bankruptcy in counties four years after a casino has opened, and an increase in bankruptcies within 50 miles of a new casino.”

http://www.nber.org/digest/feb03/w9198.html

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By: Graeme Wellington

Graeme Wellington — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 17:34:33 +0000

Did Marlee Montgomery sell her hovel that was in the County area near the casino site? She’s usually repeating talking points every time this story is in the paper, but I haven’t seen a peep out of her lately. I wonder how much she made if she sold out?

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By: Follower

Follower — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:46:49 +0000

“Millionaire Farmers”

So that’s a pejorative?

Let me make sure I’m following this…

People immigrated LEGALLY to the US to pursue the “American Dream” often with little or nothing.

Worked hard, saved money, bought land, built farms where there were none before producing food for us all.

They raised their children on these farms teaching them the skills they developed over generations.

NOW… that worthless land once way beyond reasonable reach has a freeway running through it and the grandchildren or great grandchildren of those LEGAL immigrants are finally in a position to fulfill the American Dream their ancestors worked so hard to create.

…and that’s “bad”?!!

Sounds like an American success story too me, something to be celebrated and admired, not bashed.

Some of you people are REALLY sick!

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By: Michael Sheehan

Michael Sheehan — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:31:18 +0000

How about they skip this entire farmland fiasco, and simply add on a few casino cars to the $MART “money train” so we only get one likely boondoggle, and not two?

After all, both gambling and SMART will cost locals millions in unaffordable losses, so it’s a perfect fit. We could call it “The Off-Track Betting Express.”

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By: Graeme Wellington

Graeme Wellington — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:36:52 +0000

The farmers got 10 million, but they aren’t millionaires? Liberal logic I guess. Station Casinos went bankrupt too so didn’t that cause Carnalli’s bankruptcy in a cascade effect? Did the farmers have to give back their 10 million? Carnalli didn’t get the money and he’s dead. We can all be covet his good fortune.

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By: Kay Tokerud

Kay Tokerud — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:49:23 +0000

@ Graeme, regarding “millionaire farmers” that sold the land to the casino, you need to get your facts straight. Real estate tycoon Clem Carnalli (now bankrupt) bought the land for $10million and immediately turned around and sold the land for $100 million to the casino developers. The “farmer” got ripped off obviously. This deal was like insider trading, the former owner didn’t know the land could be used for this development. In fact, the owner believed his land was “wetlands” and was not developable. Mr. Carnalli knew otherwise.

And after making $90 million in profit on this one deal alone, why did Carnalli go bankrupt? What happened to all that money? This is the kind of corruption we’re seeing with the now popular public/private partnerships. Isn’t this what’s known as fascism?

I’d love to learn more of the facts around the land acquisition process if anyone can shed more light on this issue. Has anyone talked to the previous land owner?

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By: BigDogatPlay

BigDogatPlay — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:41:06 +0000

I note, somewhat disinterestedly, that the compact signed by the governor mandates a $40M annual payment to the county and a $60M annual payout to the unquestionably honest City of Rohnert Park. That ought to close a budget hole or three, eh?

Knowing, of course, that the progressive yayhoos in charge of both entities will simply blow all that money on more give away programs to help them hold gullible ‘issue’ voters in line and retain their filthy, hypocritical hands on the levers of power.

So for all you gamblers out there who will be patronizing the grand wigwam of Chief Get Rich Quick Sarris, how do you feel about the $100M in what will arguably be taxes that you’ll be paying out of your losings? The tribe is going to have to set those poker slots for very few wins to afford that kind of a nut.

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By: Chucky

Chucky — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 01:29:49 +0000

I see we’re all blaiming Gov. Brown. So your telling me CEO Meg Whittman would have declined the casino. You got to be kidding me. The whole casino craze started with Gov. Terminator who was a Republican. Any Governor would have approved this casino because they see money, but thats if it ever gets built.

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By: joey

joey — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:11:55 +0000

the casino isnt even built yet and the only problems i see are the words coming out of peoples mouths. maybe they should wait to get their facts straight so they can go ahead and put their heads back up their a$$. id like to see opponents telling 3000 people to find work somewhere else.

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By: sarkyfish

sarkyfish — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 15:35:13 +0000

Read the smoke signals: money plus California democrats equals corruption.

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By: Frank Matters

Frank Matters — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:07:30 +0000

nutbuckets
lets keep farmlands, framlands
have you all seen what SWRCB would like to do to farmlands, ranchers
planting more grapes anyone
remember the opposition to big boxoutlets
its amasing how the left is putting rosa parks( business ) to the back of the bus agin
maybe you all that oppose this casino, would like a solar plant of windmill like Solyndra and Beacon Power — that took $571 million in taxpayer subsidies down with them.

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By: Follower

Follower — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 04:07:54 +0000

At least it won’t be build with Redevelopment Funds!

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By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 03:27:39 +0000

This appears to be another well thought out project. Just like the Target in Petaluma, that will create an absolute traffic disaster, this casino will turn 101 and Stony Point into a parking lot. Stony Point is one lane. 101 has been expanded, but with a carpool lane, which have been proven worthless everywhere in the state they’ve been built.

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By: Kim

Kim — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:07:40 +0000

Having read the article this morning, I couldn’t help but to Laugh Out Loud!

Sonoma County got exactly what they deserved by putting Jerry Brown back in the Governor’s seat. In a way, all you “progressives” voted FOR the casino! Seems your vote came back to bite you in the buttox! LOL

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By: Beef King

Beef King — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 16:38:55 +0000

Jerry Brown is, was, and always will be a hypocritical progressive marxist.
He has put himself squarely in the corner of the wealthy against his brothers and sisters who count on him to beat the ‘man’ into submission.
When does this mouth-breather run out of time in Sacramento?

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By: Graeme Wellington

Graeme Wellington — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 15:29:00 +0000

One thing that needs to be pointed out here is once again the complete and total failure of leadership by our elected County officials. All of them knew the legal battles could not be won, but to please the squeaky wheels, they pursued every fruitless angle to delay this rather than negotiate in good faith to mitigate the impacts.

Only Rohnert Park negotiated and got something instead of nothing. County officials completely ignored legal advice and spent massive amount of taxpayer money so that they could look good. Now, the citizens of Sonoma County will have to absorb the lion’s share of costs associated with the casino and they have no recourse whatsoever to recover any of it. The Tribe can tell them to pound it and no huffing and puffing is going to make any difference.

There is nothing in the Bible about gambling either. Worthington’s pretextual fight is simply an attempt to foist his sense of “morality” on everyone else. Don’t go to the casino Chip. Put six month’s income into an insured savings account and advise your flock to do the same and just leave us all alone and shut up.

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By: Graeme Wellington

Graeme Wellington — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 13:47:54 +0000

I’m pretty sure the grazing cows and sheep that were there several years ago when the tribe bought the land at the top of the real estate market were owned by millionaire farmers who got even richer and had stopped farming long ago. The animals were likely just to maintain the pretext of the property being a “farm” to avoid taxes and receive tax subsidies. Oh, I long for the old days of free money from the taxpayers to maintain cows and pasture.

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By: Frank Matters

Frank Matters — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:53:13 +0000

According to the compact, the tribe has already spent more than $200 million on “pre-development costs.”

EPA, EIR, devolpment permits, fees defending,lawyers,proctologist exam

Thanks to the envirotrash its what the leftwingnuts do its all they know lawsuits and more lawsuits, reduction of state revenue & the private sector

want to know why the schools have no moneys “Thank a Environmentalist”
you know them, they go by the names like puffman,Evans,wiggens,chesbro and even Moonbeam, he sign this cuz other bills in the past cause a reduction in the private sector
what has happen to America?
hey David
might want to look into Lawson landing, people live there
Casino land not being used

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