 |
 |
Some residents see benefit from jobs, revenue; others cite crime, traffic possibilities
By KERRY BENEFIELD
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Rohnert Park’s Philip Naber lived in Rocklin in 2003 when Thunder Valley Casino opened about 10 miles down the road, so he has seen what happens in a community when a major gambling and entertainment operation emerges.
“I saw it bring more jobs, it brought more people to the area. I think it has been a positive for the area,” he said Saturday in the parking lot of Home Depot, not far from where a Rohnert Park casino could be built.
His observation came a day after Gov. Jerry Brown announced approval of plans by the Indians of the Graton Rancheria for a 3,000-slot machine gaming operation. The $433 million project also would include an unspecified number of roulette wheels and table games, as well as a hotel, nightclub, three bars, restaurants and a 20,000-square foot spa.
“I welcome it,” Naber said. “I think it will bring jobs to the area and more money to the county.”
If built to completion, the complex would become the county’s largest private employer. The compact approved by Brown requires the tribe to funnel $100 million into Sonoma County in its first seven years of operation, with more after that. About $40 million would go to the county and another $60 million would go to Rohnert Park.
But Josh Widick of Rohnert Park isn’t convinced it is a good fit.
“I could see it bringing some revenue into the local economy, but I’m not sure it would outweigh the negatives,” he said.
Traffic on Highway 101 through Rohnert Park and parallel routes along Stony Point Road could become nightmarish when the 534,000-square-foot complex opens its doors, Widick said.
“This is an area people commute to work through,” he said. “If it got blocked up with traffic, it could be devastating.”
Those divergent viewpoints were reflected in conversations with Rohnert Park residents Saturday evening, and in more than 60 online comments on The Press Democrat’s website.
The pro perspective touted jobs and the tourist money coming into the community, as well as the possibility of a new entertainment venue.
But others warned of prostitution, crime, a huge increase in traffic and a Las Vegas-type operation independent of workplace and environmental regulation.
Rohnert Park’s mayor, Jake Mackenzie, said Saturday that the city still has many unanswered questions.
“At some point in time, clearly the tribe is going to contact the city and say, ‘These are our plans and these are thing we expect to discuss with you,’” he said. “I don’t know what to expect.”
Especially important, he said, is a clearer picture of the economic benefits to the city from a casino on land that Rohnert Park had once eyed for commercial development.
Located west of the Scandia Family Fun Center on the west side of Highway 101, the project could create 750 construction jobs when it is under way and 2,250 jobs when it is complete, according to tribe documents.
Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris did not return phone calls or an email seeking comment Friday, and when reached by phone Saturday, he refused to comment.
The state Legislature and the federal Department of the Interior still need to ratify the compact, although such actions are typically routine. The Legislature is believed to have rejected only one similar deal.
For Joyce Elliott of Petaluma, having a casino in Rohnert Park means shortening her monthly trek up to the county’s only other Indian gaming establishment in Geyserville.
“I would love to have it. As seniors, we all go up to River Rock,” she said. “In Sonoma County, we need more entertainment.”
Staff Writer Kerry Benefield writes an education blog at extracredit.blogs. pressdemocrat.com. She can be reached at 526-8671 or kerry.benefield@ pressdemocrat.com.
Subscribe by Email
Follow us on Twitter
If Indian Casinos are considered “Souvereign Nations” which are exempt from all State, County and Local City ordances, health, and land use laws, why aren’t they treated as a Foreign Nation requiring that any person entering or leaving the “Souvereign Nation” be subject to search and required to have a US Government Passport in their possession. Additionally, why aren’t they subject to establishing treaties with state, county and city governments to address issues associated with land use, traffic, water, and wastewater concerns associated with their casinos. It sure seems like the “Souvereign Nation” card is only used by the Indian Interests when it is to their advantage. PERSONALLY, I THINK THAT ALL BUSINESSES LOCATED IN CALIFORNIA SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO HAVE GAMBLING WITH AN ESTABLISHED AMOUNT OF THE PROCEEDS GOING TO THE STATE, COUNTY, AND CITY. WHY SHOULD CALIFORMIA HAVE TWO CLASSES OF CITIZENS, ONE ALLOWED TO DERIVE THEIR INCOME FROM GAMING AND THE OTHER NOT.
First off, what’s up with the Bill Ayers/Obama/One World Socialism posts? Utterly off topic. What does it take to get edited out on WSC?
Secondly, y’all had the chance to stick this thing way out near Sears Point. Oh no, can’t touch the pristine land near a NASCAR raceway! So now it’s in the center of Sonoma County.
The odds are not public knowledge for slot machines and their video equivalents. They are set by the House. Odds for black jack, roulette, and craps can be calculated based on table rules.
A little late but here’s an idea. Treasure Island’s redevelopment is slowing down; legalize gambling, one stop pot doc shops, and prostitution. But it has to stay on the island. Shut down the off ramps onto the island so it doesn’t impact the commuters. Only way to get there is by ferry. Tax the bejevvers out of them and don’t let any contraband get off the island.
San Fran is the Number One International Tourist destination in this country. Let’s keep them there and well occupied.
The Rocket Boat at Fisherman’s Wharf will be filled to max.
I’m not a gambler so I’m not sure how it works, but aren’t the odds of winning at least public knowledge?
Just walking through the door of an Indian casino can be hazardous to your health.
Physical, economic and moral.
So then, who inspects their kitchens?
I had a friend who ran a casino’s kitchen up Lake Co. some years back. One time he told an employee to wash his hands after going to the bathroom, told him it was state law. He was corrected by the chief. The reservation is an independent nation and does not have to abide by any California State public health laws.
And you should get sick you can seek redress through the tribal council.
There is a California Gaming Commission that regulates them – to make sure the games are fair. Sort of like weights and measures making sure (right) those electronic gas pumps deliver the right amount for the price.
However a fair game does not mean fair odds. In Las Vegas you’ll see slot machines with “97%” payout. So if you gamble $100 over the long run, you should get back about $97. But in gambling, a 3% edge for the house is huge. In the long run the casino will always make money.
I’ve done a few experiments at River Rock. Their machines are in the ballpark of a 10-15% edge. In short, the slots at River Rock are indisputably a sucker bet. But, that’s not illegal. If the Rohnert Park casino sets their slots at that level only true suckers will be going there to gamble.
When it opens, I doubt they will have that edge, but over time it will probably get there because no law is regulating the house edge.
Blackjack is your only hope – but the Native casinos take a vig on every wager win or lose, so it’s not much hope. Take a cheap trip to Vegas or drive to Reno/Sparks if you want reasonable odds. None of the native casinos are even close to offering anything like a reasonable chance of winning.
It would be a great deal easier if the Governor and Legislature would deal openly and directly with the casino corporations.
The many individual California Indian bands are not, in fact, sovereign nations — except when the federal and state governments want them to be — and it’s absurd that the gambling corporations have to hire some local Indians to front for their California operations.
Station Casinos’ proposed Rohnert Park operation is even more ridiculous, because the Graton Rancheria “tribe” that will receive the casino as its “reservation” didn’t exist until a few years ago; never had a reservation anywhere; and its Tribal Chairman isn’t an Indian!
If the Casino was proposed on property next to where Paul Gullixson, Jim Sweeney, Connie Codding, Lisa Maldonado, Chris Coursey, Jack Buckhorn or Michael Allen lives, they would all be singing a different tune. Put the Casino back on the property by Sears Point Raceway and most of the opposition would go away. That would never happen because the people of Marin County have more political power than the residents of Rohnert Park.
“I’m curious, does anyone know how the payout is regulated for Indian gaming? Nevada has a gaming commission to keep an eye on things. How does it work on the reservation?”
It’s a foreign nation so there’s no way to tell.
The National Indian Gaming Commision has some authority over Indian casinos, but not apparently the percentage of each bet paid back in winnings. But it can’t be worse that our state lottery which returns only 50 cents on each dollar. Nevada casinos are by comparison paragons of virtue.
I’m curious, does anyone know how the payout is regulated for Indian gaming? Nevada has a gaming commission to keep an eye on things. How does it work on the reservation?
LOL, Biggest employer,of non-English speaking folks.
If liberals were ever honest with the electorate about their true intentions, they would never win another election.
It’s like Taqiyya with Muslims; the intentional deception of the enemy in order to conceal their true intentions is not a sin, but rather a noble tactic.
It’s easy to tell when a liberal is lying about their agenda.
Their lips are moving.
Why the “Thumbs down” on Frank Matters putting up Ayers exact quote? Are liberals AFRAID of their thoughts and feelings getting out there?
EMBRACE your communist/socialist thoughts! Those are the goals you are working toward, so why not defend them instead of giving them a “Thumbs down”?
Let me point out that FIGR called out the SMART train as a traffic mitigation measure in their EIR…. and then proceeded to donate $50,000 to the Yes on Q campaign- the largest single donor.
And people are worried about corporations…..
Traffic?
But I thought the billions we’re spending on widening 101 & building the “smart” train was supposed to make traffic in Sonoma County a distant memory.
Did I miss something?
The purpose of local land use law is to give the citizens of a community say in what kind of a community they live in. Whether I agree with those decisions is irrelevan.
The Feds, read Lynn Woolsey, forced this casino down the throats of Rohnert Park, like it or not. And along the way the Tribes bought off the politicians of California.
For those with high anxiety over Citizens United, the influence of Tribes on California government ought to get your attention. Not since the railroads controlled Sacramento have we seen anything like it.
Remember, Bill Ayers was Obama’s MENTOR! And people wonder why many consider Obama a socialist?
Wineries, Medical Marijuana clubs, Gambling Resorts. no end to the entertainment in Sonoma County!
Bill Ayers: ‘I Get Up Every Morning and Think…Today I‘m Going to End Capitalism’