Schwarzenegger gives Barstow casinos thumbs up, Runner gives them thumbs down

This wasn’t a surprise to me: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has struck a deal with two tribes to build casinos in the High Desert city of Barstow.

This was, however:

September 9, 2005

Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building, First Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

I am writing regarding your announcement of new state tribal gaming compacts with the Big Lagoon Rancheria of Humboldt County, and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians of San Diego County.

Both of these tribes are located more than one hundred miles away from the sites of the proposed casinos within the City of Barstow that has a direct impact on the communities of the High Desert which I represent.

Additionally, your proclamation issued on May 18, 2005 expressly states that you would not allow a tribe to conduct gaming on newly acquired land, unless there was a vote of the local jurisdiction and a local advisory vote of the local community.

I believe that off-site gaming is such an extraordinary expansion of gaming and it includes impacts beyond just the directly affected community that any demonstration of local support must be through an advisory vote that includes surrounding affected communities. Due to the controversial nature of this vote, I actually feel the threshold should be more than a simple majority vote.

Therefore, I will be authoring legislation in January 2006, which clearly defines the parameters for these situations. Please feel free to contact me in the future regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

George C. Runner, Jr.
Senator, 17th District

So much for my being able to accurately read the local political landscape with any sort of accuracy.

And yes, the Timbisha Shoshone tribe are located more than 100 miles from Hesperia, although the land they want to build their casino on here would be added to their reservation lands, under a provision in the Timbisha Homeland Act.

All of Hesperia is within Runner’s district.

Interesting times …

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