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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has added his voice to those opposing the annexation of 54 acres to the Soboba Indian Reservation for construction of casino/hotel/retail complex.
In a letter to Bureau of Indian Affairs Regional Director Dale Morris, Schwarzenegger said that the proposal violates his policy regarding annexing property in urbanized areas to reservations for casino construction, and that the draft environmental impact statement fails to address important issues that would arise from construction of the complex.
Five U.S. senators have also signed a letter opposing transferring land to reservations for casino construction, including both of California’s senators, Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein.
The signers also include Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and John Ensign of Nevada and Jon Kyl of Arizona.
Their letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar pointed out that the department’s own policies require that added weight be given to such considerations as revenue loss to local jurisdictions and compatibility with existing uses and land-use policies.
The factors cited in the letter specifically refer to existing residential land use.
Soboba can blame Pechanga for some of the opposition to their annexation plans.
ReplyDeleteBecause people use the example of Pechanga promising to do no changes to the Great Oak Ranch property if it was put into trust for the tribe but once Pechanga got the land, they tore it up and put their Journey at Pechanga golf course there.