Marc Benjamin of the Fresno Bee has the continuing story of corruption at Chukchansi:
Two tribal council members elected in December have been removed by a rival Chukchansi Tribal Council. Incumbents Morris Reid and Dora Jones, both winners in a December election that was later nullified by the council, were formally removed last week.
A letter dated May 4 said Reid and Jones were removed for "neglect of duty" and "misconduct." Their hearings were April 24. They did not show up to defend themselves, Reid said, because they don't view the opposing council led by Reggie Lewis as legitimate.
The removal is already in effect and is not subject to appeal or reconsideration, the letter said. "It's really no surprise," Reid said. Previously, Harold Hammond, who won a spot on the council in the same election, was disqualified after five of seven losing candidates filed appeals demanding Hammond's removal.
The appealing candidates, who included Lewis and fellow incumbent Chance Alberta, said Hammond could not run for office because he allegedly violated a badge policy while visiting the casino last year. A March election for Hammond's seat resulted in Lewis' election. The December election was followed by a raucous meeting at the end of that month, when Reid and his members claim they were sworn in. That was followed by a standoff in February after Reid's group took over a tribal office. The takeover resulted in a large fight in which three people were injured.
The remaining council member elected in December, Dixie Jackson, is in limbo. Like Hammond, Reid and Jones, Jackson was suspended from tribal benefits by the Lewis council for 10 years and tribal council participation for five years. She said her status falls into a gray area because she wasn't an incumbent in the election, and her swearing-in at the December meeting was considered illegitimate by the group headed by Lewis. But she also said her suspension prohibits her from serving on the council headed by Lewis.
OP: WHERE IS THE BIA?
bwin.party and United Auburn Indian Community enter online poker agreement
ReplyDelete9 May 2012
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- bwin.party digital entertainment and the United Auburn Indian Community (UAIC), which owns and operates the Thunder Valley Casino Resort near Sacramento, California, announced today that they have entered into a formal agreement to offer online poker services in California if suitable intrastate legislation is enacted in the state.
As a federally recognized California Indian tribe that already operates a casino resort within the state, UAIC would be a qualified license applicant under legislation proposed in the California State Senate and would secure and maintain the necessary licenses to operate online poker services in California. bwin.party would provide the technology and operations expertise to power the services plus related support. The Agreement would be for a 10-year period from the date that online poker services are launched.
Commenting on today's announcement, Jim Ryan and Norbert Teufelberger, the Co-CEOs of bwin.party, said:
"California is the largest state in the U.S. in terms of population and is known to have a significant number of poker players who like to play poker online. Combining our own significant assets and resources with those of UAIC will create a strong partnership that is well-placed to seize the opportunities that will arise if appropriate online poker legislation is enacted in the Golden State."
David Keyser, Tribal Chairman of UAIC commented:
"We see the legalization of Internet poker and other Internet gaming as being inevitable. Having met with representatives from a number of different online gaming companies, bwin.party was our first choice as partner. With its unrivalled expertise in online poker, proven technology and player loyalty we are confident of being able to maximize the revenue opportunity from a regulated online poker market in California and to continue to enhance the long-term prosperity of our community."
On 24 February 2012, Senators Wright and Steinberg introduced legislation to regulate online gaming within California. The Internet Gambling Consumer Protection and Public-Private Partnership Act of 2012 (SB 1463) proposes, inter alia, to regulate license and tax internet poker within the state of California. The current proposed rate of tax is 10% of gross gaming revenue.
http://online.casinocity.com/article/bwin-party-and-united-auburn-indian-community-enter-online-poker-agreement-106942?issue=5-11-12
Didn't Morris Reid have a working relationship with the BIA when he was on the council?
ReplyDeleteWhat happened Morris?