The compact, if ratified by the Legislature, would mark the first growth of Inland Southern California’s large tribal gaming industry since California voters supported casino-expansion deals between the state and four Inland tribes several years ago.
With fewer than 20 members, the Anza-area tribe’s 560-acre reservation is next to spectacular wilderness area in the San Bernardino National Forest. It has no electric utility service and relies on wind and solar systems.
The tribe operates a small eco-tourism resort. And in a first for any casino deal negotiated by the Brown administration, the compact announced Thursday, June 13, would reduce the tribe’s mitigation payments to the state if it makes good-faith efforts to build and operate its casino in an environmentally friendly way. The agreement would expire in 2033.
Riverside and San Bernardino counties already are home to several tribal casinos, including some of the most successful in the state.
Those include the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians near Temecula, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians near Banning and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians near San Bernardino.
Well, I hope environmentally friendly means that they don't bulld something that lights up the area as I belong to an Astronomy club that has a property nearby and it already has some light encroachment from Hemet, Temecula, and even Palm Springs. Light pollution should also be a consideration as our dark skies are disapperaing little by little.
ReplyDeleteThey make streetlights with covers on them now, right? So the light only shines downward?
ReplyDelete