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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 |
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Senator Feinstein Introduces
Legislation Banning Expansion of Casino San
Pablo
The
controversy dates to the summer of 2004, when the Lytton tribe proposed
expanding its existing 70,000-square-foot Class II facility into a massive,
600,000-square-foot Class III casino with 5,000 slot machines.
Although
a compact authorizing the expansion was not ratified by the California
Legislature, and the Lytton tribe backed away from their proposal, there
is nothing in current law preventing the tribe from attempting to revive
the proposal in the future.
Senator
Feinstein’s legislation has the strong support of local officials and the
Lytton tribe.
“This
legislation will virtually eliminate the possibility of a major expansion
of Casino
“It
has broad community support – and will ensure that Casino
History
In
October 2000, the Lytton Band, a Sonoma County-based tribe, obtained the
deed to an aging card club located near Interstate 80 in
In
August 2004, the Lytton tribe proposed expanding its 70,000-square-foot
Class II facility – which offers low-stakes card games and electronic bingo
-- into a 600,000-square-foot Class III mega-casino with 5,000 slot machines.
Under a loophole in federal law, the tribe could have pursued this expansion
without going through the regular oversight process, which requires both
gubernatorial and federal approval. The loophole was contained in an amendment
to the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act, which was passed in December 2000.
This amendment specifically allowed the Lytton tribe’s acquisition of
its nine-acre
The
Lytton Band’s expansion plans met roadblocks, but were never legally dead.
Although the California Legislature did not ratify a compact authorizing
the expansion, current law does not prevent the tribe from attempting to
revive the plan in the future.
Feinstein
Legislation
Senator
Feinstein’s legislation will:
·Prevent
any expansion of the Casino San Pablo physical structure, now or in the
future.
·Prevent
the Lytton Band from engaging in Class III gaming unless they complete
a rigorous two-part federal determination process. This process requires
the tribe to obtain the direct consent of the Governor of California and
the Secretary of the Interior, who must also consult with the local community
and nearby tribes before Class III gaming may be allowed. No tribe in
·Allow
the Lytton Band to continue its current Class II gaming at
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