Page 17 - July 2004 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Five California Tribes Sign New Gaming Compacts
ive California tribes—including three from Southern California—signed gaming compacts on June 21st, which will bene t nancially-strapped California to the tune of $1 billion in 2004 and $150– $200 million annually. In exchange, the ve tribes
gained the right for unlimited slot machines for their casinos on their current land. eir original 1999 compacts had capped each tribe’s slots to 2000 machines. Also, in return for the $1 billion payment and $150–$200 million annually, the tribes are guaranteed the exclusive right to o er casino gambling in California.
ISan Diego County Fire Protection
n early June the Indian Gaming Local Communities $100,000 for Heartland Fire District’s communication Bene t Committee recommended spending $5.7 system. e grant is part of a state requirement under million on re protection programs in San Diego Senate Bill 621 that mandates gaming compact casinos
to provide funding for projects in the areas they impact. e money goes into a special distribution fund from East County casinos, including Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino, Sycuan Resort & Casino and
At the committee’s discretion, 60 percent of the money goes to areas that are located within four miles of the casinos; 20 percent goes to areas outside the four-mile boundary, but still impacted by the casinos; and the other 20 percent goes to areas not impacted by the East County casinos but a ected by other casinos.
County. e committee supported allocating $2.1 million to Copter One, San Diego County’s re and rescue helicopter; $1.5 million to the sheri ’s astrea helicopter; $111,000 for the communication system of the Intermountain Volunteer Fire Department; and
Viejas Casino.
ISpecial Olympics Events Kick Off At Pechanga Resort & Casino
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
e compacts were signed by three San Diego County tribes: The Pala Band of Mission Indians, owners of Pala Casino Resort & Spa; the Pauma Band of Mission Indians, owners of Casino Pauma; the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, owners of Viejas Casino; and the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, owners of the Cache Creek Casino Resort, and the United Auburn Indian Community, owners of Thunder Valley Casino, both near Sacramento.
e 25-year compacts between the state of California and the sovereign Indian nations must be rati ed by the California Legislature and approved by the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Trying to make up a $14 billion de cit in California’s current budget, this agreement brings much needed cash atamostopportunetime.Mr.Schwarzeneggerstatedhe hoped to have new compacts with more gaming tribes,
but not all are interested in renegotiating their 20-year compacts.
Chairman of the Viejas Band, Anthony R. Pico said in light of the long and painful history California tribes have had in dealings with the State, the compacts signify a proud new partnership with the Governor and citizens.
Many tribes know that their right to establish gaming on their reservations and run sovereign government enterprises as outlined by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (igra) was never intended to become a taxable revenue stream for ailing state budgets. Some believe these current new compacts relinquish aspects of their tribal sovereignty, and those tribes would rather keep their current compacts without the option of slot machine expansion.
But what about the November gambling ballot initiatives? Mr. Schwarzenegger is now opposed to
Anthony R. Pico, Chairman of the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians with Governor Schwarzenegger signing the new gaming compact.
both the card room/racetrack-backed initiative that seeks to tax gaming tribes 25 percent and could allow cardroom and racetracks to operate slot machines in their urban area settings, as well as the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians-sponsored initiative which would expand gaming in return for tribes paying 8.8 percent of their net income (equivalent to the current CAstatecorporatetax).Ifeitheroneofthoseinitiatives passes, the new compacts would be nulli ed.
Barona Valley Ranch, Sycuan and Viejas Casinos Give $5.7 Million for
n late May the 2004 Special Olympics summer season began at Pechanga Resort & Casino. e resort hosted the Special Olympics’ Law Enforcement Torch Run opening ceremonies and brought out hundreds of spectators and participants. With the help of
Pechanga tribal members, Anthony Miranda of the Pechanga Development Corporation participated in a torch run, and also presented a check for $7,500 to the Special Olympics and the California Highway Patrol.
Over the course of the two-day event, organizers raised more than $40,000 for the charity that provides sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for Southern California children and adults with cognitive disabilities. is provides them opportunities to develop physical tness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share their gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the local community.
e Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is the movement’s largest grass- roots fund-raiser and public awareness vehicle. In 2003 the international initiative raised more than $19 million for Special Olympics. More than 85,000 law enforcement o cers around the world carried the “Flame of Hope” across 35 nations, raising awareness and funds for Special Olympics. e Torch Run is an actual running event in which o cers and athletes run the“Flame of Hope” to the Opening Ceremonies of local Special Olympics competitions, state/provincial Games, and National Summer or Winter Games.
Anthony Miranda of the Pechanga Development Corporation and Chairman of cniga with participating law enforcement officers and Special Olympics’ athletes.
July 2004 Page 17
Southern California Tribes in the News