Residents and neighbors of Jamul’s Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego, which operates in a remote part of San Diego County, held a press conference to complain of traffic concerns about increased accidents on the highway that serves the new casino, which opened in October.
Traffic accidents have increased along an 11-mile stretch of State Route 94 since the casino opened, said the residents, who included Jamul resident, and longtime member of the San Diego Board of Supervisors Dianne Jacob. They demanded that road improvements that have been promised—be delivered.
Jamul Indian Village, the tiny reservation that encompasses the casino, issued a statement that said it was being blamed for an increase in accidents that might be attributed to other factors. The tribe blamed the state’s transportation department, Caltrans, for delaying the road improvements.
The supervisor, a longtime opponent of the casino, said there was “clear and convincing evidence” that the road has become more dangerous since October.
Since that date there have been nearly 100 collisions along the 11-mile section, compared to the 100 per year average for the last few years. Of these, 39 were injury accidents.
Jamul Indian Village Chairman Erica M. Pinto called the linkage “completely unfounded and not based on any hard facts.” She added, “As the longest residents of East County San Diego, the Jamul Indian Village is deeply concerned about the safety of our neighbors . . . We have committed over $120 million to focus on public safety, law enforcement, transportation and firefighting.”
She added that the California Highway Patrol did not link the increase in DUI collision to the casino, and said that other businesses, including wineries, serve alcohol in the area. The increase in alcohol-related accidents and arrests began several years before the casino opened, she said.
Jacob recently wrote to Caltrans, asking its director to block access to the casino until the road improvements have been made. She said she would hold state officials responsible for increased deaths and injuries.
She also criticized the Alcohol Beverage Control board for issuing a temporary alcohol license to the casino before the improvements were made.
There are six intersections along State Route 94 that were supposed to be improved before the casino opened. Only one was improved.
Recently a crash that some residents attribute to casino traffic took out a power pole, which caused a wildfire.
