Hearings for the tribal state gaming compact (AB 1606) between California and the Wilton Rancheria, which would authorize the Elk Grove Casino, were held last week by the Assembly’s Governmental Organization Committee. The Senate has already approved the compact.
Governor Jerry Brown and the tribe signed the compact last month that would allow a $400 million casino on the unfinished Outlet Collection at Elk Grove.
Proponents and opponents of the casino spoke at the hearing. Speaking for the compact were Brown aides, members of the Elk Grove city council, and Wilton Rancheria Chairman Raymond Hitchcock.
Some of the 100 members of the tribe who had been disrenrolled from the tribe also spoke.
Lisa Jimenez, representing those families, declared, “Most tribes want to preserve their heritage. Not this tribe. They are disenrolling because less is more, I don’t care about the casino, I care about our people.”
The casino watchdog group Stand Up for California also sent someone to speak against the compact, as did Elk Grove residents who argue that the Bureau of Indian Affairs inappropriately moved to fast to approve putting the land in the outlet into trust. These opponents have taken the BIA to court over their allegations.
They also claim that the Elk Grove City Council hid these proceedings from residents and secretly colluded with the tribe.
A committee vote was scheduled for August 31.
