Congressman Jared Huffman, who represents Sonoma County, California, has included changes to his bill H.R. 2538 that would add restrictions to putting land into trust for the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians.
The tribe has agreed to not being allowed to open a casino on any tribal land north of State Route 12 or south of the highway for 22 years. The tribe currently operates a Class II casino, the San Pablo Lytton, on ten acres in the Bay Area town of San Pablo.
Huffman hopes to prevent the Bureau of Indian from putting 511 acres into trust for the tribe, which would allow the tribe to open another casino on that land.
Huffman told the Press Democrat, “I do feel a sense of urgency for this, given the fact the Obama administration is winding down and the indication if Congress can’t get this done, the BIA will.”
Sonoma County recently reached an agreement with the tribe in which the count won’t oppose the tribe’s plans for development on that land in exchange for agreeing not to ever build a casino on it.
Some residents of Windsor are unhappy with the Board of Supervisors, which they accuse of allowing itself to be “hoodwinked” and said the County had thrown residents “under the bus.”
These angry residents were among about 100 who attended a public meeting on the agreement last week.
One resident said that it was a “red herring” to say that the county was protecting the residents from a large casino because the tribe wouldn’t be able to compete against the mega casino resort Graton Resort and Casino, which is closer to San Francisco.
The county has agreed not to oppose a development of up to 360 homes and a hotel and winery on condition that it not build a casino for 22 years.
Supervisor James Gore said that the BIA had said it was likely the land would be put into trust, which would have prevented any conditions being put on the land. That is not the case with an Act of Congress, he said.
County Counsel Bruce Goldstein backed Gore up: “There is a real risk by the end of the year, as that (Obama) administration leaves, the BIA will approve that,” he said.
Huffman aims to bring the bill before the House Natural Resources Committee this week and then go to the full House. The bill’s fate in the Senate is uncertain, however.
