The U.S. Department of the Interior has overturned the will of 61 percent of the voters of California who in 2014 voted to reject a tribal gaming compact for the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians.
The tribe may now proceed with building a casino adjacent to Highway 99 in Madera County.
Cheryl Schmit, who led the campaign to put Proposition 48 on the ballot after Governor Brown and the legislature originally approved of the compact, told the Los Angeles Times, “It was disappointing.” She added, “We’re not giving up.”
The referendum asked voters if they agreed with the state’s approval of the casino, which will be located on “off-reservation” land that is not part of the tribe’s original homeland.
After the tribe lost the election it sued the state in federal court, claiming that the state engaged in “bad faith” negotiations. The judge sided with the tribe, and ultimately the Department of the Interior ruled that the tribe could open a casino on its property.
Tribal Chairman Maryan McGovran, announced, “The tribe is extremely excited about this achievement.”
The casino is still the target of several lawsuits.
