After years of opposing the casino that the Tohono O’odham Nation has fought for the right to build, the city council of Glendale, Arizona voted narrowly to switch its stance. The city will also drop its lawsuits against the tribe.
Councilman Gary Sherwood said the city does not have a strong legal position. Originally against the casino, Sherwood said he had changed his mind.
“Because of all the court decisions made over the last three or four years, including one a couple of weeks ago. It pretty much says the Tohono O’odhams are in the driver’s seat and hey expect the other legal to run its course very quickly.”
The council had given some sign that it was moving in that direction in March when it voted to oppose H.R. 1410 the Keep the Promise Act, passed by the House of Representatives, that would not allow more casinos in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Senate has not acted on the bill.
Last week a group called Respect the Promise tried to qualify a ballot initiative to overturn the council’s April decision. The city clerk’s office refused to put the measure on the ballot for several reasons, including that the referendum was based on an administrative decision of the council.
Supporters of the referendum declared, “[T]he council’s vote was ambiguous and the proposed casino would be near homes, churches, business and the budget stress this would create on a city that is already near bankruptcy is crazy.”
Rep. Trent Franks, who represents the Glendale area, introduced H.R. 1410. It would amend the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act, which allowed the tribe to buy up to 9,880 acres to make up for the inundation of its original reservation by a federal dam. The amendment would give residents of the state the right to veto or approve the tribe’s choice for a casino.
Besides Glendale’s longstanding opposition to the casino, two gaming tribes that would face competition from the Glendale casino oppose it, as does the state of Arizona. One of them, the Gila River Indian Community, said last week that it would continue with its lawsuit.
