Keep the Promise and No More Bad Deals for Glendale, two groups opposed to the Tohono O’odham Nation’s 0 million casino resort in Glendale, Arizona, recently filed a lawsuit against the city and City Clerk Pam Hanna that seeks to overturn the rejection of their referendums. The groups presented more than 13,000 signatures on the two referendums they filed in September; 6,956 signatures to qualify for the ballot. But Hanna determined the referendums were administrative, not legislative, and could not be put on the ballot.
The groups want voters to decide if the city should support the casino.
Glendale recently approved a deal with the Tohono O’odham that will pay the city $26 million over 20 years in exchange for its support of the controversial project. The tribe does not need the city’s approval to build the casino on reservation land.
Attorney John Blanchard, representing the opposition groups, said the lawsuit challenges Glendale’s decision not to refer the referendums to the ballot, adding that the city clerk is required by law to review the referendum petitions and verify if there are enough valid signatures.
On another front in the Glendale-Tohono O’odham casino battle, a delegation of local officials recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with U.S. Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake, who have sponsored a federal bill that would stop construction of the casino.
One of the delegates, Councilman Sal DiCiccio from Phoenix District 6 DiCiccio, said while the federal bill would directly impact the Tohono O’odham casino site, where ground already has been broken, it also could affect hundreds of pieces of unincorporated land, which remain vulnerable under the current laws. “You’d be surprised what is and what isn’t incorporated. The casino could literally be down the street from you. The tribal government can buy that property and put a casino there without any approval from the local government,” DiCiccio said.
In response, Glendale City Councilman Gary Sherwood said he’s not concerned about a proliferation of casinos because restrictions are in place. “The current gaming compact says you’re only allowed a certain number of casinos,” he said, adding the new casino will revitalize the area. “It can hold people to the area, offer other choices when we do have those events and plus the city is actually getting paid for it,” he noted.
The Senate has not scheduled a vote on McCain’s and Flake’s bill. However, Sherwood said, if it were to pass, the Tohono O’odham tribe could sue.
