The Tesuque Pueblo recently broke ground on a new casino next to the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico. Previously the tribe used the area for a flea market. Previously Santa Fe Opera General Director Charles MacKay said the casino possibly could cause noise and light pollution at the opera, which is known for its scenic views as much as its world-class productions. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales stated, “Pueblo made a real commitment to lowering lighting impact and I believe we can trust them to be good neighbors.”
John Kubiak, chairman of the board of the Pueblo of Tesuque Development Corporation, said, “I would say that we have a very positive relationship with the opera, and we intend to be good neighbors with the opera and build some synergies with their operation and our operation.”
Pueblo Governor Frederick Vigil said revenue generated by the casino will help fund the Te Tsu Geh Oweenge Day School, provide college scholarships and attract tribal members with degrees to work for the pueblo. “That’s the future. I have several of my granddaughters and grandsons dancing and going to the small community school, run by the Bureau of Indian Education, and it’s one of the biggest facilities that we have since back in the 1950s, so we want to look at the enhancement of it.”
Vigil continued, many pueblo members have college degrees, “but the challenge is to bring these men and women back to work for us, and we have to pay them what they’re worth. So with this new development, you’re going to enhance more revenue to where you’re bringing the resources to pay adequate salaries for these folks.”
Kubiak said the pueblo would like to open the new casino this fall but construction most likely will take up to a year. The casino will replace Camel Rock Casino, located on Tesuque land several miles north of the new site.
