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...it was the ceremonial dagger attached to his calf that raised more eyebrows.

"We let you in with that?" one city staffer jokingly asked.

It's a joke to them, but let a kid bring a small knife (even made out of rubber) to school and it is Zero Tolerance.

Proponents say the project will be a boon for tourism to the area, also adding 2,200 jobs.

But the project has its critics, who say they are worried about crime, traffic jams and other environmental issues.
The controversy over building the project led to unsuccessful recall attempts of two Rohnert Park city council members who supported a $200 million revenue-sharing agreement with the Graton tribe.

"This is a monster, no question," said Jake Mackenzie

This is the test case for Indian Casinos in California and the rest of the US.

The rates at which alcohol related crimes in urban (and rural) areas climb is astronomical.

Three of the Council Members met without telling the other two or the Citizens of this town and decided to invite a casino here and got a small amount of money (bribe) to do it. How much went into the back pockets of this corrupt regime we don't know.

A recall was attempted but lost but the new council member that ousted ~~Emperor Norton~~ Mayor Nordin will bring a little practicality to the Council.

Whether the Good Ol' Boy Builders that have had Flores in their back pocket for over 20 years will still be able to slip in and do all the building remains to be seen.

Casinos are usually built on land designated as "Indian Country." Under federal PL 280, the only local non-tribal jurisdiction applicable on that land is State criminal law. Essentially, the Counties don't have jurisdiction and don't have much of a say whether a casino goes in or not.

The State negotiates the compact, not the County. The only leverage the County has is that the State prefers the County's support of the project. Counties must use "good faith" in providing that support. The County may also negotiate mitigations with the tribe to compensate local taxpayors for inpacts on infrastructure, services, etc. (The casinos in Indian Country don't pay property tax.) This is done by MOU and can involve a share of the casino take or a flat amount.

Locals often have the mistaken impression that they can veto a casino proposed in Indian Country. This is incorrect.

Syncro said: "It's a joke to them, but let a kid bring a small knife (even made out of rubber) to school and it is Zero Tolerance."

Yes. The elected are an elite group who don't have to follow the rules made for the rest of us. Just as the "Native Americans" have become an elite group who don't have to follow the rules made for the rest of us. Ain't Kalifornia grand?