Posted on 08/21/2004 10:35:14 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California's senior senator has added her voice to a growing chorus of criticism following the announcement by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that he had cleared the way for a giant casino to be built in the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area.
In a statement released Saturday, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein called a proposed deal allowing the 259-member Lytton Band of Pomo Indians to construct the nation's largest urban casino "unconscionable" and urged the state legislature to reject it.
"I find the proposed casino agreement reached by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians totally unacceptable," Sen. Feinstein said. "To compromise a community so the state can get 25 percent of the casino's revenue in unconscionable."
If approved, the proposal would allow the tribe to construct a multistory gaming hall with 5,000 slot machines steps away from the Interstate 80 corridor in San Pablo, north of San Francisco. If approved, it would dwarf the largest casino in Las Vegas.
In exchange, the tribe would give 25 percent of the casino's revenue back to the state - a figure the governor's office has estimated to be about $152 million a year.
"Such a huge casino will have a serious impact on the entire East Bay community, generating traffic congestion and environmental damage, and potentially increasing crime," Feinstein said.
Feinstein's statement came amid news reports of comments by state Senate leader John Burton indicating that legislators would not allow the casino deal to move forward at its current size and scope.
Schwarzenegger, who pledged to seek a "fair share" of Indian casino profits for the state as governor, announced new gaming compacts with Lytton and four other tribes this week.
Schwarzenegger's office said he was compelled to negotiate a deal with Lytton based on federal legislation passed by Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, allowing the tribe to build a casino at the San Pablo location. Miller has said he never envisioned a casino of this size when he crafted the legislation.
I guess husband Blumb didn't get the construction contract.
Sacramento area ping.
I had a dream once of boxer and feinstein hanging from lamposts.
Sadly, many Californians do not understand how to dispose of trash. Not knowing how to command a toy boat in a bathtub, most left-wing morons would go bankrupt if they actually had to live in the real world.
Good luck to the Indians. Poverty pimps in the 'RAT CAMP will do everything in their power to keep them on the plantation.
Blessings, Bobo
would it be a conflict of interest for the state to have a gaming commission since they are now partners with the indians? What would the states motivation be to have "fair" gaming? ( if gambling could be considered ....fair)
All this will continue until people wake up and realize the government is getting into the Vice rackets. They are profiting off of areas that can be compulsive. Smoking, Booz, Gambling, Fast food, then porn, prositution... got to admit they are as slick as the mafia. You cut us in on the action and we will give you protection.... (read legalization)
If she is against it, I'm for it.
I actually believe that gambling is wrong. That is my Christian position.
Due to my belief, I do not believe that the Government should be involved in any gambling enterprise, as that is not the purpose of the governement.
I detest state lotteries, multi-state lotteries, national lotteries, etc. This is a massive tax on the poor which can easily be seen.
On the other hand, I applaude the Indian nations by using the laws that were written against them to their advantage.
Sell a whole bunch of cigarettes on line and let people avoid the punitive tax that goes into the coffers of marxist/socialist trial lawyers. I am thumbs up to the plight of the Indians and glad they are learning to get around the system.
Montezuma's Revenge.
Blessings, Bobo
"( if gambling could be considered ....fair"
Gambling, for the gamer, is fair.
If you own the casino, then it's good.
If you are the silent-partner state, then it's great.
Right after Boxer was elected I was listening to a local Radio talk show. Some man called in and said "I voted for Boxer because I thought it would be neat for California to be the first state with two women senators".
A person with such thinking should not be allowed out of the house without a keeper, much less allowed to vote.
As a Christian I don't know if I find Gambling wrong. At least not Biblically. Buying insurnace, playing the stock market all involve a level of risk. I agree with every other position you hold. Im all for keeping the money out of socialist govt.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.