Proposed 160-Acre, $700 Million Indian Casino in Vallejo Held Up by Lawsuits, Trump Administration
A $700 million casino project in Vallejo by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians is facing legal challenges and scrutiny from the Trump administration.Summary
The proposed $700 million, 160-acre casino in Vallejo, California, by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, is currently stalled due to lawsuits filed by competing tribes – the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Koi Nation of Northern California, and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria – challenging the Pomo’s ancestral land claims. These tribes own nearby casinos and are likely motivated by competitive concerns. Further complicating matters, the Trump administration’s Department of the Interior has indicated that the initial approval of the casino may have been based on a “legal error.” The Scotts Valley Band has begun installing Class II slot machines in modular trailers on the construction site, claiming they don’t require a state gaming compact, but this action has drawn further attention to the project. Ultimately, the fate of the casino rests on rulings from the Department of the Interior and the outcomes of the ongoing legal challenges, with the City of Vallejo having no direct control over the process.
(Source：Sfist)