Governor Newsom opposes two proposed tribal casino projects
Governor Newsom raised concerns about the DOI's departure from typical procedural pathways and the lack of safeguards for tribal land restoration.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed opposition to two proposed tribal casino projects in a letter to the US Department of the Interior (DOI).
The projects in question are the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project by the Koi Nation of Northern California in Sonoma County, and the Scotts Valley Casino and Tribal Housing Project by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians in Solano County.
Both projects face significant opposition. The Koi Nation project is opposed by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, Windsor Town Council and several state and federal legislators, while the Scotts Valley Band project faces resistance from Solano County and multiple congressional representatives.
In his letter, Governor Newsom raised concerns about the DOI’s departure from typical procedural pathways and safeguards for tribal land restoration and casino establishment. As part of this, he highlighted worries about potential gaming expansion to land not currently eligible for tribal gaming and noted that the proposed lands fall outside the historical homelands of both tribes.
The Governor’s stance aligns with concerns from tribal governments, elected officials and local communities.
The Lytton Rancheria of California has applauded Newsom’s letter, with Tribal Chairperson Andy Mejia stating: “We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for voicing his concerns about the Shiloh Resort and Casino Project and the Scotts Valley Casino and Tribal Housing Project.
“Unfortunately, these two projects are being recklessly advanced in an unprecedented way without important safeguards – which could have disastrous consequences for the local environment and surrounding communities.
“Both of these projects are opposed by the native peoples actually indigenous to these sites and supported by tribes from outside Solano and Sonoma Counties.”
Koi Nation, in a statement sent to Gambling Insider, responded to Governor Newsom, having said, “The Koi Nation of Northern California has pursued regulatory approvals for its Shiloh Resort & Casino project in full accordance with federal law.
“Despite our nation’s best efforts to educate stakeholders about our eligibility to seek gaming-eligible trust land under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s (IGRA) ‘restored lands’ exception, it is evident that the Governor’s opposition reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of federal law.
“Project approvals from the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) would not represent a departure from precedent. To the contrary, IGRA’s restored lands exception was designed precisely to correct historic wrongs that rendered landless tribes like the Koi, depriving them of opportunities to develop and achieve economic self-sufficiency. Our right to pursue gaming according to this provision of federal law was affirmed by Judge Beryl A. Howell of the US District Court for the District of Columbia in Koi Nation v Zinke (2019).
“While we would have welcomed an opportunity to brief Governor Newsom in advance of the submission of the letter, we remain committed to continual communication with him, his administration and all key stakeholders. This has been our approach from the start and will continue to be so through the conclusion of this legal process and into the future.”
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