State of California Challenges Federal Backing of Koi Resort in Sonoma County

The State of California and Governor Gavin Newsom have launched a federal lawsuit to stop the Koi Nation’s planned casino and resort in Sonoma County. This legal action marks an escalation in the fight over tribal gaming rights. 

California Disputes Land Trust for Casino, Says Koi Nation Lacks Windsor Connection

The state filed the lawsuit in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. It challenges the US Department of the Interior‘s choice to give federal trust status to 68.6 acres of land near Windsor. This decision cleared the path for the Shiloh Resort & Casino.

The state claims the federal government skipped crucial legal protections and ignored state power by giving the green light to the project under a disputed section of federal law. This section, the “restored lands” exception in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, lets tribes run casinos on bought land if it is linked to federal recognition. California officials say the Koi Nation’s connections to the Windsor-area location are too weak to warrant that exception.

In their complaint, state officials claim that the Koi Nation’s historical roots lie in Clear Lake, 30 miles from the Shiloh Site, reported the Courthouse News Service. They argue that the proof used to establish a historical link to Windsor, such as mentions of trade routes and sporadic ancestral activity, does not meet federal law requirements, which they claim call for a clear and ongoing tribal presence.

State Alleges Federal Officials Ignored Required Review in Koi Nation Casino Decision

The lawsuit also claims that the Department of the Interior did not follow the needed “two-part determination” process. This usual procedure involves talking with local authorities and the governor, and requires that a tribal casino not harm the nearby community. California argues that without the governor’s approval, the land should stay off-limits for gaming under federal rules.

Rob Bonta, the Attorney General, slammed the Interior’s strategy. He claimed they dodged this rule by taking a different legal path. This move, he pointed out, skipped talks between governments and ignored local rules about land use that would block a casino business in the area.

The lawsuit comes after other tribes nearby, like the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, took similar legal steps. They have shown a strong dislike for the Koi Nation’s plans. Groups in the community and people who live there agree. They warn that the project puts the rural character, public safety, and nature of the Shiloh area at risk.

California is taking legal action to overturn the federal approval and stop the development of the$600 million project. The plan includes a 400-room hotel and a 530,000-square-foot gaming floor. More legal fights are on the horizon, and local opposition is growing.