Vallejo City Council Greenlights Controversial Tribal Casino

The Vallejo City Council has decided to pass a resolution that will allow the construction of a new gambling property that will be operated by the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians of California. Despite certain concerns, proponents argue that the property would generate many new jobs and benefit the local economy.

The Meeting Continued for Hours

The decision was taken at a lengthy meeting that extended from Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Finally, local lawmakers passed a resolution that allows city manager Andrew Murray to pen a Cooperative Agreement with the Pomo Indians. This deal would place a 160-acre parcel of city land in trust to the benefit of the tribe. The lot in question is located next to the City of Vallejo boundary in Solano County.

The proposed Scotts Valley Casino Project would see the tribe develop a 400,000-square-foot casino. The property is expected to cost $700 million and will be open non-stop. In addition to that, the Pomo Indians will build 24 single-family residences on the land it has been entrusted with, as well as a tribal administration building, a parking lot and a biological preserve.

The Casino Has Many Opponents

The somewhat controversial project had its opponents as some worried about its potential environmental impact. Others were concerned about the casino’s economic stability since another California property had to close.

Mayor Robert McConnell noted that 160 acres might be too much. He also wondered whether the Pomo Indians’ new property would follow the new tobacco ordinance that was voted earlier that evening and expressed concerns about the casino’s potential impact on smaller businesses.

Another opponent of the new property is the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, which is unhappy that the new property would be built on top of a cultural site that is unrelated to the Pomo Indians.

Other Resolutions Were Passed Too

Other resolutions included the American Rescue Plan Act, which focused a lot of money on the Vallejo Police Department. Some critiqued this distribution of funds, noting that the police department is understaffed and shouldn’t need that much money. Others suggested that other causes, such as the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, the Empress Theater and the VCAT radio station are also in need of funding.

In addition, as briefly mentioned, the Vallejo City Council passed a new smoking ordinance that changed some of the restrictions on the accessibility of tobacco products. The new ordinance largely aimed to address certain retail problems while protecting public health.

While some feared the ordinance’s economic impact, its proponents said that they’d rather protect the children than the businesses.