By all indications, the County Board of Supervisors today will
approve a formal resolution opposing the proposed California Valley
Miwok Indian casino
– a position we support.
By all indications, the County Board of Supervisors today will approve a formal resolution opposing the proposed California Valley Miwok Indian casino – a position we support.
The leaders of the City of Hollister, however, seem to want to take a slower approach, listening to what the casino has to offer before weighing in with a yea or nay vote.
We’d prefer the Hollister City Council oppose the project, but if council members see some benefit to a casino, and are open to negotiation, they should put themselves in the driver’s seat. They should approach this project as if it were a business deal and name their asking price.
The governor says he will require local support of a casino before he negotiates any gaming compact with a tribe. That puts the Hollister City Council in a position of power when it comes to setting a price.
Would the council give its support in exchange for a new sewer plant, $10 million a year for the city’s General Fund, 2,000 union-wage jobs, five new police officers, widening Highway 25 to four lanes? If council members have a price where they would accept the proposed a casino near the Hollister Airport, they should name it and let the negotiations begin.
To do otherwise is to allow the casino proponents to define the parameters of the negotiations, which is the wrong approach. In order to best serve their constituents, city leaders should be setting the terms rather than waiting for the casino proponents to say how much they can afford to give.
We prefer the city drive the negotiation process rather than the proponents of the casino.
That way, the council will be able to avoid getting ensnared in an emotional debate, and make sure this project, if it ever comes to fruition, does all it can for the residents of Hollister.
