As a resident of south Gilroy, I have been reading with great
interest the various articles and editorial comments surrounding
the Indian casino proposal. It was Silvia Burley’s comments that
have prompted me to write to your paper.
Dear Editor,
As a resident of south Gilroy, I have been reading with great interest the various articles and editorial comments surrounding the Indian casino proposal. It was Silvia Burley’s comments that have prompted me to write to your paper. Ms. Burley states that the California Valley Miwok Tribe wants to negotiate with San Benito County on a government-to-government basis. The San Benito County Supervisors listened to the voice of their residents and decided that a casino was not a welcome project for their county. A key government entity, San Benito County, has decided there should be no casino and therefore, there is nothing to negotiate. So why is the leader of the California Valley Miwok tribe berating their decision in public?
Ms. Burley goes on to say that the Tribe has made no firm decision whether to go forward. If that is true, why did they change the proposed site for the project and why have they entered an agreement to buy another property for the project? Why have they hired an expert to come and tell us what the economic impact will be? Why are they taking out full page advertisements publicly berating the supervisors for listening to the residents of San Benito County? Why has the Tribe not proposed another type of of project or asked what kind of project would be acceptable to the community?
Later in her comments, Ms. Burley says “I want to state for the record, the Tribe and our investment partners will continue to move forward.” This does not sound like there was truthful intention to negotiate whether a casino should be built in San Benito County. The Tribe is not here to negotiate if a casino is built, but how little they will contribute to the community when the casino is built. Indeed, her later comments threaten that San Benito County will be left out entirely from the decisions that will be made. This makes it very clear that the California Valley Miwok Tribe is not coming here to try to be a part of the San Benito County community. They are not going to listen to what the residents want. They are going to build a casino regardless of the local and surrounding community’s and government’s objections. Why would they do this?
It’s all about money. Money. Money. Money.
Enormous amounts of money. Hundreds of millions of dollars every year, forever. Silvia Burley, Mr. Ramos, the Tribe and their investors will become millionaires many times over. That is all that this is about. Do not be fooled by the gestures of sharing with the community. Ask yourself, where will all this money come from? It will come from Hollister and other San Benito County communities. The money will come from San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Milpitas and Fremont with thousands of cars full of gamblers travelling Highway 101 through Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy. The money will come from Monterey and Santa Cruz and Los Banos. Hundreds of cars full of gamblers will travel Highways 152 and 156. People will come to the casino with money and leave without it. And then ask yourself where will all the money go?
It will go into the pockets of a small handful of people.
Phil Johnson, Gilroy
