A band of Miwok Indians pondering a plan to build a casino in
the area will announce that it selected a specific site in San
Benito County, not Santa Clara, and that it’s committed to pursuing
the project here.
Hollister – A band of Miwok Indians pondering a plan to build a casino in the area will announce that it selected a specific site in San Benito County, not Santa Clara, and that it’s committed to pursuing the project here.
The group, which includes the five-member California Valley Miwok tribe along with investors from Game Won, will hold a media-only press conference in Hollister at 1:30pm on Monday at Hillcrest Mini Storage. The business is owned by one of the project’s investors, Chris Vanni.
Two representatives for the tribe and its investors confirmed the group intends to announce plans to move forward on a specific site for construction of a casino in San Benito County. And a press release from the group says there will be an announcement on “plans to develop a proposed destination resort casino in San Benito County.”
To this point the tribe’s intentions, which first became public through the media three weeks ago, have been vague. They have verified that land along Highway 25 was one of several considered areas for a Miwok gaming resort.
But until now, they hadn’t fully committed to pursuing a casino in this region. The group hadn’t even decided if a site would be located in San Benito or Santa Clara counties along the rural highway.
The tribe’s Maryland-based attorney, Phillip Thompson, confirmed Friday the tribe has chosen a site and that it’s in San Benito County. He was unsure if the land had been purchased, though he said he thinks it has.
“Oh yeah, we’ve decided it’s San Benito County,” said Thompson, who will be joined by representatives from Game Won at Monday’s announcement. “If it doesn’t work, we have plans B and C.”
The Miwoks and their investors have been examining land on both sides of the county line to potentially build a gaming resort. They say it would be about the same size as the Cache Creek Casino in Yolo County, a building that’s 66,000 square feet with 1,762 slot machines and 120 table games.
Another spokesperson speaking on the tribe’s behalf said the announcement would include “laying down a building block and then explaining the process.” She said a timeline for a project would also be discussed. Thompson previously has said it could be built and opened within two years.
The group wants to clear up any confusion in the community after a flood of news coverage revealed its pursuit of building a casino off Highway 25 near the San Benito-Santa Clara county line, she said.
“And it’s just finally answering the community’s questions because they have some of those answers,” said the spokesperson, who asked not to be named.
The tribe, through Thompson, has already said it’s conducting the appropriate studies, such as environmental and economic reviews, to determine the feasibility of a casino here.
This area is such a hot commodity for gaming because the closest casinos to San Benito County are a two- to three-hour drives away. If the tribe obtains a gaming compact from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and gets the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to declare the property as tribal trust land, they’re free to build a casino on the land without local government oversight.
Twisting the governor’s arm, though, may be the biggest roadblock because he has indicated he wouldn’t sign a required gaming compact without local support.
No supervisors from San Benito or Santa Clara counties have come forward and expressed outright support for a casino. But most have said they would consider the project’s merits once more details come forward.
Meanwhile, San Benito Sheriff Curtis Hill has been the most adamant opponent of the resort here, claiming it would increase crime and traffic congestion. And Supervisor Ruth Kesler, whose tenure is up in December, also opposes it.
San Benito Supervisor Reb Monaco was aware an announcement from the tribe was coming, he said. He had no doubt the group would move forward on a plan in San Benito. He didn’t know how many, or what, details would be included in Monday’s announcement.
“Basically, it’s their sales pitch,” Monaco said.
Kollin Kosmicki covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach him at 637-5566, ext. 331, or [email protected].
