The Indian gaming casino proposed for the Highway 25 /U.S. 101
intersection near the border with Santa Clara County raises many
questions, both philosophical and practical.
The Indian gaming casino proposed for the Highway 25 /U.S. 101 intersection near the border with Santa Clara County raises many questions, both philosophical and practical.
Our communities need answers and before the proposal gets any further, local organizations and government agencies should make it clear that a detailed economic impact study is expected, paid for by the investors and widely distributed in the region.
On the philosophical side, we can debate gambling’s influence on society, which many believe to be negative, versus the rights of individuals to spend their money how they wish. We can argue whether allowing Indian nations to erect casinos complies with long-standing treaties or tramples the rights of local governments to control land use. We can wonder if Indian gaming really benefits Native Americans or the large out-of-state management companies that run the casinos.
No matter how much we debate these big-picture issues at a local level, to a large extent, the debate has been settled.
Despite some negative impacts to society, gambling is a legal activity that adults can pursue, much like smoking, drinking alcohol, or pursuing hazardous hobbies. With the advent of Internet gambling, it has become an industry without borders.
Despite the local land-use issues, treaties making Indian nations sovereign entities exist, and they trump much local land-use control. Like it or not, that’s the big-picture reality that frames our local debate.
On another level, the practical exists: Should our local leaders welcome or oppose an Indian gaming casino? As a practical matter, if community organizations and governmental agencies in San Benito County and south Santa Clara County were to line up against a tribal casino near Highway 25 and U.S. 101, it would likely be very difficult for the gaming operation to get under way.
If government officials get behind the proposal, the tribal casinos will have a much shorter timeline and less expensive path to their grand opening day.
San Benito County is an easy target for casino operators. Years of economic development neglect have left the county in a position of weakness. A $300 million casino creating hundreds, perhaps thousands, of jobs and drawing visitors from across the state could be welcome in a county that suffers from high unemployment and tempered economic growth. Clearly, no one is beating a path to build factories and offices in San Benito County.
But that doesn’t mean we should blindly accept the casino proposal. Instead, we urge our leaders to ask difficult questions and demand well-documented answers.
A few that leap to mind:
n How much are out-of-town casino management firms paid? We need to know how much of money that is spent in a proposed area casino will stay in our local economy, and how much will end up in out-of-state firms’ bank accounts.
n What’s the average salary and benefits earned by various casino worker positions? From janitor to card dealer, from cashier to pit boss, we need to know what kinds of jobs the casino will create. Will the jobs the casino offers pay wages that will allow its workers to live in decent conditions in San Benito County?
n How does a dollar spent at a tribal casino impact the local economy? Does a casino dollar turn over several times in the local economy or does it immediately flow to out-of-state casino operators? This data will help elected officials and residents evaluate whether a casino is worth the trade off in social ills, noise, lighting, pollution and traffic impacts.
n How will those impacts be mitigated?
The Indian gaming casino proposal has the potential to dramatically increase jobs and tourism in San Benito and south Santa Clara counties. It also has the potential to negatively impact our coveted way of life.
We need to keep open minds, ask difficult questions and demand detailed answers before our communities decide to welcome a tribal casino in our midst.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to [email protected].
